Norton at the TT

[Chris Stevens]

Someone I know who runs a Brit bike web site, has just returned from the TT and confirmed that the factory Norton running this year has a Spondon chassis with Aprilia motor, as in past years. Seems a real shame that they cant run a 100% British made bike................

 

[brightspark]

Someone I know who runs a Brit bike web site, has just returned from the TT and confirmed that the factory Norton running this year has a Spondon chassis with Aprilia motor, as in past years. Seems a real shame that they cant run a 100% British made bike................

its not a real Norton then I have a real one 1963 dommie

 

[Chris Stevens]

No its not. Seems a good advertising stunt, but thats about all.

 

[ronan]

It wouldn't be worth Nortons while designing, building, and testing an engine for a few road races. To build a one off engine that could get anywhere near a BMW s1000 or honda fireblade in competitiveness would cost many millions. Seeing as Nortons main production bikes are retro twins, they couldn't even use the engine in their production machines.
Norton actually did a good job getting the Aprila v4 up into the ton ten in one of the superbike races. In one of the races the rider appeared to pull off the track with a problem, and went through a barrier into a four foot drop into a field, a right old fall. I don't know if the brakes failed or what.

Remember this ? It goes like a turpentined tomcat !

 

[Member 66061]

Ladies and gents, the legend that is John Britten.

 

[Chris Stevens]

It wouldn't be worth Nortons while designing, building, and testing an engine for a few road races. To build a one off engine that could get anywhere near a BMW s1000 or honda fireblade in competitiveness would cost many millions. Seeing as Nortons main production bikes are retro twins, they couldn't even use the engine in their production machines.
Norton actually did a good job getting the Aprila v4 up into the ton ten in one of the superbike races. In one of the races the rider appeared to pull off the track with a problem, and went through a barrier into a four foot drop into a field, a right old fall. I don't know if the brakes failed or what.

Remember this ? It goes like a turpentined tomcat !

Obviously Norton dont have the resources to design and produce an effective modern motorcycle, but running a Spondon as a Norton does seem to be taking things a bit far?

 

[ronan]

Obviously Norton dont have the resources to design and produce an effective modern motorcycle, but running a Spondon as a Norton does seem to be taking things a bit far?

Well they are doing very well producing their retro big twins, and i suppose they want to get their name out there, racing at the TT. One thing you can say about the Norton, is it was certainly the best looking bike at the TT this year.

 

[Chris Stevens]

Does look nice, and I guess modern type advertising means there is no real need to race the bike you manufacture, just have something which looks pretty with the right stickers?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

As stated, they couldn't afford to build their own motors. I'm quite suprised though that they haven't gone the route Ariel has, using the name of what was the every mans bike and slapping it on something only a small percentage will ever be able to afford

 

[Ton-up]

Sounded bloody nice too!

 

[ronan]

Does look nice, and I guess modern type advertising means there is no real need to race the bike you manufacture, just have something which looks pretty with the right stickers?

Sadly i think the days of big singles and parallel twins winning the TT have gone forever. The last twin to win there was Foggy's Ducati 916 if i am not mistaken. Triumph is a manufacturer that could make a better fist of winning a TT, they have won the ultra competitive 600cc races a few times, Bruce Anstey won one there a few years back. But i get the feeling that bloor wouldn't take a piddle if it didn't make him money.

 

[roofman]

As stated, they couldn't afford to build their own motors. I'm quite suprised though that they haven't gone the route Ariel has, using the name of what was the every mans bike and slapping it on something only a small percentage will ever be able to afford

Aprilia must of been short of cash too once..putting Suzuki tl1000 motors into there road bikes.

 

[atomant48]

Ladies and gents, the legend that is John Britten.

I got to sit on one of them once. Awesome machine. The book on him is an interesting read.

 

[Member 66061]

Aprilia must of been short of cash too once..putting Suzuki tl1000 motors into there road bikes.

No, they didnt

I got to sit on one of them once. Awesome machine. The book on him is an interesting read.

So people are saying that Norton cant make their own competitive bike, when John Britten hand built his own competitive bike.
More like Norton are being lazy and conservative.

 

[roofman]

No, they didnt

So people are saying that Norton cant make their own competitive bike, when John Britten hand built his own competitive bike.
More like Norton are being lazy and conservative.

or dont want to...you need a hefty bank ballance to compete with the big jap names in motorcyling these days

 

[ronan]

Shed and buried on the travel channel now (or plus 1 obviously). The chap who builds replica manx nortons in his shed.

 

[Chris Stevens]

No, they didnt

So people are saying that Norton cant make their own competitive bike, when John Britten hand built his own competitive bike.
More like Norton are being lazy and conservative.

John Britten was a highly talented and innovative engineer.........not sure anyone who works for Mr Garner can be considered as such?

 

[Chris Stevens]

I got to sit on one of them once. Awesome machine. The book on him is an interesting read.

I watched the documentary about Britten.............but I guess the book is far better than that?

 

[blenkie1]

1992 Senior TT, Steve Hislop and a Rotary Norton. One of the best TT races.

 

[atomant48]

I watched the documentary about Britten.............but I guess the book is far better than that?

The documentary and the book leave you with quite different opinions of him. It appears he had a lot more help than the documentary makes out. Still a very clever bloke though.