Same update went on Twitter too. I'd love to know who those bikes are being allocated to and when they dropped their payment, and also when they were promised delivery!
The bike is going to be outdeveloped by every other bike on the market. This is now a last-generation bike, compared to V4S, S1000RR, GSXR-R, Fireblade and R1... and it's still not making its way out of the factory.
With the greatest respect, I don't think owners of this bike care In the slightest if it's technically outdated by the likes of a S1000RR, because they are spending more than twice the money, kinda feels like they are doing it for the prestige.
Whilst I'm sure the technical side is interesting and attractive to some I tend to agree with you that it isn't the be all and end all. I'm getting one for the exclusivity, the Norton name, "buying British", the non-mass produced nature and the way it looks, sounds and goes.
The whole deal with the Norton though was that this was a contemporary bike with up to date electronics that would elevate the brand from being a nostalgic trinket for collectors to a brand that would tempt modern sports bike buyers. The owners of the bike may not care, in the same way as Bimota or similar boutique bike buyers might not have done... but if it’s being bought by speculators and brand aficionados alone then that seems like it failed against its original brief. The prestige was significantly dinged by the very poor showing on the roads this year where performance and reliability meant that the Nortons were a joke, and further damaged by the business reputation of the company and its CEO; uncertain lead times, uncertain finances, uncertain service and dealer situations, vague hyperbole aside from Mr Garner I don’t see much that would convince me to part with enough money to put two competitor superbikes in my garage... the prestige seems as flimsy as the Dan Dare stick on chrome that their V4 sports... Which ones? 911s? Surely if you go into an OPC and try to buy a new one you will have: Surety that you will pay a deposit and get a car as expected No concern that the company will be liquidated before your order is delivered Confidence that the current models will perform as expected and be supported by a global network of dealers / service centres that can maintain and repair your vehicle during and after warranty Latest generation technology and support for this for a reasonable period of time, supported by spares availability worldwide Race-proven heritage A range of models that are a premium product from entry-level luxury sports car to true racecar specification Norton can say the same? I’ve done a 180 on the brand... really wanted to support Norton, actually really wanted a Dominator but the reality of the bikes and ownership experience is quite a stark departure from the dream. I spoke with a few owners, including those that wanted to actually use their bikes. The Domi’s are beautifully designed but the details (e.g. starter motor) are horribly finished, the service and warranty support is actually quite pitiful and relies on the goodwill and willingness to bear cost / time off the road of the customers. The performance is nothing to shout about and the handling is no better than acceptable. For the nostalgic kick, something like a RE Interceptor delivers probably 80% of the experience at 20% of the cost... the Norton thing has jumped the shark. McP wobbling sporadically around the TT course and then stopping in pretty much every session / race was highly indicative. Josh Brookes looked to be on a good trajectory in 2018 but the debacle of the V4 in 2019 is best forgotten... even Hicky couldn’t salvage much from the Superlight. I wish them well and all, but the Atlas really needs to be delivered on time and to a good standard to a large number of customers within the next 12 months otherwise I just don’t see the company making it. Even Hesketh don’t look embarrassing in the company of Norton these days...
It would just be nice to get some feedback (good or bad) from some owners, i mean there must be some out there somewhere?
Why is it that you cannot find any direct comparison test article on the Norton V4 (vs. RSV4, V4R, etc.)? I wonder if Norton is preventing MCN and others from doing so (at least with the test bike(s) they give them)...
I have heard that they have asked someone with a V4 deposit if they want to become a shareholder. Is that old news?
@final_edition They are asking anyone to become a shareholder! All to be revealed at the NEC and then via crowdfunding. The bottom line is that they've overspent on everything apart from building customer orders and now need to fund building customer orders. As a guy that's put down a deposit and cares about the brand that makes me nervous but not half as nervous as the chap who's fully paid up on a V4SS!
Modern pension legislation was put in place to prevent the sort of practice described in the article. Andy
