Sacre Bleu !!!

https://www.marketscreener.com/quot...ews/TVS-Motor-Company-Now-in-France-46141261/
Well here we go, I wonder if the 'Norton Ronin' or 'Norton Apache' are on their way to the UK. These would be great little learner bikes for the up and coming next generation of Norton men and women.
Just type in google to find all the info on these two bikes .

Pictures of Ronin and Apache here:



Ken

peebee said:

https://www.marketscreener.com/quot...ews/TVS-Motor-Company-Now-in-France-46141261/
Well here we go, I wonder if the 'Norton Ronin' or 'Norton Apache' are on their way to the UK. These would be great little learner bikes for the up and coming next generation of Norton men and women.
Just type in google to find all the info on these two bikes .

Click to expand...

Good that TVS is finding further export routes into Europe, for obvious reasons. I think France/Belgium have restrictive environmental regs that affect power output, or certainly used to. I’m guessing smaller capacity bikes might be quite popular domestically.

Can’t see them badging em’ Norton and exporting to the UK though PB. Runs contrary to the current ‘premium’ plan - whatever we might think of that. They also have no ‘Norton’ element to them whatsoever - parts, design, manufacture etc.

Interesting with the concentration on electric bikes - I think France are at about 30% market share for electric so far, so a big incentive there. A profitable TVS is great news, whatever they’re selling!

Stephen_Spencer said:

Can’t see them badging em’ Norton and exporting to the UK though PB. Runs contrary to the current ‘premium’ plan - whatever we might think of that. They also have no ‘Norton’ element to them whatsoever - parts, design, manufacture etc.

Click to expand...

Agreed.
Anyone wanting a Norton is not going to be interested in that fare.
And, anyone wanting something like the Ronin, or Apache would never pay a Norton premium for it.
I would think they will come to foreign shores as TVS brand only.
Royal Enfield is doing well, why not TVS?

BritTwit said:

Agreed.
Anyone wanting a Norton is not going to be interested in that fare.
And, anyone wanting something like the Ronin, or Apache would never pay a Norton premium for it.
I would think they will come to foreign shores as TVS brand only.
Royal Enfield is doing well, why not TVS?

Click to expand...

Agreed BT, although I’m not sure they will import Ronin/Apache to the UK at all. The TVS marque has no exposure/cred iin the UK. Royal Enfield have the history/heritage (old school cool) and have used that very effectively. Great bikes too.

At the risk of contradicting myself, TVS will likely badge Norton and export from India at some stage - just think that’s down the track, will likely not occur with these two bikes and will almost certainly have Norton design input. Mi2P only.

People pay a premium for the BMW G310 and the electric thing they make for BMW, and I suspect the Aprilia that is also made by them. It seems these days that manufacturers want a complete range of bikes but not use the same name for entry models, commuters and top end bikes.

Interesting vid. I wonder what restrictions (if any) BMW has put on TVS for the sale of the Apache 310 RR. Can’t imagine BMW would be too happy about sharing the market with a virtually identical bike, badged TVS and at significantly lower (through life) cost.

How’s that gonna work? Unless they are not permitted to export the Apache RR variant. Or, not until BMW no longer sell the 310 RR as is referenced in the vid.

Even more strange when the EU importer Pierer Mobility has just taken the controlling stake in MV Agusta, and yes, TVS make one of the MV bikes. I would imagine the new Nortons will be the competition for the MV's.