Went to the Norton Factory

[VladTepes]

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

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/

[grog]

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.

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[grog]

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.

[KiwiCol]

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.