Just to confirm this was posted in 2012, so many things may have changed.
It was also by a former employee, so it is also fairly one sided.

I'm actually a supporter of the current Norton racing program, and wish them all the best over the next two weeks.

any danger that this year's bike can complete more than one lap?

Interesting though. It sounds like a common thread in this country. Engineering brilliance versus promotional sales hype etc.

(03-06-2015, 10:40 PM)muz66 Wrote: Interesting though. It sounds like a common thread in this country. Engineering brilliance versus promotional sales hype etc.

 Garner is good on the hype,  he has what my late mother would describe as  "  a plaster for every boil "

(02-06-2015, 03:50 PM)c iom tt Wrote: Quite a damming assessment by a respected engineer.
It is however nearly three years old, an lot has changed?

Has a lot changed,seems like the same old story every year to me,shame,a chance wasted.

There are always two sides to every story. The issues with some customers not getting there bikes when promised or there deposits back in the early days are well documented, so there is no argument there.
However, the demand for there bikes are still that high, that not only can they still not keep up with demand, but when they come up for sale second hand, they are fetching a premium, so they must be doing something right.
On point to pick up on the Brian Crighton comments in a previous thread ref the rotor bearing not being designed for the flat out use that the TT throws at it, and the subsequent failure of the engines when Michael Dunlop tried to practice/ race with them.
Did no one tell the Abus team and Steve Hislop that they would not last?

Whats happening with their lightweight entry.has it been out yet ?

sure I saw a picture of chad rounding the gooseneck on it Saturday night after the newcomers lap?

Don't know if it finished?

(03-06-2015, 06:33 PM)numptydad Wrote: any danger that this year's bike can complete more than one lap?

Well, I'll eat Paddy Ashdown's hat (not really) - the Norton finished, 120 mph average - BUT Mr Hewson   36th  116+  mph average, on a 3 year old bike.

It's coming, Norton, but then so's Christmas

Thing is that for probably less than a 1/10th of the money spent on the Norton you could go to your local HonKawaYamazuki dealer, buy a 1000cc sports bike, enter it as a Stocker and lap waaaaaay faster than that.

They cant win can they,what do you want,they have improved on last year havent they?

I think that realistically no-one is expecting them to win any time soon, if ever. However what is expected IMHO is that they neither embarass themselves or the Norton name in the process, and they have spectacularly succeeded in doing both. That's where their level of failure is judged.

The reason for my cynicism is that for so many years, the Norton name has been prostituted by successive owners of the Trade Mark, from Dennis Poore, through that  geezer with the French name, an obscure bloke in USA and the current incumbent.  I , like you, don't expect them to sweep all before them, but as you say, they are an embarrassment - to Pa Norton and to the legacy of British Race Engineering.
Dave

There's obviously something I'm not getting with this Norton situation.
Their result on Sunday was basically abysmal. Cam Donald is a superb rider, (lapped 130+), and a past winner, so unless he has dramatically slowed of late he should still be in the late 120 bracket. So to finish 18th at 120 average is miserably poor.
Hizzy managed 121.88 TWENTY THREE YEARS AGO! 
This is a 1000cc Aprilia RSV4 isn't it? I mean the bike should EASILY be doing 128. What is going on?
It's nearly thirty years since I lapped at 117 on a bog standard Exup FZR1000 in the Proddie TT, (standard silencer, standard suspension), and that's pre Brandish, and Windy updates.
This bike should be fast (180+), handle (Spondon frame), fancy forks, fancy rear shock, adjustable offset. traction control, fancy brakes, quickshift, 6 gears. Just compare that to a standard FZR1000.
Or imagine chatting to Hizzy (hypothetically), 23 years after he lapped at 123. I guarantee that he would think the bike should AVERAGE 130!
Your thoughts.

I agree, what IS going on? But I do hope they can get it working soon. By soon I mean Friday or any practice before that.

(08-06-2015, 03:45 PM)Latino Wrote: I think that realistically no-one is expecting them to win any time soon, if ever. However what is expected IMHO is that they neither embarass themselves or the Norton name in the process, and they have spectacularly succeeded in doing both. That's where their level of failure is judged.

Have I got it wrong then,was this not a credible result for them? I just thought it was an improvement from last year.

Never really expected any different these are just publicity stunts but they've worked out that if they put a straight through pipe on a dog everyone (particularly commentators and journalists) goes on about the noise it makes - strange that everything competitive has a can on it.  What they should have done is got an replica xr69 off john sims and called it a Norton much cheaper and less embarassing £20k and they do 125mph laps. As it happens I've got a bog standard FZR1000 pre-exup in the shed, I can soon call it a vincent and have it entered next year if you fancy a shot Splashdown.

Has one of what mate?

the sad thing about all of this is the norton brand is a viable one . the engineering capacity and desire has always been right here in the uk,but until someone of mr bloors capabilities gets the rights to the norton name all we will get is more fur coat and no knickers.

So you wouldnt mind if Nortons were made in Thailand then,would that still be a Norton?