Norton Motorcycles Archives

Norton Opens First Flagship Store At The Bike Shed London

Norton Motorcycles has just opened its first retail store, the Norton Atelier, at The Bike Shed in London. This is a major milestone for the British brand, which has been steadily rebuilding after a period of tumultuous change.

The new flagship store to showcase the brand’s V4SV superbike and the iconic Commanod 961.
Norton also plans to establish showrooms at five other locations throughout the UK.

Norton’s new CEO and a £100 million investment have helped to revitalize the company, and the launch of the 2023 Commando 961 has shown that Norton is ready to compete once again.

The Norton Atelier showcases the V4SV superbike and the Commando 961, both of which are available for purchase or test rides. Additionally, the showroom features Norton apparel designed by Savile Row fashion designer Nick Tentis. Tentis has also played a significant role in designing the retail space, which he describes as reflecting the history and values of the Norton brand.

The launch of the Norton Atelier is just the beginning for the brand. The company plans to establish showrooms at five other locations throughout the UK, including Krazy Horse London, Crawley’s P&H Motorcycles, Sheffield’s Via Moto, Bodmin’s Thor Motorcycles, and Cheshire’s Oakmere Motor Group. All of these locations will offer test rides, maintenance, and parts and accessories.

Norton Chief Commercial Officer Christian Gladwell expressed his enthusiasm for the brand’s expansion into the marketplace. “More dealers mean more riders enjoying the results of the hard work and dedication that the entire team at Norton has contributed towards,” he said.

Norton Working On A New Commando 961

Norton Motorcycles is now working on a new generation of Commando 961.

production will commence at new Solihull manufacturing plant.
Norton will fulfil customers’ deposit submitted during previous management.

Norton has been working hard to restore its customer’s faith in the company ever since India’s TVS Motor Company purchased the British brand back in April 2020.

TVS has also invested millions in opening a new headquarters in Solihull to ensure the brand stays in the UK and hired new top executives to bring back the company to its former glory.

Norton recently kickstarted its manufacturing plant with the new Norton V4SV superbike, but in the latest development, the company also decided to fulfil customers’ Commando 961 deposits submitted during the previous administration.

In a new announcement, Norton will fulfil the pre-orders for the Commando 961 before offering the new bike to the public.

Although the Commando 961 nameplate is associated with the previous management led by former CEO Stuart Garner, the new Norton CEO, John Russel, thinks that the Commando moniker should continue to live on.

“I can’t imagine Norton not having a Commando in the lineup, so the big question is what should characterize a modern Commando and when we will bring it to market,” he said.

The announcement also came together with two teaser photos of the new Commando 961, confirming that the iconic motorcycle will retain the classic cafe-racer design.

Meanwhile, interested parties can sign up for Norton’s e-mail notifications to get updates on the new Commando 961.

Norton Accept Bookings For 2023 V4SV Superbike – RM237k

Norton Motorcycles have announced that bookings are now open for the company’s flagship V4SV superbike.

The V4SV is the first model to roll out of the factory since the acquisition by TVS.
The flagship superbike offer 185hp and full carbon fibre bodywork.

However, delivery will only occur after the first builds are delivered to customers who placed their orders before TVS Motor Company acquired the British motorcycle brand in April 2020.

“It is a hugely proud moment to announce that customers can now buy the re-engineered V4SV.

“I would like to thank the Norton team, customers and fans for their continued support for joining us on this journey in bringing Norton and V4SV to life,”
said Norton CEO, Dr. Robert Hentschel.

According to reports, the V4SV superbike is the first motorcycle to roll off the production line 18 months after TVS had to re-engineer the bike following the discovery of 35 faults in the previous built under former owner Stuart Garner.

A liquid-cooled 1200cc 72-degree V4 engine powers the Norton V4SV and can pump 185hp at 12,500rpm, making it a close rival to the Triumph Speed Triple 1200RR.

Other neat features available on the V4SV include:

carbon fibre fuel tank
carbon fibre bodywork
handcrafted TIG-wielded aluminium tube frame

The V4SV is being built at Norton’s new Solihull HQ, developed as part of a new investment from TVS with the promise of delivering up to 8,000 units annually.

For those interested to placed an order, the Norton V4SV is priced at GBP44,000 (RM237k).

Norton To Build Electric Motorcycle, Announces Project ‘Zero Emission Norton’

TVS-owned Norton Motorcycles is ready to kick-start its electrification program by announcing the ‘Zero Emission Norton’ project.

The Zero Emission Norton will take two and a half years.
Plans to design and manufacture electric motorcycles in the United Kingdom.

Norton is finally on the move two years after the brand was in a critical situation by unveiling the V4SV exotic superbike.

The momentous occasion marks the company’s new direction under TVS Motor Company.

In the latest announcement, Norton has revealed plans to design and manufacture electric motorcycles in the UK.

The new manufacturing plant will be in charge of race performance, lightweight and touring range.

Thanks to the government funding, it will be a joint effort between Norton and Delta Cosworth, which will assist the battery and other critical components to power the motorcycle.

Meanwhile, the University of Warwick – which helps develop the TT Zero Race machine – will take charge of modelling, toolchain development and battery technology.

According to Norton, the Zero Emission project is part of a 10-year product plan and supports UK’s mission to achieve a net-zero automotive future. The aim is to lift the UK is returning to being a global tech leader for motorcycles.

TVS Motor Company invests £100m into Norton Motorcycles brand

New owners of ailing British brand Norton Motorcycles, India’s TVS Motor Company, puts up £100m investment to spur brand’s development.

(more…)

Ex-Norton Motorcycles CEO Stuart Garner Facing 2-Years Jail Time

Former Norton Motorcycles CEO, Stuart Garner, was found guilty of illegally investing pension funds into the business and is facing a two-year jail time.

Garner was responsible for reviving the brand after purchasing the company in 2008.

He then introduced the revamped Commando range and the ambitious V4 superbike project before Norton went into administration in January 2020.

However, he was in the spotlight for injecting the pension funds into the 2012 Dominator, 2012 Commando and the Donington MC schemes to prop the business up.

The act is a clear breach of the law that only allows a maximum of 5 per cent of occupational pension to be invested into the employer’s company.

After an investigation by the Pensions Ombudsman, which found that Garner had acted dishonestly, the court ordered Garner to pay off the money (estimated GBP11mil) in June 2020.

At that time, most of Norton’s assets were already sold to current ownership, TVS Motor Company, for GBP16mil.

Nevertheless, TVS opted to take over the firm; instead, the current Norton brand is a new company with rights to the bikes’ brand name and intellectual property.

Garner pleaded guilty at Derby Magistrates’ Court to three charges of breaching employer-related investment rules, investing money from the three pension schemes into Norton in return for preference shares between 2012 and 2013.

Norton Motorcycles Unveils V4 Cafe Racer Prototype

Norton Motorcycle is set to expand its 1200cc V4 range with the all-new V4CR.

After the successful launch of the V4SV Manx and Carbon edition back in October, the revived Norton Motorcycles is scheduled to unveil the V4CR Prototype at the Motorcycle Live happening this weekend until December 12.

According to the TVS-owned company, the V4CR is the first prototype to be compeletly crafted from the new Norton headquarters in Solihull.

Sharing the same 1200cc V4 engine from the V4SV, the V4CR also makes 185hp and 125Nm.

However, the rear frame on the V4CR is shorter than the V4SV and it also features a carbon fibre fuel tank and body panels while the frame and swingarm are constructed from billet aluminium.

Norton CEO Dr Robert Hentschel claimed that the V4CR prototype represents the company next big step in strategic growth.

New Ownership Set To Take Flight With Updated Norton V4SV

Norton Motorcycles has finally unveiled the updated V4SV, acclaimed to be the most luxury British superbike ever built.

It is the first bike ever produced by Norton after its takeover by India’s motorcycle giant, TVS Motor.

According to Norton, despite no changes from the previous V4SS package, each component has been revised.

The V4SV makes 185hp and 125Nm and is built around a handcrafted aluminium frame.

To ensure the product quality is top-notch, the TVS owned company ran a 12-month test of the V4SS.

The level of luxuries doesn’t stop there, the V4SV also comes equipped with fully adjustable Öhlins USD front forks and Öhlins TXGP adjustable rear shocks, keyless ignition and a 6″ TFT instrument cluster.

You can also choose between aluminium wheels or carbon wheels respectively.

Norton Motorcycles Confirm Plans To Make A Comeback To Racing

Norton Motorcycles is actively seeking ways to expand the brand reach ever since the takeover by new ownership, TVS Motor Company.

The British motorcycle manufacturer has spent the past 18-months restructuring the company portfolio after its disastrous downfall under former-CEO, Stuart Garner.

In the latest effort to drive away from the scandals that almost put the company in bankruptcy, new Norton CEO, Dr Robert Hentschel, unveiled plans to return to racing.

*Norton Motorcycles CEO Robert Hentschel

“For me, it’s very clear that racing is part of the story of Norton.

“I can confirm today that I intend for Norton to go racing again. I echo John Russell’s thoughts here, and we are completely aligned with regards to which step to take next,” he said.

However, Hentschel did not specify whether it’s the Isle of Man TT or jumping on a more mainstream competition such as the British Superbike Championship.

We Are Unable To Repair The V4SS – Norton CEO

Norton Motorcycles have informed owners who received the V4SS from the previous owners that they are unable to fix the bikes.

The announcement came after Norton Motorcycles, under the new CEO, Robert Hentschel, revealed the company found many faults than its initial inspection.

In an official letter sent to the owners, Hentschel clarified that since discovering 35 individual faults with the V4SS built by the previous company, the new ownership has been trying to find the best way forward for the bikes despite having no legal responsibility to do so.

Previously, Norton offers to repair the V4SS, but after identifying more material defects, Hentschel suggests the best option is for the owners to file a claim against NMUL, currently in liquidation.

According to Norton, they cannot source all of the parts needed to repair the existing V4SS to meet the safety standard.

In a previous statement, Hentschel also revealed that it is not safe to ride the V4SS in its current state.

Nonetheless, Norton will continue to build the V4SS but will completely reengineer the motorcycle and not continue the one produced by NMUL.

Production is expected to begin by the end of 2021.

WMG And Norton Develop A TT Capable Electric Motorcycle – 201hp, 400Nm!

Together with Norton Motorcycles, Warwick University has built an all-electric motorcycle capable of competing at the Isle of Man TT.

To help with the engineering students effort, Norton has donated a motorcycle frame from the Norton V4 along with some crucial data for the university project.

According to reports, the electric powertrain designed to work with the frame has a power output of 201hp and 400Nm.

The power comes from an immersion-cooled battery pack with 16Wh capacity designed to last longer, thanks to robust thermal management strategies.

The cooling system will allow the motorcycle to operate at an efficient temperature rate based on the requirements of the track.

Interestingly, it took just seven months for the students to develop a functioning electric motorcycle based on the Norton V4 frame.

The motorcycle has since undergone a significant amount of tests and is currently in the process of mitigating the risk of failure.

Norton To Produce 8,000 Units Motorcycle With New Factory In Solihull

Norton Motorcycles was on the brink of a total disaster under the former CEO, Stuart Garner, due to a pension scandal dating back to January 2020.

However, the British brand is now on the verge of a solid return under new ownership, India based motorcycle manufacturer TVS Motor Company.

With the current workforce currently expanded and a new model launch is in the works, Norton now seeks to produce 8,000 units of motorcycles thanks to a new facility in Solihull, West Midlands.

According to the new CEO, John Russel, the 75,000 sq. ft is build ready for future expansion and is a drastic improvement over the old Donington Hall facility.

“The environment people worked in was appalling, it’s rare for a country house with a call centre in the garden to turn into a motorcycle factory.

“So we had to move, and it became an emergency when the COVID arrived since the building did not comply with health rules.

“We are over 110 people now, and we have major capabilities that we did not have before. TVS has big ambitions for Norton.

“They want to make it the brand it should always have been and this can only be done by doing things right, therefore with investment,” he explained.

Norton is planning to bring the new Commando 961 as soon as possible.

(source: Le Repaire Des Motards)

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