Old Bike Mart

obmnews - Norton comes home

After nearly 15 years of US ownership, Norton, the quintessential and most famous of British motorcycle brands returns home. As a result of prolonged negotiations and a multi-million pound deal the Norton motorcycle brand is back in British hands.

Stuart Garner a UK based businessman and owner of Norton Racing Ltd has bought back all the trademarks and development work relating to the Norton, Manx, Atlas, Commando and Dominator brands. Norton Racing Ltd is already in development of a new rotary-engined race bike and now with the ownership of the brand itself plans are being developed to introduce a new road bike for 2009.

“This has been a challenging and exciting period for us,” commented Garner. “We are proud to have brought the brands back home and we now intend to focus on re-establishing Norton as a premier motorcycling brand across the world,” he added.

In the early 90s the brands were bought by Norton Motorcycles Inc in the USA with the view of developing a new Commando road bike for the US market. Nearly $10 million was spent on IP, design and development, and this development work has formed part of the new deal. The investment can now be brought to bear on the new global project for the Norton Commando 961.

Norton intend to develop a strong presence on the track and on the road during 2009 with a new 15,000sq ft factory and office complex based at Donington Park – Norton are at the heart of motorcycle racing once again and committed to investment to make the initiative work.

The Norton brands will see a vigorous licensing programme through Norton Global Brands to safeguard and develop licensing of all kinds from spare parts to clothing. Commenting on the programme Garner said: “Our trademarks and brand have incredible strength and value, we will strongly enforce our position as the new owners of these world famous brands and ensure our new partners benefit from a robust protection programme going forward.

“This is the beginning of a new and exciting era in a brand that was started over 100 years ago by James Lansdowne Norton. It has sustained ups and downs over the years but still stands for performance and excellence.”

 

Norman White advert correction

Norman White apology, there is an advert running in this issue of Old Bike Mart for Norman Whites twin disc brake system and the telephone number is wrong. It should read 01264 773 326.

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Successful weekend

After a very successful Hesketh master class followed by a social evening at Grove Classics in Milton Keynes and then the open day to follow, Groves proprietor Mike has had requests for a repeat of the master class but concentrating on specific areas of the Hesketh engine and chassis for home maintenance. If there is enough interest he will run a one day course on the engine with another day reserved for the chassis and advanced riding if required. Please get in touch with Mike on their web­site www.groveclassicmotorcycles.co.uk or by phone on 01525 270008 to indicate your interest and the format/subjects you would like included. Because this will be more a hands on approach the numbers per course will be limited to less than 10.

There’s a thief about

Regular OBM advertiser David Spruce rang up the other day with some sickening news. His dad had a couple of bikes stolen from a locked garage in Wordsley, West Midlands during Thursday night the 9 October and Dave asks for OBM readers to keep their eyes peeled in case they’re offered either of the two bikes.

Right, the first one you’re looking out for is a 1948 James Cadet, painted in RAF Trim with registration number SSJ 287. The second is a 1957 Royal Enfield which in its original green colour with registration number ESJ 990.

If anybody has any information on the whereabouts of either of these motorcycles they can ring 07986 170715 or West Midlands Police.