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Norton Motorcycles

I see Norton have gone into administration:slightly_frowning_face: Ron
https://www.business-live.co.uk/manufacturing/historic-uk-bike-builder-norton-17654690?fbclid=IwAR1FpIZI1FuWTlelOM8J3ZLhJttP3vXCq9dbSHPE8HUjXe6yNcVfQg_S4mc

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Re: Norton Motorcycles

Saw it on the news, a sad day.

I was reading somewhere that several of the military motorcycles in Beaulieu belonged to Norton including the 3TW I wonder what will happen to that now?

Rob

email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk

Re: Norton Motorcycles

A shame..but not entirely unpredictable if my friends experience with them was typical...It's also a bit more than a 'stretch' to say they've been in business since the late 1800s...:laughing:

I'm not a Norton fan really but conversely I was one of the 'lucky/stupid' shareholders that supported them and lost money the last time this happened...Remember the saga of the rotaries?...Nuff said...

Hopefully someone might put some more money in the pot as the latest bikes certainly looked like they had potential...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Re: Norton Motorcycles

Around 25 years ago, while working for the MoD, I was tasked to recondition a batch of Norton rotary engines for the military police and escort bikes. The last few required the engine casings sent back to Norton works to have facings replated (I forget the absolute details now). When inquiring why we had not received them back we heard that the business had gone bust, end of that job! Best part was that every engine I built was put in a bike and I was able to give them a 20 mile road test.

Re: Norton Motorcycles

Norton altered the finish/treatment applied to the sideplates..It was often the side seals and plate surfaces that failed rather than the rotor tip seals...Lots of engines were updated with this modification...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Re: Norton Motorcycles

That is true Ian. The standard of engineering was far higher than normal Otto cycle engines with clearances at fractions of a thousandth of an inch. Very satisfying job after all the other types of engines I have rebuilt in my working life. The bike itself was a delight to ride and the engine extremely flexible ... but as a BSA man, I could not give them up!

A shame that Nortons have failed again. These companies aim to high, they should make smaller and simpler bikes for the younger riders and like all the manufacturers used to do and then they would move up to larger bikes, but they will never learn.

Re: Norton Motorcycles

It always had a bad smell about it from the start.
The saviour moves the failing factory to a site that is totally unsuitable for making motorcycles, that they just happen to own.

Smells a bit ?
Remember a scam called Hesketh ?
and to top it off it now looks like the "saviour" has bee fiddleing the pension fund.

https://www.business-live.co.uk/manufacturing/norton-administration-latest-pension-schemes-17658450

email (option): bsansw1@tpg.com.au

Re: Norton Motorcycles

Interesting that someone mentioned Hesketh. That was the previous company that tried to market a motorcycle with an engine that sounded like a skeleton having a wank in a galvanised dustbin.

Re: Norton Motorcycles

You paint a wonderful picture Rik....:laughing: I must admit I was shocked at the level of mechanical noise from my friends brand new Commando 961. My nearly 70 year old B33 that I was riding when I went to visit him sounded a lot healthier!!.
It took about 12 months of embarrassment (not to mention three fruitless trips back to the factory for failed rectification) before he sold the bike and replaced it with a 1200cc Triumph Bonneville which, although it didn't look as nice, sounded 'normal' and was cheaper....Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

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