A new Norton: 1200cc, v4 ....

Obo

Obo

East Coast Canada
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Messages
1,240
Location
East Coast Canada
Bike
24 GL1800DAP
... 206hp (@11K rpm) and 130Nm torque @ 9000 rpm.

Supposedly made with more of a focus on real world driving and not just a track bike.

Variants include the base Manx R, Apex and Signature Edition (base to top prices)

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Oh, did I mention it comes with a 6 axis "pick-your-height wheelie" control system?? :sneaky-2x:
 
mello dude said:
I like....except for the durn tail design that is plaging the new motorcycle world.
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Same. Not liking the fenderless look at all.

I had 4 > 2 Dunstall mufflers on my 750-4 and it was the best sounding exhaust note I've ever heard. The chrome wasn't well done but I didn't see it when under way (weigh).
 
Hard for me to get excited about any new Norton.
I've lost count of how many times they have tried to resurrect this brand.
I would have really liked to see the short-lived, high-end Motus sport tourer succeed... and not simply because it was hand-made in Birmingham.
See...
www.cycleworld.com

2016 Motus MST and MSTR - RIDE REVIEW

America’s sport-tourer is made in Alabama. But, what makes the Motus significantly different is its engine. Check out the ride review at CycleWorld.com.
www.cycleworld.com www.cycleworld.com
 
Daboo said:
Yeah. Me too. How many times has Norton gone bankrupt and emerged from the ashes years later? It could be the next best thing to sliced bread and I wouldn't touch it. If I'm going to put down a major chunk of money on something, I'd like to believe it'll be around in six months.

Chris
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I believe 11 or 13 times
 
Imagine how many bikes they could sell if they made a simple modernized 850 Commando for a reasonable price instead of attempting to gut your wallet with a fancy unproven V4.

I'm no business genius by any stretch of the imagination but IMHO, they should be competing with Royal Enfield and Triumph, not Ducati & Aprilia.
 
Was it made in China?
Norton V4SV | Cycle World
The original Norton 1200cc V4 models (such as the V4-SS built between 2019 and early 2020) were plagued by over 30 critical safety and manufacturing defects before the brand's rescue. These early models are widely known for severe V4SS quality disaster | Access Norton Motorcycle Forums including frame cracks, bursting oil pipes, and poor electrics. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Key Defects and Safety Recalls
Early models were issued a "do not ride" notice by the current custodians of Norton Motorcycles, with issues falling into strict safety categories. The most prominent problems include: [1, 2]
    • Frame Integrity: Structural issues, including fatigue resistance, poor welding quality on the frames and swingarms, and excessive load tolerances.
    • Engine and Lubrication: Oil pipes bursting, peeling nicasil plating on the cylinders, and idler gear bearing failures.
    • Electronics and Hardware: Incorrect battery-to-solenoid cable routing, ABS module calibration failures, and loose header pipes. [1, 2, 3]

Resolution and Newer Models
After Norton was acquired and restructured, a formal recall and inspection program was put in place to fix or replace defective parts on the older V4-SS. For owners of the older machines, contacting Norton Motorcycles directly to determine if a bike’s recalls and service actions have been completed is highly recommended. [1, 2]
For riders looking at the completely re-engineered 1200cc V4 iterations (like the V4SV or the Manx R), the 206 bhp engine and chassis have undergone extensive development. [1, 2]

“In the real world, the V4SS was littered with problems; those 35 faults New Norton found ranged from a leaky fuel tank to poor electrics and, perhaps most distressing, low-quality welding on the frame and swingarm.
 
JetRanger said:
Imagine how many bikes they could sell if they made a simple modernized 850 Commando for a reasonable price instead of attempting to gut your wallet with a fancy unproven V4.

I'm no business genius by any stretch of the imagination but IMHO, they should be competing with Royal Enfield and Triumph, not Ducati & Aprilia.
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That's not going to work either. If I'm looking at a Norton, vs a Royal Enfield or Triumph -- which would you pick? RE came into the market at such a low price that it made a compelling argument to take a chance on them. There's not much margin to undercut from them. From there, they built their reputation for reliability and fun riding.

Unless I'm a huge risk-taker with a lot of spare cash around, I'll buy that RE or Triumph. Motorcycles are pretty much "commodity items". One is about the same as the other. So it is not like Norton has some kind of revolutionary improvement I can't find already in an established brand.

Chris
 
Saw one in the flesh recently. I'm not a huge fan of the design aesthetically, but I'll wait to ride one before forming a decision-making opinion. Not quite sure yet whether it's worth the money they are asking.
 
There's certainly not much in their lineup... with basically 3 models: this bike, a basically naked version of it, and two flavours of an adventure bike.

I agree this feels like a rinse - wash - repeat of the last "comeback."
 
DesmoRonin said:
Saw one in the flesh recently. I'm not a huge fan of the design aesthetically, but I'll wait to ride one before forming a decision-making opinion. Not quite sure yet whether it's worth the money they are asking.
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The question in my mind (when the saner part of me overrides the lustful part that says "I gotta have it!"), is what does it get me over what I already have? And how much is that going to cost me?

Horsepower figures don't impress me. It could have 5000 hp and would still have to deal with the tiny tire contact patch that puts that hp to work on the asphalt. And nowadays, new bikes have all that electronic gimmickry. So that's not new.

And no one has solved the problem of having to deal with driving behind someone who is not going anywhere fast in traffic along with a couple thousand of your closest friends.

Chris
 
Daboo said:
The question in my mind (when the saner part of me overrides the lustful part that says "I gotta have it!"), is what does it get me over what I already have? And how much is that going to cost me?

Horsepower figures don't impress me. It could have 5000 hp and would still have to deal with the tiny tire contact patch that puts that hp to work on the asphalt. And nowadays, new bikes have all that electronic gimmickry. So that's not new.

And no one has solved the problem of having to deal with driving behind someone who is not going anywhere fast in traffic along with a couple thousand of your closest friends.

Chris
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As I used to jest to a pornstar riding buddy of mine, "what good is 12" when you can only use 6" of it?" ;) For me, it's going to come down to how it feels (no pun intended, lol). The numbers are respectable, though I'm not impressed as it doesn't give me anything I don't already have in both performance (power, weight, and handling) and kit (suspension, brakes, wheels and tires). And the cost is going to be considered relative to feel. HP is irrelevant as it already has too much power for street riding... however, how it delivers the power is important to me. And for the estimated price, it should be a lot lighter stock without having to resort to motoOzempic. How much the price is influenced by "Norton legacy" will factor in considerably for me as I'd be just as happy to find an old single to check off my bucket list.
 
DesmoRonin said:
And the cost is going to be considered relative to feel. HP is irrelevant as it already has too much power for street riding... however, how it delivers the power is important to me.
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I came across something interesting that fits in with your comment about power for street riding. BMW makes two versions of the XR. The S1000XR makes 170 hp. Mine, the puny F900XR only makes somewhere around 105. You would think the S1000XR would blow the doors off the F900XR version but it only does so on the track. I came across a website that tracks the 0-60 mph times and the S1000XR hits 60 in 3.0 seconds. The puny much lower hp version I have does it supposedly in 3.2 seconds.

My point is that in normal riding, the less expensive F900XR feels probably about as fast till you get above the speed limit.

So what would 206 hp get me except a lot of frustration in having the power with no where to use it? It's like having a Porsche and sitting in the parking lot we call I-5 here in Seattle next to a VW Beetle. Both are going the same speed... 0 mph.

And before anyone starts knocking that VW Beetle, it had a fastback, 4-on-the-floor, bucket seats, and a rear engine like real sports cars had. :D

Chris
 
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