I don't see how or why a Norton owner can be really this disappointed,I thought things at the Factory had improved. According to this article on the NOC it is just the same...Here is what was written.....
For all the people who are thinking of purchasing one of these machines & think that Stuart Garner has gotten over all the issues with this bike, think again.
My love affair with this machine began back in 2009 at the NEC in Birmingham, as soon as I saw it I had to have it. I met Stuart & asked if I could purchase the bike that was on show right there & then. After a bit of a discussion I was told “yes you can have it” I had to call them at the factory the next day & arrange payment. I headed home with a great big smile happy in the knowledge of what I had just done. Next morning I got on the phone to make the payment & that’s when it all fell apart. I was advised that the bike was being shipped to the states for another show & that it would not be possible, I could however place an order & receive a new bike in three months. What the hell, the order was placed. By 2011 yes that correct 2011 I still had no bike. I had made plenty of phone calls & sent plenty E mails but just lies after lies. Funny but they never called me. In the end I gave up & after a while they did eventually pay my deposit back.
Fast forward to 2013 & I am looking for a new bike for my 45th birthday. The Norton started nagging in my head again, so I gave them a call. Spoke to a guy called Andy Jeans, sounded a decent chap. Went over my past history & he advised that things were a lot better now & I would not have the same problem. I was then told it would take nine months for delivery, em, that sound horribly familiar. I said thanks but no thanks, I would not wait that long. Next day I received an E mail advising that as I was a returning customer they could have a bike for me in April, this was January. As I was working away from home & would not be home until then I thought why not. I had only just paid my deposit when I get an E mail from Andy advising that he is leaving the company & someone new would take over my build. Oh dear here we go again, panic set in. The new guy was Sean Kynnersley & he is a gentleman. Anyway, I arrived home middle of April knowing that the bike is not ready but promised now for the start of May.
The bike arrived in May & I was so chuffed, finally I had the bike I lusted over in my garage. The next day I took her for the first run. Nothing fancy just a small 15 miles into see my mother. On arrival I stepped off the bike only to find oil all over the back wheel, the bike was covered in the stuff. There was so much oil I could not work out where it came from. Cleaned her all down & slowly rode back home, stopping every so often to check for oil leak. Found out she was leaking through the starter motor. The first of many phone calls to Norton. A new starter was sent up along with instructions on how to adapt an Allen key so as not to remove the clutch basket. New starter fitted & off we went again. We reached the 500 mile mark without further incident but the starter was leaking again. Hired a van & drove all the way to Donnington for the first service & to get the sports pipe fitted. Arrived early hours of the morning & found guys still working in the factory, they were preparing for the TT. Had a cup of coffee & then went for a sleep in the van. Woke up early next morning & the bike was rolled into the factory. I was advised that it would only take a couple of hours. The BSB was on at Donnington so I went to watch the practice. Came back to the factory around lunch time to find the bike in bits, the head & barrel was off. I spoke to the mechanic & said “that looks a bit serious for a basic service”. I was advised that they found traces of oil in the throttle bodies & that they were replacing the piston rings. Finally at five o clock my bike was ready. Pushed it into the van & started the long journey back to Scotland. Everything was fine for the first couple of hundred miles & then things started to go wrong again. When sitting at idle the bike would start to rev at all ranges on its own. Another phone call to be informed it was the lambda sensors & that they would get them sorted the next time they were up in Scotland. I did not have to wait for that to be fixed as on the next run out the gear selector dropped out & could not engage any gears. Yet another phone call to try & get the bike fixed. They eventually picked the bike up & she was gone for a month. Received a call one evening to say that my bike would be delivered that night & would I be available to take delivery, of course I will. The driver turned up at eleven o clock at night, he had been driving all day (he looked knackered). I asked if he needed a bed for the night but he said he had to get straight back for another delivery. I did not want to hold him up so I started the bike to ride it into the garage. When I started the bike up you could not see anything for smoke & I mean anything. The whole street was like fog. When the smoke cleared I asked the driver what the hell was going on, he said he was just the driver & to contact the factory in the morning. I should have just told him to take it away but he just looked shocked. The next morning, yet another phone call. I was told not to worry & it was just the new piston rings that had been installed. I was confused, that was not the reason that she had been back to the factory & it certainly was nothing to do with piston rings, this was valves. I was told just to run it for a couple of weeks & see how I get on. Well after a month I could not stand it any longer & called them to take it back & fix it. The bike was picked up again & off she went. Never saw her for another two months this time. Got the call saying she was on her way back & that they had had to replace the valve seals? Yet again another late night delivery. Woke up the next morning to beautiful sun shine (yes in Scotland) so decided to take the bike to work. Twenty miles of twisty country roads, great way to start your day. Arrived at work & everything was great, no issues on the run in. By lunch time the sun was still bright so I decided to head home & enjoy the run. After ten miles things were looking good so I decided to give her a bit more revs, that’s when it all went wrong. As the revs were rising on a straight section of road there was an almighty bang, a lot of smoke & a lot of clatter. I pulled in the clutch & just let her role to a stop. Got off the bike, put her on the side stand & lit a cigarette. Pulled out my phone & made the call.
Me: Hi Sean its Craig.
Sean: Hi Craig how’s the bike, have you been for a run yet.
Me: In fact yes, I am out on the bike now. She is currently sitting at the side of the road with an engine that has just gone pop.
Sean: Ha ha, I hope you’re kidding, how’s it really going.
Me: No I am not kidding, this one could have been serious & I could have been killed if anything else was on the road.
Sean: Well that’s not good, we will come & pick it up. Sorry about that.
Anyway, the bike was picked up yet again. I contacted Sean to say that I did not want the bike back as it was too much of a risk; the engine just wasn’t up to the task. After a lot of phone calls & many E mails I was persuaded to take the bike back but not before I had my conditions met.
The bike was to be 100% fixed before returning.
The warranty was to be extended by another year to cover the time she had spent in the factory.
If the engine failed again, I would receive a full refund.
I was given all the above in a letter from Norton & assured that if it happened again I would have no problem with a refund. I was also told that a new engine would be fitted to be sure she was good. Three months went by & no bike. Again lots of E mails & phone calls. Sorry we are waiting on parts. Sorry we have just bought Donnington Hall & we are in the middle of a move. As I said over three months later & the bike arrived & she was perfect. Funny thing was the new engine still had the old engine number? I also received an E mail from Sean saying he had now left Norton & could not help me any further.
Things were great, the bike ran well that was until two months ago. Again on the run home from work the bike started to lose power, I thought it had fouled a plug. Tried to clear it but nope she lost all compression & oil residue all over the engine, it was fatal. Made the inevitable phone call, advised who I was & asked to talk with someone who could arrange collection of the bike & my money back as agreed. I was told I would receive a call in the next hour. No call ever came. I called back & was asked if I had proof of the agreement, I said I did & would send a copy of the letter. I never received another call from Norton & to date they have still not talked to me. I sent countless E mails with no response. I did receive one E mail stating that the person I was sending my E mails to was on holiday & no one else saw his E mails & that he would be in touch on his return. So someone saw that E mail but did not see the others, more lies. I contacted a solicitor to start legal proceedings to get my money back. I sent him all the E mails I have from two years of heart ache from Norton & also the letter confirming that I would receive my money back. Guess what, Yup, Norton are also ignoring his letters.
So be warned, things are still not right at Norton. Those who have good bikes are happy & those of us who ended up with a broken bike are treated like it’s our fault. A certain Mr Garner does not deserve to hold the title to this classic name & I for one hope that one day it is taken from him.
For all the people who are thinking of purchasing one of these machines & think that Stuart Garner has gotten over all the issues with this bike, think again.
My love affair with this machine began back in 2009 at the NEC in Birmingham, as soon as I saw it I had to have it. I met Stuart & asked if I could purchase the bike that was on show right there & then. After a bit of a discussion I was told “yes you can have it” I had to call them at the factory the next day & arrange payment. I headed home with a great big smile happy in the knowledge of what I had just done. Next morning I got on the phone to make the payment & that’s when it all fell apart. I was advised that the bike was being shipped to the states for another show & that it would not be possible, I could however place an order & receive a new bike in three months. What the hell, the order was placed. By 2011 yes that correct 2011 I still had no bike. I had made plenty of phone calls & sent plenty E mails but just lies after lies. Funny but they never called me. In the end I gave up & after a while they did eventually pay my deposit back.
Fast forward to 2013 & I am looking for a new bike for my 45th birthday. The Norton started nagging in my head again, so I gave them a call. Spoke to a guy called Andy Jeans, sounded a decent chap. Went over my past history & he advised that things were a lot better now & I would not have the same problem. I was then told it would take nine months for delivery, em, that sound horribly familiar. I said thanks but no thanks, I would not wait that long. Next day I received an E mail advising that as I was a returning customer they could have a bike for me in April, this was January. As I was working away from home & would not be home until then I thought why not. I had only just paid my deposit when I get an E mail from Andy advising that he is leaving the company & someone new would take over my build. Oh dear here we go again, panic set in. The new guy was Sean Kynnersley & he is a gentleman. Anyway, I arrived home middle of April knowing that the bike is not ready but promised now for the start of May.
The bike arrived in May & I was so chuffed, finally I had the bike I lusted over in my garage. The next day I took her for the first run. Nothing fancy just a small 15 miles into see my mother. On arrival I stepped off the bike only to find oil all over the back wheel, the bike was covered in the stuff. There was so much oil I could not work out where it came from. Cleaned her all down & slowly rode back home, stopping every so often to check for oil leak. Found out she was leaking through the starter motor. The first of many phone calls to Norton. A new starter was sent up along with instructions on how to adapt an Allen key so as not to remove the clutch basket. New starter fitted & off we went again. We reached the 500 mile mark without further incident but the starter was leaking again. Hired a van & drove all the way to Donnington for the first service & to get the sports pipe fitted. Arrived early hours of the morning & found guys still working in the factory, they were preparing for the TT. Had a cup of coffee & then went for a sleep in the van. Woke up early next morning & the bike was rolled into the factory. I was advised that it would only take a couple of hours. The BSB was on at Donnington so I went to watch the practice. Came back to the factory around lunch time to find the bike in bits, the head & barrel was off. I spoke to the mechanic & said “that looks a bit serious for a basic service”. I was advised that they found traces of oil in the throttle bodies & that they were replacing the piston rings. Finally at five o clock my bike was ready. Pushed it into the van & started the long journey back to Scotland. Everything was fine for the first couple of hundred miles & then things started to go wrong again. When sitting at idle the bike would start to rev at all ranges on its own. Another phone call to be informed it was the lambda sensors & that they would get them sorted the next time they were up in Scotland. I did not have to wait for that to be fixed as on the next run out the gear selector dropped out & could not engage any gears. Yet another phone call to try & get the bike fixed. They eventually picked the bike up & she was gone for a month. Received a call one evening to say that my bike would be delivered that night & would I be available to take delivery, of course I will. The driver turned up at eleven o clock at night, he had been driving all day (he looked knackered). I asked if he needed a bed for the night but he said he had to get straight back for another delivery. I did not want to hold him up so I started the bike to ride it into the garage. When I started the bike up you could not see anything for smoke & I mean anything. The whole street was like fog. When the smoke cleared I asked the driver what the hell was going on, he said he was just the driver & to contact the factory in the morning. I should have just told him to take it away but he just looked shocked. The next morning, yet another phone call. I was told not to worry & it was just the new piston rings that had been installed. I was confused, that was not the reason that she had been back to the factory & it certainly was nothing to do with piston rings, this was valves. I was told just to run it for a couple of weeks & see how I get on. Well after a month I could not stand it any longer & called them to take it back & fix it. The bike was picked up again & off she went. Never saw her for another two months this time. Got the call saying she was on her way back & that they had had to replace the valve seals? Yet again another late night delivery. Woke up the next morning to beautiful sun shine (yes in Scotland) so decided to take the bike to work. Twenty miles of twisty country roads, great way to start your day. Arrived at work & everything was great, no issues on the run in. By lunch time the sun was still bright so I decided to head home & enjoy the run. After ten miles things were looking good so I decided to give her a bit more revs, that’s when it all went wrong. As the revs were rising on a straight section of road there was an almighty bang, a lot of smoke & a lot of clatter. I pulled in the clutch & just let her role to a stop. Got off the bike, put her on the side stand & lit a cigarette. Pulled out my phone & made the call.
Me: Hi Sean its Craig.
Sean: Hi Craig how’s the bike, have you been for a run yet.
Me: In fact yes, I am out on the bike now. She is currently sitting at the side of the road with an engine that has just gone pop.
Sean: Ha ha, I hope you’re kidding, how’s it really going.
Me: No I am not kidding, this one could have been serious & I could have been killed if anything else was on the road.
Sean: Well that’s not good, we will come & pick it up. Sorry about that.
Anyway, the bike was picked up yet again. I contacted Sean to say that I did not want the bike back as it was too much of a risk; the engine just wasn’t up to the task. After a lot of phone calls & many E mails I was persuaded to take the bike back but not before I had my conditions met.
The bike was to be 100% fixed before returning.
The warranty was to be extended by another year to cover the time she had spent in the factory.
If the engine failed again, I would receive a full refund.
I was given all the above in a letter from Norton & assured that if it happened again I would have no problem with a refund. I was also told that a new engine would be fitted to be sure she was good. Three months went by & no bike. Again lots of E mails & phone calls. Sorry we are waiting on parts. Sorry we have just bought Donnington Hall & we are in the middle of a move. As I said over three months later & the bike arrived & she was perfect. Funny thing was the new engine still had the old engine number? I also received an E mail from Sean saying he had now left Norton & could not help me any further.
Things were great, the bike ran well that was until two months ago. Again on the run home from work the bike started to lose power, I thought it had fouled a plug. Tried to clear it but nope she lost all compression & oil residue all over the engine, it was fatal. Made the inevitable phone call, advised who I was & asked to talk with someone who could arrange collection of the bike & my money back as agreed. I was told I would receive a call in the next hour. No call ever came. I called back & was asked if I had proof of the agreement, I said I did & would send a copy of the letter. I never received another call from Norton & to date they have still not talked to me. I sent countless E mails with no response. I did receive one E mail stating that the person I was sending my E mails to was on holiday & no one else saw his E mails & that he would be in touch on his return. So someone saw that E mail but did not see the others, more lies. I contacted a solicitor to start legal proceedings to get my money back. I sent him all the E mails I have from two years of heart ache from Norton & also the letter confirming that I would receive my money back. Guess what, Yup, Norton are also ignoring his letters.
So be warned, things are still not right at Norton. Those who have good bikes are happy & those of us who ended up with a broken bike are treated like it’s our fault. A certain Mr Garner does not deserve to hold the title to this classic name & I for one hope that one day it is taken from him.
