Rode up to the Norton factory yesterday - my god it was wet, torrential rain ALL day, motirways were awful fir spray and the bike - well it needs a damn goid clean today for sure!
Anyway a few photos from the factory including the new V4 RR. Actually good value at £28K
Few more, including some from the machine shop where they make swing arms for the V4 SS from one piece of 70Kg Alloy!
These (believe it or not) are from the Commando production line - basically 4 stands where they build the bikes in a carpeted environment, and, if waiting for parts put them to one side before completing them.
The picture of the "chrome" V4 above is where they will put the V4 production line (similar to the Commando one)
Very nice Dave, some impressive machinery there.
Wow - biker heaven !! :smile2:
nice pics Barmy. unfortunately i owned a commando for a year.just my worst bike ive ever had. i hear norton, i run for cover. yes, it was really bad.
I love the look of those Commandos, glad to hear from Grog they are maintaining the traditional qualities of British bikes :rofl2:
Quote from: gsxbarmy on Saturday, 28 April 2018, 05:19 PM
Rode up to the Norton factory yesterday - my god it was wet, torrential rain ALL day, motirways were awful fir spray and the bike - well it needs a damn goid clean today for sure!
Anyway a few photos from the factory including the new V4 RR. Actually good value at £28K
28k for a factory tour? The UK has become rather expensive. :rofl2: :rofl2:
Nice pics but I wish they had the British flag the right way round :furious:
Quote from: mjgt on Saturday, 28 April 2018, 08:39 PM
Nice pics but I wish they had the British flag the right way round :furious:
So they have - Darn I didn't notice that
UPDATE: I have mailed Norton pointing out their error and expressing my displeasure
Good stuff, thanks for sharing Dave
Great pics Dave & thanks for sharing.
Pity the ride there & back was so bad.
Great pics! Loved the old commando.... had one for 6 months but couldn't stand the damned oil leaks.... had in parked in my garage with a permanent drip tray :rofl2:
Quote from: mjgt on Saturday, 28 April 2018, 08:39 PM
Nice pics but I wish they had the British flag the right way round :furious:
Doesn't it depend on which side the pole is?
As there's no pole, it can't be upside down.
Nice bikes, did you place an order?
Quote from: Dusty ST on Monday, 30 April 2018, 02:07 AM
Quote from: mjgt on Saturday, 28 April 2018, 08:39 PM
Nice pics but I wish they had the British flag the right way round :furious:
Doesn't it depend on which side the pole is?
As there's no pole, it can't be upside down.
Nice bikes, did you place an order?
The flag is definitely wrong, they need to sort it whatever - it should show the right way around to Joe Public IMO - hence why I have mailed the factory asking them to sort it.
As for placing an order - I seriously did think about going on the waiting list for for the V4 SS, all are sold at present (its a limited run of 200), but who knows what might happen in the long run. But at £44K, I was about £43,999 short unfortunately! WOuld be an investment though, as they can only appreciate in price for sure
Nortons look great and that new one especially.
And sadly that's it, They LOOK great.
They give bugger all support to dealers (overseas dealers at least) and basically say if anything breaks, as the dealer it's your responsibility to fix it, at your expense. Norton themselves don't want to know about it.
This would be bad if it was a fundamentally reliable bike, BUT when there are fundamental design flaws which means it's not a matter of if, but when they'll go wrong - it's inexcusable.
I don't recall the specifics of the problem but the mechanic did tell me, as a non-owner I didn't retain that info. As I understand it, they believe there is a fundamental flaw, which Norton must have known as they sent out a 'adapter' kit, which also doesn't fix the problem. Apparently it required fairly expensive engine work to modify it.
Bushman's engine repair thread (http://"https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/bushmans-engine-repair-thread.24186/#post-356049")
https://www.nortonownersclub.org/noc-chat/technical6-961-forum/348374234
https://www.nortonownersclub.org/noc-chat/technical6-961-forum/887009152?b_start=0#664780634
This dates from 2012 and doesn't paint a very good picture of the company at that time
http://www.bikerglory.com/2012/08/the-norton-saga/
gorgeous looking. so glad i dont own one. been so many cars /bikes that were duds. still is. holden cruize, ford focus. 500 twin ducati, kia carnical, cr 250 honda elsinore, xs750 yams. list can go forever. just inherent design faults. my new hilux, wont go there.
You forgot the Chrysler PT Cruiser Grog......
My brother asked for my opinion about them......lovely looking car his misses said, high spec convertable too.
Wonder why they bought it...... never mind , what would l know.
:whatever:
Kiwi, pt cruiser not worth a mention as most/all chrysler stuff. must except valiant chargers, those were unreal. 265 motor with triple carbs, headers glowed red in the dark. very quick. sorry, another little story. we inherited a chrysler centura, made by simca. worst car ever made was story. it just drove on forever, loved that car. only stopped by a ditch, that stuffed it. i flogged the hell out of it, best gravel road car ive driven. front brakes were same as l34 torana. sometimes a lemon has flowers. far and away my worst bikes were honda elsinore and norton commando. at least the honda was good to ride if you could start it.
Those Elsinores used to kick back, bloody hard too, mate broke his foot on one. They were pretty fun to ride though, as you say, once you started it. IT400 Yam was better though, they were lunatic, could hardly keep the front down!
I used to have a 265 Charger too! VH in Apache Red with the black side stripe, big airdam on the front. Mine had a 4 barrel Holley mounted, special inlet manifold from USA. Yanks had the mounts the wrong way around, had them changed so the primarys & secondarys were equidistant from the cyls & it ran better. Had been known to tow my old caravan at 80mph + with that lump. Loose the back end though & it was a real bit#h to try & hold.
I digress again, sorry chaps.