Norton

MartytheMartian

MartytheMartian

Legendary Knight
Some bikes definitely invade the soul. I couldn't bring myself to sell any of my four now and actually not even bits of the dismantled one as, while she is there as spares for the surviving Sprint and Daytona she is part of the 'family portrait' and was my first Hinckley Triumph. I only originally bought the black Sprint RS as a cheap bike to break myself back into the saddle after years away while I was being 'sensible' and not risking leaving the wife and step-kids without my support. She was the only bike on offer reasonably local to me at the time at a price where I wouldn't mind walking away from the wreck if I binned her and I have to own up to the fact that I bought her despite the fact that she had an engine number that doesn't match her logbook. I figured that, if it turned out it was 'hot' I would happily supply the details of the chap who sold her to me so didn't worry too much but at the same time I never felt truly comfortable not knowing the origins or even the mileage and treatment the engine had received. She served me well while she was on the road and now she is 'spares'. I can't deny that Britt the Union Jack Bonnie and Diana the Dirty Daytona are my 'family favourites' though. When I am out in the shed I find myself admiring the airbrushed artwork on Britt and giving her a paternal pat on the tank in passing. I had seen her for sale around late May or early June last year on ebay but she was in Market Drayton, there was no way I could get down to see her and was uncomfortable trying to organise purchasing her privately sight unseen and arranging a courier. So I jumped on the 2014 Bonnie in desperation that the summer was slipping by and I was without a Bonnie. Imagine my surprise when, before the 2014 had even arrived a series of events led to me being offered Britt by Paddock Motorcycles and she was bought on the spot and delivered to me the day before the 2014 Bonnie! With her in my grubby mitts unfortunately the 2014 didn't stand a chance!
 
chas

chas

Legendary Knight
Chris has inherited a 3.5k bill from Mick Hemmings for the engine and gearbox. Internals are all as, if not better than, new. Aparra the cam had so much end float it was barely catching the rod. Looks like it was only a few thousand miles from a fairly catastrophic engine failure when Chris sold it. Was still being used though! Chris puts the (undisclosed, also not interested) purchase price down to pure altruism, way under book and in no way covers the resto costs. The guy who restored it (read above for the tale you lazy cunts) bought it in 1970 as a basket case after being crashed on the IoM and has given Chris the photo archive of how he used to run it. I'll ask for copies to fill the story. Had a manx tank and Dunstall type race fairing in the pics but by the time Chris bought it in the early 80s it was back to a standard tank.
It's now got belt primary drive so leaks from the pressed tin primary cover are a thing of the past and the restorer has very neatly moved the footrests back about a foot. The big securing nut for the primary cover is where they sat originally.
It has keyless ignition :D. There's just a kill to earth the magneto to stop it so Big Fucking Locks are utilised when it goes out. Brand new amal monoblocs installed too. It's a build you just can't find fault with.
We ran it up in the shed (obv) and it sounds gorgeous. Can't wait for a run out.
 
Sarky B’stard

Sarky B’stard

Legendary Knight
So, reading between the lines, the Interim CEO made a representation that the Board and his successor were not happy to stand behind. You can only imagine why No 1 thought it good for reputation but No 2 fainted at the financial liability which was never theirs in the first place. They are an entirely different company from the Garner fiasco with no ‘privity of contract’ in legal jargon with his customers sold pups. Consequently there is no legal recourse against the new business which effectively just bought the brand, not the liabilities.
 
Doc Strange

Doc Strange

Legendary Knight
Don the Don said:
confirmed no help for previous purchased bikes
Norton ‘unable’ to repair V4SS: New CEO says situation changed after more faults found | MCN (motorcyclenews.com)
Click to expand...

TBH I thought it was a bit reckless saying they would before they knew the full extent of the problem in the first place.

Hard to assess how the decision will effect future sales of their new models. But probably not much I think - if they come up with new, decent bikes, at the right price, they'll sell.

Feel sorry for those who got suckered in by the last clown running things though - including the workers.

DS
 
Scrappy

Scrappy

Legendary Knight
Public Enemy

Public Enemy

Enforcer
Staff member
Scrappy said:
Totally understandable, they probably genuinely wanted to help initially for good PR and to win support for the new ownership. However they obviously got one hell of shock when they found out just how bad things had been, and the depth of shite that their good intent would land them in :unsure:
Click to expand...
Maybe would have been smart to do their fact finding first, rather than raise people's hopes only to disappoint them again.
 
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