Pierre Terblanche to head design team at Norton

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Great news- the designer of the 999 and the ST models that were both such a roaring success!
 
scary....but that one model he designed wasn't too bad. MHR rep I believe. His successes are limited though.
 
Not a fair statement, ZFD. Styling had nothing to do with the ST models' low sales. They were niche market bikes that appealed to a limited market. Personally, I think they're great bikes and would love to have one. Maybe I will one of these days.

As for the 999, perhaps he was ahead of his time. People tend to either love the look or hate it. I hated it initially, but grew to appreciate it over time. And the Hypermotard, another of his designs, is a pretty cool looking bike IMHO.

If this report is true, it sounds like he will be working on new models, not the 961. No confirmation yet on nortonmotorcycles.com however...

Debby
 
Gosh...the guy who replaced the 916 by the ugly 999...even Ducati went back to the previous design in the 1198! Poor Norton!
Philippe
 
I liked both the MHR and 999; not as much as the timeless Tamburini design though. Terblanche may do ok on a non sport bike design, give it a chance could be interesting. Not that any 20K bike is ever going to affect me, but it's fun to look.
 
Is this like Shaquille O'Neal joining the Celtics?

A high profile, potentially short term assignment?

Will the new Norton become liquid cooled?

Grow its cylinders apart, a zero degree V-twin?

Clearly something major is afoot, you don't hire a rocket scientist to implement powder coating...

I'll be staying tuned.

RS
 
I agree.Theres nothing wrong with the way the new Commando looks.I bet hes there to design the GP bike.
 
From the article....

"taking Norton into the global marketplace by developing a range of Terblanche-designed models powered by modern liquid-cooled overhead-cam motors, alongside the pushrod-engined air-cooled range of retro Commando 961 models which has fuelled the Norton comeback."

Me too on the never buying a $20K bike in my lifetime. Well, unless I win the lottery. I'd go for a big OHC single - narrow and mean.

Russ
 
batrider said:
From the article....

"taking Norton into the global marketplace by developing a range of Terblanche-designed models powered by modern liquid-cooled overhead-cam motors, alongside the pushrod-engined air-cooled range of retro Commando 961 models which has fuelled the Norton comeback."

Me too on the never buying a $20K bike in my lifetime. Well, unless I win the lottery. I'd go for a big OHC single - narrow and mean.

Russ
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I also will never be purchasing a $20K plus bike. In my 34 years so far I have not paid more than $500 to aquire a bike. With that said the newest bike I have owned was an 84. I have had 5 free bikes, this includes my current Norton and Yamaha. My wife's bike cost $300. I would like a NEW bike. BUt the economy of it does not make sense. Last year I rode 300 miles. Not having a daily job and 2 kids to cart around dosn't leave much room for riding the bike. TRhere was a time before kids that I was able to ride for 45 days straight. I miss those days.
 
Terblanche has certainly come up with some interesting designs. Not sure if I will like what he does or not, but it will be different and interesting on some level. Gotta respect someone who can elicit the reactions of "love" and "Hate" in the same sentence. As for $20K bikes- I kind of think of it as looking at how long I intend to keep the bike. I mean sure, I have never paid that much ALL AT ONCE, but how much are we in to some of our bikes all-told? I think I might be into my '68 close to ten grand by now- maybe a little less. The Harley guys drop 20 large on add-on chrome parts with little skulls on them. Of course that's ridiculous... 8)
 
askdoctorday said:
Terblanche has certainly come up with some interesting designs. Not sure if I will like what he does or not, but it will be different and interesting on some level. Gotta respect someone who can elicit the reactions of "love" and "Hate" in the same sentence. As for $20K bikes- I kind of think of it as looking at how long I intend to keep the bike. I mean sure, I have never paid that much ALL AT ONCE, but how much are we in to some of our bikes all-told? I think I might be into my '68 close to ten grand by now- maybe a little less. The Harley guys drop 20 large on add-on chrome parts with little skulls on them. Of course that's ridiculous... 8)
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Don't forget the Harley fringe leather, I never understood that.
 
bwolfie said:
Don't forget the Harley fringe leather, I never understood that.
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HD's are relatively inexpensive, it's the life style that is expensive...Next time someone tells you to "get a life", especially if you agree, just get on down to the friendly folks at your local HD stealership, you may find one on "specïal".....

It is not what you ride so much as that you ride.

Old Norton owners never die they just go broke. Buying a new Norton would have been a lot less expensive then either of the two I have built, but then buying a new Norton and then getting it to my liking is the stuff that lottery winnings are made of...

RS
 
In my opinion, Pierre Terblanche is one of the best industrial designers alive today. Congratulations to Norton management. Pierre knows how to combine retro and high tech like none other. I have owned more than 200 motorcycles , many early 50's GP bikes and plenty of Italian marques. I think the Supermono was genius. I have been selling off the Italian stable for the past years, now its time to build up a Norton collection. I look forward to owning the next Norton model as penned by Mr. Terblanche.
 
Rweedn said:
In my opinion, Pierre Terblanche is one of the best industrial designers alive today. Congratulations to Norton management. Pierre knows how to combine retro and high tech like none other. I have owned more than 200 motorcycles , many early 50's GP bikes and plenty of Italian marques. I think the Supermono was genius. I have been selling off the Italian stable for the past years, now its time to build up a Norton collection. I look forward to owning the next Norton model as penned by Mr. Terblanche.
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Let's see.... Just joined....this is your first post.....you like Terblanche designs...no region posted... How do we know you're not really Pierre himself??
:lol:

Can't say I understand why the new Norton Motors would hire him. Any competitive MotoGP bike will be designed by wind tunnel, not pen and paper. Not that I think there is a chance in hell that they will field a GP bike.

Those Ducati Triple 9's and so-called MHe's were atrocious. Just my opinion. Do have to agree on the Supermono though.

And adding a Terblanche designed bike will not add to a "Norton" collection. That ended in 1975.
 
And adding a Terblanche designed bike will not add to a "Norton" collection. That ended in 1975.

Good point Ron and along that line surprised this string didn't get removed from the Commando section. Any new design at Norton will likely not be to the Commando.
 
Pierre Terblanche to head design team at Norton


Is it the looks or something else you guys don't like? Looks like most Ducatis I've ever seen.
 
For some reason people condemned the design of that bike. I really thought it was cool as heck. I think those duc guys are just too anal and uptight to accept change. :lol:
 
Is it the looks or something else you guys don't like? Looks like most Ducatis I've ever seen.
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Pictures don't do it justice (or is it unjustice?) The view from the front is terrible and with a rider even worse. The rider looks like he's perched on the back of a cockroach. And the Triple 9 has worse ergos than any of the earlier Superbike range and I'm told worse than the 1098 series. Not that I could wrap this old body around either for very long. Heck my beveldrive SS is only good for an hour or so at my age.

I love my Ducs, but when the Triple 9 and MHe came out I thought Ducati had lost it. They nearly did as the MHe, despite its exclusive limited production and pre-sale never became the collectors items many expected and the Triple 9 had the lowest sales of any Ducati Superbike. When the 1098 hit the showroom sales took a dramatic upturn.

It's just my opinion and I often don't agree with the "accepted norm". Heck I wouldn't walk across the street for Vincent Black Shadow! ( But a Brough Superior or a Matchless SilverHawk, now your talking!) To each his own!
 
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