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

NorTriDuc said:
It wouldn’t make any sense to have a brand new model with a v4 and designed with classic looks. It would be impossible to hide all the wiring and hoses.

I’m not believing that TVS Norton will be offering anything in their line up, that will be in the modern classic design.
Click to expand...
But it will be "super premium"!!
 
I don't think Norton will introduce a true modern classic this time around.
It's a relatively small clique segment, and Norton have to aim at the largest segment right now to grab some market share.
But I wouldn't put it past them to "dress up" one of their new modern small bore models in pseudo classic style.
Plastic classic, if you will. It requires little design and no engineering cost, and may work for some folk.
 
BritTwit said:
I don't think Norton will introduce a true modern classic this time around.
It's a relatively small clique segment, and Norton have to aim at the largest segment right now to grab some market share.
But I wouldn't put it past them to "dress up" one of their new modern small bore models in pseudo classic style.
Plastic classic, if you will. It requires little design and no engineering cost, and may work for some folk.
Click to expand...
This isn't just a Norton issue. It's so much the same with every manufacturer. It's like rebooting Baywatch on TV. No original ideas left. And technology is not the answer (except for anti-lock brakes); that should be a minimum requirement, along with the ability to turn it off as needed. Sadly, many people buy on looks and hype, then add parts to their bikes when they can't even ride to the capability of the stock components. If you lined up most modern motorcycles and removed the logos and names, except for some distinctive styling (like Ducati, etc.), they all look the same.

So you are back to name recognition and brand loyalists.
 
Don’t think anybody is saying that they will dress up the V4 as a retro. BH is indicating that the stubby rear end will be a modern take (like Duc and Beemer); straying from this current design trend would likely not sell. Norton will try and differentiate the rear end with the fin/lighting config we have seen.

I’d be (very) surprised if we don’t see modern retros in the lineup though - they are still a huge segment in the market and growing (apparently). With Norton’s heritage it would seem a ‘no brainer’.

My money’s with BT, the first will likely be a lower capacity bike to go head-to-head with volume models in that segment. Millennials like the classic styling, younger dudes the styling and lower cost.

Whatever they produce I’m really hoping they retain the original Norton logo - to modernise it would be a mistake IMO.​
 
Last edited:
BritTwit said:
I don't think Norton will introduce a true modern classic this time around.
It's a relatively small clique segment, and Norton have to aim at the largest segment right now to grab some market share.
But I wouldn't put it past them to "dress up" one of their new modern small bore models in pseudo classic style.
Plastic classic, if you will. It requires little design and no engineering cost, and may work for some folk.
Click to expand...
They already have a modern classic and they see that it doesn’t sell well.
 
City Garage said:
This isn't just a Norton issue. It's so much the same with every manufacturer. It's like rebooting Baywatch on TV. No original ideas left. And technology is not the answer (except for anti-lock brakes); that should be a minimum requirement, along with the ability to turn it off as needed. Sadly, many people buy on looks and hype, then add parts to their bikes when they can't even ride to the capability of the stock components. If you lined up most modern motorcycles and removed the logos and names, except for some distinctive styling (like Ducati, etc.), they all look the same.

So you are back to name recognition and brand loyalists.
Click to expand...
100% spot on.
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Don’t think anybody is saying that they will dress up the V4 as a retro. BH is indicating that the stubby rear end will be a modern take (like Duc and Beemer); straying from this current design trend would likely not sell. Norton will try and differentiate the rear end with the fin/lighting config we have seen.

I’d be (very) surprised if we don’t see modern retros in the lineup though - they are still a huge segment in the market and growing (apparently). With Norton’s heritage it would seem a ‘no brainer’.

My money’s with BT, the first will likely be a lower capacity bike to go head-to-head with volume models in that segment. Millennials like the classic styling, younger dudes the styling and lower cost.

Whatever they produce I’m really hoping they retain the original Norton logo - to modernise it would be a mistake IMO.​
Click to expand...
Will all due respect, you’ve been saying that the small displacement bikes were coming first.

The 961 is as modern retro as you can get.
The sales are poor and so is the technology, today market demands technology.

People keep saying “Nortons heritage”.
That doesn’t mean anything today. They are not that widely recognized by today’s youth and brand loyalty doesn’t mean anything to a consumer when that brand has been in the shadows for decades like Norton. Look at modern BSA.

Nortons v4 is a weak contender in today market, meaning the power levels.
The young riders of today bench race by power numbers and dollars and we already know most of today’s Norton followers, such as we, whom are on these groups are not interested in a sports bike.

Triumphs greatest sales hit the 100k yearly milestone with the 400cc bikes. With its biggest sales in India.
 
NorTriDuc said:
Will all due respect, you’ve been saying that the small displacement bikes were coming first.

The 961 is as modern retro as you can get.
The sales are poor and so is the technology, today market demands technology.

People keep saying “Nortons heritage”.
That doesn’t mean anything today. They are not that widely recognized by today’s youth and brand loyalty doesn’t mean anything to a consumer when that brand has been in the shadows for decades like Norton. Look at modern BSA.

Nortons v4 is a weak contender in today market, meaning the power levels.
The young riders of today bench race by power numbers and dollars and we already know most of today’s Norton followers, such as we, whom are on these groups are not interested in a sports bike.

Triumphs greatest sales hit the 100k yearly milestone with the 400cc bikes. With its biggest sales in India.
Click to expand...
We’ve known for many months now that the V4 was coming first Voodooo - Norton have been telling us that. That’s what has been discussed here on the forum. Not sure what else, if anything, they might show at EICMA - concept of another model - maybe the 450 - who knows?

The 961 was never about technology, neither is it really a ‘modern retro’ in the true sense - to my mind anyway. It’s an air cooled, push rod parallel twin (using 70 year old engine design) with FI bolted on. It’s not a modern water cooled bike with riding modes (disguised radiator ‘n’faux carb🤫) pretending to be an air cooled parallel twin. More authenticity, less parody.

I expect Norton will produce modern retros at some stage - there’s very good reason most manufacturers do. Not sure which model(s) but possibly the 450. A modern bike with modern technology, performance and reliability, finished in retro/classic styling. Not really a description you can apply to the 961!

Don’t think we know whether the Norton V4 will be a weak contender - have’nt seen it, nor its spec sheet yet. The ‘road going’ type teases from Norton seem to indicate that it may be down on HP compared to the direct competition though. Will this affect sales? You’d have to think so but to what degree - who knows.

TVS has 200 million+ reasons to believe that Norton has sufficient brand recognition/heritage to influence sales. Not their first rodeo, but only time will tell.
 
Last edited:
City Garage said:
They already used Manx

NORTON Commando 961 LE Manx​

Click to expand...
Was the 961 Manx a model that was planned with the "NEW" 961 back in 2022, but never sold?
I don't remember ever hearing such a model offered by Solihull.
The Atlas moniker was also used for one of the aborted 600cc Donington twins. May be Norton is planning on introducing a 450cc twin styled like the original Donington Atlas.
 
By announce I guess they infer show - I think so. In full trim (or concept form). We know there are six bikes coming (showing) over the next two years. Three @ EICMA 25 and three @ EICMA 26?

Assuming the names are correct - my guess would be the V4 Manx & a higher spec sexier (more expensive) V4 Manx R. They have drawn a line with development of the V4 SS at the IOM. Legitimate enough (in marketing terms anyway) to carry that through the V4SV to a V4 Manx (V4M & V4MR?)? Using Norton (racing) heritage as we’ve been discussing.

My guess for the Atlas would be the TVS developed 450 parallel twin in retro/classic styling.

Could be completely wrong - usually am! Not long to wait now though.
 
BritTwit said:
Was the 961 Manx a model that was planned with the "NEW" 961 back in 2022, but never sold?
I don't remember ever hearing such a model offered by Solihull.
The Atlas moniker was also used for one of the aborted 600cc Donington twins. May be Norton is planning on introducing a 450cc twin styled like the original Donington Atlas.
Click to expand...
If you click the link is shows what Judd Racing has on their site
 
To work out what type of market TVS plans to sell Norton's into then read the Telegraph article.

By 2028, TVS expects to sell about 20,000 Norton motorbikes annually, generating around £150mn in revenue.
Click to expand...

That works out at £7,500 per bike. Triumph for 2024 averaged £5000 per bike.
 
BritTwit said:
I did click on the site and it shows a 961 dressed up as a "961 LE Manx", but I never heard of such a bike.
Was this a real model offered by Solihull?
If so, I wonder how many were sold.
Click to expand...
The Manx was one of three 961 Limited Editions .. The Manx, the Transatlantic and the Energette. 150 made in total.
 
Back
Top