The Norton Motorcycles brand is iconic in so many ways, so its transformation back to an icon after a horror show under the ownership of Stuart Garner is something every biker loves to see. And with the infrastructure and investment in place from Indian company TVS, a new design and production facility in Solihull and plenty of ambition to back it up, the future of Norton not only looks safer, but also more exciting than ever.
And it has started already with the reworked models released in 2022. The V4SV superbike made its return with more tech, more performance and more prowess than any Norton has in the past, and with near enough half of the parts changed from the tainted previous iteration. Sure, it doesn’t have ground-breaking power figures or powerful data-logging systems of the class-leading homologation special superbikes of today, but it does come with some neat tricks, like a rear-view camera and a hand-welded MIG frame offering adjustable geometry. And they’ve been up to more interesting stuff with the unveiling of the V4CR, an aggressive, naked café racer giving a nod to the future in terms of its appearance and performance.
But then again, Norton haven’t forgotten their heritage with the release of their Commando 961s, which offer up a more nostalgic take on the Norton brand. Once again, they’ve delivered a sizeable redesign on their previous model while keeping the very essence of what it is, a traditional British twin, using a mixture of new technology and old-school handcrafting to create a nicely blended machine in terms of finish, function, and character.
But after it was announced that Norton Motorcycles were committing to their net-zero ambition, it’s clear to see that they’ve got an eye on the future, and a chat with their top brass only confirms that. According to the fine folk themselves, the goal is to create an electric motorcycle blending Norton’s design DNA with racing performance, touring range and lightweight handling. They’re planning on going big and looking to blend the lines of desirability and electrification, as Norton’s CEO, Dr. Robert Hentschel explained: “Working alongside our world class partners, we’re confident that project Zero Emission Norton will eliminate the current dispute between a conventional and electric motorcycle to create EV products riders desire – motorcycles that blend Norton’s uncompromising design DNA with racing performance, touring range and lightweight handling.”
How promising does that sound? With more staff, infrastructure, and funding than ever, we’ll be keeping a keen on the Norton Motorcycle story as it evolves in 2023 and beyond.
