The silver Norton on display at the NEC is of horrific looking quality it was wrapped by someone who is blind and has no fingers ?? How did it make it onto a display ?
@theskitz The Display model of the V4 chrome isn't the finished article paint wise by any means, although it is painted not wrapped. I know this because I spent some time talking to Skinner at Donington Hall and a couple of the lads on the stand about this issue as I was considering chrome livery for the Superlight. Norton have had well documented issues with the Chrome paint process but have sourced a new UK automotive paint partner who work with some mainstream and exotic brands. They've undergone a shed load of testing and have a mixture that is durable, UV resistant and not prone to flaking/cracking. Another factor in the delay of the chrome versions, whilst owners were clamouring for their bikes they would be less than happy if a year down the line they experienced discolouration or flaking from stone chips so better delay than release an inferior product into the wild. Interesting fact, I didn't realise that decals and the union jack are applied after the chrome paint and then the whole thing is coated in 2-pack lacquer.
a mate went to the bike show last week and said he nearly spat his coffee out when he wandered through the Norton stand and heard the salesman telling the customer that the 'orders were flying out now and new deposits are being fulfilled within a couple of months'...
Surely they should have perfected the chrome paint to a 100% level before they offerred it? To now give this as an excuse for a years delay is appaling.
I think the first chrome painted bike was on the Norton stand some three years ago. Still I guess that excuse hasn't been used before.
They told me a year ago on a factory tour (and its posted further up this thread) that they were having issues with the chrome paint. The big deal is, you cannot touch it in if it is chipped, and it was also not bonding correctly so once chipped it would flake off. At that time they were wrapping the fairings. This was pre any bike deliveries though, so not sure any punters bikes went out wrapped rather than painted.
Bikes certainly did go out wrapped (there was one customer that was very vocal about it actually but I think the conversations were deleted). In fairness, Norton did offer to paint the bikes for those that were not happy but it does feel like they are developing on the fly which isn't what I would expect for the money. I certainly would not have accepted a wrapped bike but I have been nervous, given I have a chrome SS order in play, about all of the reported paint issues. Hopefully the new arrangement they have struck will get this finally resolved.
I would consider a wrapped bike rather than painted, as long as it is a proper job, and they have not cut the film on the panels. A friend once had armour-fend applied to his car. It changed the colour, so he asked them to remove it again (paid for it, just didnt like it) On removal there were lots of cut marks in the paint on the panels where they had trimmed it To say he was not best please is an understatement. I would also probably apply some protection film to try and stop the stone chips, just as I have on my other bikes. Not quite sure how successfully that goes on top of a wrapped panel though...
I've been in touch with a company called PremiumShield who have already sorted protection film for a V4SS owner and so have the blueprints for the film. Very responsive and get good reviews, so if my SS ever actually arrives I will probably get them to do the necessary for me. As I'm not a celebrity chef, or a Twitter influencer with 100k's of followers, but just an ordinary bloke who wants an SS to use on sunny days, it seems I am at the bottom of the waiting list. I was promised in August that I would have the bike in September, re-confirmed mid-September that this was still the case, told on 26th September that it wasn't any more and given a fluffy timeline of "a few weeks". Waited for more than "a few weeks" and was then told, at the start of November, that it would be "a couple of weeks". Now, apparently, they don't know when it will be! Astonishing stuff. . . . . . . . it's a good job that they make bikes and don't own a brewery ;-)
Meanwhile I see another one has popped up for sale at The Bike Specialist - this time for £65k. So it appears that if your intention is to flip the bike for profit then you get the chef / Twitter front of the queue treatment too, which is nice.
I wonder if Norton are doing a deal with them in order to get some more cash through the door, splitting the profit... Regardless, its Not great, given there are punters waiting patiently (!?!) for their turn to come, only to see this going on. Gizmo, I would be writing them an email listing all the dates of correspondence and broken promises, Offering not to share it for a nice discount
John, what makes you think I haven't already emailed the list? Anything to try and get a reaction, some information or some action. Do you know, to this day I've only ever received one email from Norton that was pro-active in providing updates (and that was generic rather than specific to my bike), otherwise all the emails that they have sent me that weren't as a response to me asking for updates have been to ask me for money (or to invest, which is much the same thing I guess!)
Can't believe people still think they will get a bike. The company is using any and every excuse not to provide what they promised. Imagine what a nightmare owning and servicing will be with that attitude.
