It's a interesting one personally the answer is no.
It's also interesting because I'm firmly in the target audience that Gladwell mentioned in the interview someone else posted in the other thread.
Mid 30s ex graphics industry pro (print) (currently re training after our family company closed) ex Pro Photographer.
Already own 4 Nortons, 1927, 1944 16h's 67 650ss, 68 Commando.
I've in total had over 30 motorcycles everything from superbikes, race bikes a gp bike, ex Nw200 an Iom 675 Daytona race bike. An a slew of Adventure bikes small capacity to large adv's bmw 1200gsa te 2014, 1200gs te 2018 Rallye, 300 Rally, ktm390, Himalayan.
Everything I had that I no longer had got used year round (obv apart from the race bikes) one Norton as many know I rode as a daily for 4 years.
That's my background now onto why I wouldn't buy an electric motorcycle an certainly not a 50k Norton which seems what they are aiming for.
So I use my motorcycles for every aspect of motorcycling.
Both the 1200gs's both premium bikes had major faults, displays failing, issues with the ESA suspension, not being able to unlock your filler cap at a petrol station because the Keyless glitched. The last one was a 2018
Then the feel of flybywire and the lag for me is really noticable absolutely can't stand it. Away from the beemers we rejected two ktm 390s 2021 bikes that were riddled with electronic issues again with the displays and fly by wire and one with random issues.
The new Himalayan coming with flybywire just stopped me buying it along with the almost oversquare engine and high level of tech they are cramming on it.
The other side if it is I saw the huge investment in the print industry once everything went digital for 100k to 500k quid investments to be worthless within a year. While the old kit kept keeping on.
That's with industrial kit let alone a small marque and low production electric bike.
I can just see with the electrification the next thing will be subscription based stuff and it doesn't appeal.
I think there's a reason alot of us are going back to film photography, Vinyl etc.
For me there is no way I'd spend on a premium electric motorcycle as you can guarantee it'd be next to worthless before you knew it or to find out the batteries will cost a huge percentage of the cost of the bike to replace looking at EV cars.
The other side of it is Norton are mentioning in the odd interview electric superbikes. Have they taken a look at the state of UK roads recently. 20mph speed limits and some roads that are so potholed they are looking like dirt tracks.
The other aspect is range I personally think if they do EV they should look at something similar to an old big4 lower power great looks an concentrate on range that's the biggest issue with EV.
Not everything is about outright performance.
I'd sooner see investment in synthetic fuel Porsche are spending alot of money into it with the fuel companies I can see EV being a stop gap. Till that tech becomes to fruition.
For me in this high tech world motorcycles are my escape from it.
I was actually joking with dad that if they banned petrol motorcycles over here I'd look at a different country.
It'l be interesting to see everyone's viewpoint on this one Eddie it's it's excellent question.
Ev is obv coming even RE are developing the Him-E electric adv, but with the high rate of progression and redundancy and loss of value in tech there's no way I'd spend the sort of money Norton will no doubt be talking about with the end of the market they are now aiming at.
Been there done that with stuff in the past that ends up either none usable or worthless.
I always think buy what you love no matter what it is I love my vintage Nortons they cost me but if they ended up worthless I wouldn't be bothered because I still love them.
I think motorcycles are a visceral thing to.
I think we are probably one of the biggest Norton sites so itl be interesting to see if it appeals to anyone on here.
- you could probably remove ‘Norton’ from the title!
?