What's happening at Norton? Sale to TVS, massive investment, new bikes...

74ok said:
folks can talk about whatever they like here, i've no doubt new norton launching a fresh product line, will easily trump, anything going on here. What went down prior, mostly belongs there, end of story
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Exactly.
We own 961’s and that’s where my dislike for TVS is. How they chosen to handle the situation.

Will I have the same feelings towards TVS new models?
No.
Because I don’t own one.
 
NorTriDuc said:
Hate? Such a strong word.
It’s ok to voice your love for a company when it always goes your way?

Why is it, that you and especially SS are madly in love with a brand that fails to help keep customers enjoying the same brand we all own?

I mean it’s such a wonderful feeling owning a legacy brand and the company who says they’ll ship out your service parts, only to go silent and never hear a word back.

Is your purchase of the brand entitle you to only make comments of the brand or product?

Why does it so upset you when some of us voice our unhappiness?
How about the few of us who get sick of hearing how happy you are with the brand. Don’t like it? Don’t read it.

How much money have you invested with the brand?
I think we’re all entitled to voice our opinions.

Where were you in the early stages of the 961 under Garner? Didn’t hear you being so chipper back then.

Sincerely Voodoo
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There’s nobody here ‘madly in love with the brand’ Voodooo, nor harping on about how ‘happy we are..’ with it; we’ve all had cause to criticise Norton. Most in a balanced way.

The majority of us do so though (I believe) with an anticipation, even some optimism, for what might come with future models - EICMA’s just around the corner. ‘It’s too little, too late, they missed the boat long ago’ is not the prevailing opinion I don’t believe. You are entitled to it though of course.

Objection to the negative commentary relates mainly to its incessant, overbearing, repetitive nature. It sucks the life out of any discussion - look where we are now from a discussion about new models you yourself started (@ #1262).
 
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I am new to the brand and personally I am very excited for the future of the brand. My suggestion to the nay sayers, wait until the November bike launches and then decide.
 
NorTriDuc said:
Exactly.
We own 961’s and that’s where my dislike for TVS is. How they chosen to handle the situation.

Will I have the same feelings towards TVS new models?
No.
Because I don’t own one.
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Assuming your from the US, then you won't have any experience with TVS Norton, so why the dislike? I own a TVS 961 and I'm very happy with it.
 
Bevelheadmhr said:
Assuming your from the US, then you won't have any experience with TVS Norton, so why the dislike? I own a TVS 961 and I'm very happy with it.
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Without rehashing the past 5 years, it’s the total waste of time from TVS trying to get any spare parts for my 961’s so I can enjoy them.

Being told numerous times by TVS that they’d ship the parts, only to be passed onto another employee, and that includes a high ranking member of the company in which he at the time, joined this very forum only to once again go silent.

For years I tried getting spare parts from TVS, they claimed they couldn’t accept payments when I was sent invoices, then told the parts were not available. Then, I’d receive a email saying they were available and again told me they weren’t. This went on over and over. So instead, both of my Norton 961’s sit and have so since.

During the Donington era, anyone could order parts and receive them in days.

I’m not the only one who’s been down this road.

Good luck getting 961 spares now that they will soon discontinue the model.
 
74ok said:
folks can talk about whatever they like here, i've no doubt new norton launching a fresh product line, will easily trump, anything going on here. What went down prior, mostly belongs there, end of story
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So are you bored over at the commando forum and decided to troll here or ??? It sounds like you want to pick a fight.
 
wildrover said:
I am new to the brand and personally I am very excited for the future of the brand. My suggestion to the nay sayers, wait until the November bike launches and then decide.
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The November bike launch is one bike, three different ways, with an engine already seen in production and no indication of sales to anything beyond the UK market at a price point many dont buy at. The upcoming bike is again like the 961, a placeholder for the absolute crap they want to get to market under the TVS banner. I'm hoping for innovation, but sadly, TVS isn't known for that.
 
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Bevelheadmhr said:
Assuming your from the US, then you won't have any experience with TVS Norton, so why the dislike? I own a TVS 961 and I'm very happy with it.
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I am sure all the USA owners want the new TVS 961, but regardless, there won't be any spare parts available, so you're buying an obsolete motorcycle that dealers won't support and very few independent mechanics want to work on.
 
The TVS 961 is no longer in production. As for the new models, Norton have clearly said that there will be 6 new models announced, on three new 'platforms'. The latter is usually considered to mean new engine/chassis. I doubt TVS have invested £200 million plus, just to produce an updated V4, which will sell in relatively low numbers, no matter how good it is.
 
Bevelheadmhr said:
The TVS 961 is no longer in production. As for the new models, Norton have clearly said that there will be 6 new models announced, on three new 'platforms'. The latter is usually considered to mean new engine/chassis. I doubt TVS have invested £200 million plus, just to produce an updated V4, which will sell in relatively low numbers, no matter how good it i
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I'll take this line by line- The TVS 961 is no longer in production. No kidding. That's why I said an obsolete motorcycle with no spare parts

Six new models announced, on three new 'platforms', but you forgot to add they said maybe by 2027 as well- You really think TVS has "new" platforms when they just created an India Norton company to basically sell to themselves the exact product they are producing under the TVS banner? They said they "might" introduce other models at the show beyond the new V4, not "will".

The original "six" includes the 961 and the V4, plus four new models when they released the 2024 annual report, so this is just again regurgitation of the same words in a different package.

The "new" bikes will be the same as those they are producing now, the 310 and 450. They are not going to use anything new, just a different packaging

Also, let's not forget who owns the 961 engine as well.
 
NorTriDuc said:
I see young people riding CVO Harley’s which cost over $45k USD.
Same goes for $30-50k Ducatis.

IF you think a young person wants a 400 cc bike from Norton, that’s going to most likely cost more than a TVS brand or other more affordable option, that’s hilarious.

The Norton name doesn’t matter to a young person, nor does its history.
As CG said, the market is already flooded. Too many options.
And not to forget, Norton still doesn’t have a dealer network outside of the UK.

It’s too little, too late. They missed that boat a long time ago.
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sounds like where triumph was, at 1 time, turned out they missed nothing. They also very recently, busted out big time, in the 400cc market, from nothing
 
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NorTriDuc said:
Why is it, that you and especially SS are madly in love with a brand that fails to help keep customers enjoying the same brand we all own?
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Started out with a commando, back in 77, then yawned on thru to the garner stuff. Dunno why tvs didn't provide parts or the details, but sounds like s stupid move, kinda like the combat.

So my experience was fabulous, then there was/is a fabulous, remarkable history, behind the name. Nxt thing u know, new folks are finally busting out, love it.

Everyone remembers the combat saga, but certainly didn't stop most from having fab experiences, prob with the best parts availability out there, to keep them going
 
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74ok said:
sounds like where triumph was, at 1 time, turned out they missed nothing. They also very recently, busted out big time, in the 400cc market, from nothing
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You realize when triumph got into the game, nobody else was doing retro British classics. You realize this correct?
Today’s market is clearly different.

Show or tell me why the 961 doesn’t outsell the competitors.
TVS knows why.
That’s another reason why it’s being discontinued.

Not that the USA market matters to Norton, but nobody in the USA wants a 400 cc bike.
 
74ok said:
Started out with a commando, back in 77, then yawned on thru to the garner stuff. Dunno why tvs didn't provide parts or the details, but sounds like s stupid move, kinda like the combat.

So my experience was fabulous, then there was/is a fabulous, remarkable history, behind the name. Nxt thing u know, new folks are finally busting out, love it.

Everyone remembers the combat saga, but certainly didn't stop most from having fab experiences, prob with the best parts availability out there, to keep them going
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If it’s so great, and so many love the Norton brand, why were are the current sales in the gutter?
 
City Garage said:
It's more the 75 because of the "correct" shift/brake and electric start.
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That would get a heated discussion on the "classic" Norton Commando forum.
Many there would say the correct/brake position ended with the 74 model, and the 75 was the outlier.
And with the E-Starter the 75 was heavier than the prior year's models, and therefore slower.
Of course I prefer my '75, but what the hell do I know.:p
 
NorTriDuc said:
Hate? Such a strong word.
It’s ok to voice your love for a company when it always goes your way?

Why is it, that you and especially SS are madly in love with a brand that fails to help keep customers enjoying the same brand we all own?

I mean it’s such a wonderful feeling owning a legacy brand and the company who says they’ll ship out your service parts, only to go silent and never hear a word back.

Is your purchase of the brand entitle you to only make comments of the brand or product?

Why does it so upset you when some of us voice our unhappiness?
How about the few of us who get sick of hearing how happy you are with the brand. Don’t like it? Don’t read it.

How much money have you invested with the brand?
I think we’re all entitled to voice our opinions.

Where were you in the early stages of the 961 under Garner? Didn’t hear you being so chipper back then.

Sincerely Voodoo
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NorTriDuc said:
Hate? Such a strong word.
It’s ok to voice your love for a company when it always goes your way?

Why is it, that you and especially SS are madly in love with a brand that fails to help keep customers enjoying the same brand we all own?

I mean it’s such a wonderful feeling owning a legacy brand and the company who says they’ll ship out your service parts, only to go silent and never hear a word back.

Is your purchase of the brand entitle you to only make comments of the brand or product?

Why does it so upset you when some of us voice our unhappiness?
How about the few of us who get sick of hearing how happy you are with the brand. Don’t like it? Don’t read it.

How much money have you invested with the brand?
I think we’re all entitled to voice our opinions.

Where were you in the early stages of the 961 under Garner? Didn’t hear you being so chipper back then.

Sincerely Voodoo
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Nah, actually.

I'm on here to either learn from or share what I've learnt about my bike.

Aside from a few parts here and there from both Lance and Stuart when I need them, this is my dealership. I've bought parts from TVS, no real hassle. Amassed an array of spares from here and there to keep going.

That's all. Just gets boring wading through the negativity when I'm trying to find a few facts here and there.

I've got no right to stop the armchair experts debating. I'd just like to hear more of the expertise than the debate.

I mean, we can't all be AJD.
 
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