Norton goes into administration.

[Cycleops]

Sad to read that Norton are having problems and are going into administration. A great British motorcycle marque with a long history. I remember owning a 88 and a Commando, the 88 was a bit of a horror but that wasn't the bike's fault, the Commando was superb:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51303905

 

[steveindenmark]

Suprising that they have hung on so long. I am Moto Guzzi man and sd would have folded a long time ago if we were not linked to Vespa and Aprilla.

 

[pawl]

Am sorry to hear about Norton’s problem,Tiumph managed to rescue the brand.To decrepit to ride motorcycles these days There catalogue shows a great range of bikes Perhaps Norton missed a trick with there range.

 

[byegad]

IIRC Norton went bust some time ago, only to be brought back to production by the current firm.
Sad to see them go under again.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

You can't survive on lore and sentiment alone. You have to innovate.
Brands like these rely on the offspring of people who used to own the original item. These people make nostalgic purchases and once this source dries up...belly-up it goes.

Another tankslapper bites the dust.

 

[Dirk]

You can't survive on lore and sentiment alone. You have to innovate.
Brands like these rely on the offspring of people who used to own the original item. These people make nostalgic purchases and once this source dries up...belly-up it goes.

Another tankslapper bites the dust.

Just about the only bike I've never had a tank slapper on.
My Norton Atlas on the road, and the Manx Norton I raced were both extremely stable and predictable.

 

[bikepacker]

I also raced an ageing Manx Norton in clubmans races in the late 50s and early 60s. Never had a Norton road bike though.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Not a virus checking failure then......

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Just about the only bike I've never had a tank slapper on.
My Norton Atlas on the road, and the Manx Norton I raced were both extremely stable and predictable.

My comment was just a little jibe to twitch some sphincters. I've only ever ridden Bonnies. I still like the look of the Manx though but could never afford one.
I'll tell you what can't be disputed: "Another oil leak bites the dust."

 

[Smokin Joe]

Overpriced 1960's replicas that had limited appeal except to aging rockers with plenty of money.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I remember a neighbour having a Norton Dominator (Dommy) 650SS, a great looking bike with an amazing noise when he gave it some beans.
(He fitted a steering damper after a scary tank slapper he only just managed to save.)

 

[Dirk]

My comment was just a little jibe to twitch some sphincters. I've only ever ridden Bonnies. I still like the look of the Manx though but could never afford one.
I'll tell you what can't be disputed: "Another oil leak bites the dust."

The modern Castle Donington Nortons don't leak.

 

[Milkfloat]

My rescue cat is called Norton, because when we got him he purred very loudly and had gut problems that caused him to leak brown fluid. It was either that or let my son have his choice of name which was Rainbow.

 

[Smokin Joe]

The name "Norton" means nothing to anyone under 50. They went about it all wrong when they relaunched the brand and started making Commando replicas. Firstly the Japanese and now the Chinese are showing the proper way to do it - start off with small capacity learner and commuter machines, make them work, attract the younger riders and build a brand loyalty that will last. Then when you are in a position to start getting into the serious end of the market with large capacity machines you have a ready customer base who trust the name. My biking career started on learner friendly Hondas and thanks to the quality of those bikes they were the first name I looked for whenever I bought a new bike, and if I were to get back into it that would still be the case.

 

[Cycleops]

I remember when small Hondas first started appearing at the local motorcycle store all clean and antiseptic next to the oily Beezers James and Nortons. Quite a few were skeptical but they soon caught on. I remember a mechanic telling me they were no good and made of 'monkey metal', not like a proper British bike. The rest is history.