Nortons current state
Discussion
tedblog said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
You will if you paid by Credit cardFortunately I got my £500 back when I cancelled my Superlight order (because we were moving to NZ). I would be very worried if I hadn’t. I am a bit concerned by the Twitter allegations that the quality of the bikes is awful - if that is the case then MCN amongst others are guilty of turning a blind eye to Norton’s problems.
Hard for some of these builders to compete with the major players simply as they don’t have that volume of sales and the cheaper labour.
CCM is another example in that they produce lovely looking bikes but the quality has slipped whilst they try and keep up with orders as they delivery times have way overrun.
CCM have almost become a victim of Their own success. I just hope they don’t go down the same route as Norton.
CCM is another example in that they produce lovely looking bikes but the quality has slipped whilst they try and keep up with orders as they delivery times have way overrun.
CCM have almost become a victim of Their own success. I just hope they don’t go down the same route as Norton.
FocusRS3 said:
Hard for some of these builders to compete with the major players simply as they don’t have that volume of sales and the cheaper labour.
CCM is another example in that they produce lovely looking bikes but the quality has slipped whilst they try and keep up with orders as they delivery times have way overrun.
CCM have almost become a victim of Their own success. I just hope they don’t go down the same route as Norton.
I don't think they're run by a 'crook' so hopefully not.CCM is another example in that they produce lovely looking bikes but the quality has slipped whilst they try and keep up with orders as they delivery times have way overrun.
CCM have almost become a victim of Their own success. I just hope they don’t go down the same route as Norton.
Walter Sobchak said:
I think what's happening to Norton is a shame and I hope the people that have left deposits get their money back.
If you're after an exotic V4 superbike there are far safer manufacturers who will sell you one, hopefully KTM will be joining that list soon too!.
If you're after an exotic V4 superbike there are far safer manufacturers who will sell you one, hopefully KTM will be joining that list soon too!.
My friend didn’t, he cancelled his (year old) preorder for one of the 650 twins after the nec bikeshow, emails back and forth without delay until he sent them one asking for his £500 deposit back as he wished to cancel.
Norton have ghosted him since.
Esceptico said:
I am a bit concerned by the Twitter allegations that the quality of the bikes is awful - if that is the case then MCN amongst others are guilty of turning a blind eye to Norton’s problems.
Not existing MCN from possibly being a bit soft on them, but they can only review what they're given. Norton would've made sure that the one sent for reviews was as good as possible...Esceptico said:
tedblog said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
You will if you paid by Credit cardFortunately I got my £500 back when I cancelled my Superlight order (because we were moving to NZ). I would be very worried if I hadn’t. I am a bit concerned by the Twitter allegations that the quality of the bikes is awful - if that is the case then MCN amongst others are guilty of turning a blind eye to Norton’s problems.
Anyone who paid a deposit have done it of their own free will, knowing the potential risks, including pretty sizable probability of company failure, given how small Norton is and how hard the competitive environment is.
Very sad, I just hope the staff and customers get something decent out of the administrators.
Our, even more of a pipe dream, someone to rescue it.
We know the details already, but confirmation from a news outlet: https://amp.theguardian.com/money/2020/jan/29/nort...
Our, even more of a pipe dream, someone to rescue it.
We know the details already, but confirmation from a news outlet: https://amp.theguardian.com/money/2020/jan/29/nort...
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I think that's exactly what they were doing. They clearly had no operating capital to pay the HMRC bill (or whatever the last huge demand was) and taking deposits on Atlas models without even having a factory to build them in was dreadful behaviour, but more fool anyone who paid, really.ETA: although I suppose it was speculation, wasn't it?
Edited by Pothole on Wednesday 29th January 21:08
Garner’s hotel, the Priest House, is located next door to Donington Hall, Norton’s head office / factory.
Donington Hall is an 18th century stately home which previously used as the head office of the airline Bmi (formerly British Midland). I worked there for many years. The Hall was a financial burden on the airline, requiring vast amounts of expenditure to maintain, so goodness knows how a tiny enterprise such as Norton imagined it could finance its upkeep. When Garner bought the site in 2012 he spent a fortune turning what were previously functional offices into an upmarket wedding and events venue. I believed he also lived there.
The bikes were manufactured in Hastings House, a large three-storey open-plan office building located direct behind the Hall which was built by Bmi in the early 90s. Assembly was done on the ground floor, which was previously occupied by bmi’s sales & marketing department. The building obviously never designed to be used for manufacturing anything.
I hope a buyer can be found for Norton, but anyone interested will have to figure out what on earth to do with a stately home and an office building / bike factory. I wish them luck....
Donington Hall is an 18th century stately home which previously used as the head office of the airline Bmi (formerly British Midland). I worked there for many years. The Hall was a financial burden on the airline, requiring vast amounts of expenditure to maintain, so goodness knows how a tiny enterprise such as Norton imagined it could finance its upkeep. When Garner bought the site in 2012 he spent a fortune turning what were previously functional offices into an upmarket wedding and events venue. I believed he also lived there.
The bikes were manufactured in Hastings House, a large three-storey open-plan office building located direct behind the Hall which was built by Bmi in the early 90s. Assembly was done on the ground floor, which was previously occupied by bmi’s sales & marketing department. The building obviously never designed to be used for manufacturing anything.
I hope a buyer can be found for Norton, but anyone interested will have to figure out what on earth to do with a stately home and an office building / bike factory. I wish them luck....
Very sad news, but the writing has been on the wall for years.
The chance of a major manufacturer buying this as a going concern are virtually zero. The only hope that anyone has of the Norton name being kept alive is a Chinese or indian factory buying the name and pinning it on a range of Chinese built machinery, as has happened to Benneli, BSA, etc etc.
The chance of a major manufacturer buying this as a going concern are virtually zero. The only hope that anyone has of the Norton name being kept alive is a Chinese or indian factory buying the name and pinning it on a range of Chinese built machinery, as has happened to Benneli, BSA, etc etc.
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