New Norton

[Cormanus]

Check out this new Norton 1200 cc V4.



Scant details are available here: http://amcn.com.au/editorial/norton-unve...superbike/

[DAC]

Nice. Always been a fan of the V4 config. This looks like a high $ road racer which is a crowded niche market. Seems like I saw an article a while back about the classic Norton bikes coming back. Could be a Triumph-style comeback in the making.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Saw an article about this bike a little while back.

Norton, if I recall, got a huge infusion of government money to design and build this bike.

Honda can afford to build a street-going RC213V and sell a handful because it sells hundreds of thousands of cars and motorcycles and power equipment, not to mention the dough Honda makes with its financing.

How can Norton, a company without any real product, hope to start at the pinnacle of technology and build a successful business once again? This bike cannot dream of competing with the R1, ZX-10R, S1000RR, or CBR1000RR SP2.

That article is a press release; "snapped up" likely means small deposits have been made in hopes of delivery. I am thinking of EBR's business model. Build something sexy, tout it, and then fail whilst taking the money and running.

Yep, I am a cynic when it comes to this stuff.
I remember reading about the Commando series coming out, and have yet to see one or even hear of anyone who owns one of these. I see there are a total of seven dealers in the USA.

I am sure we Baby Boomers are being bilked for every last nickel with products that recall our misspent youth.
I recall reading about this some time back. The people's money put to good use; I note Norton does not make any motorcycle accessible or affordable to the middle or lower classes.

"In August 2011, UK minister Vince Cable announced that the Government was underwriting a £7.5 million bank loan to Norton, to promote secure cash flow for their export sales. Garner responded that this finance would allow Norton to double annual production from 500 to 1,000 machines."

[Ulvetanna_imp]

I just wanted to update this with my latest outrage. The run-of-the-mill Nortons are listed at about $29,000, much more than many automobiles. A Thruxton is less than half that. Why do governments secure loans for companies who cater to elitists for a few years and then fold up? That just chaps my hide.