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Mark Hinchliffe·
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New Norton owner promises upcoming models

Norton Atlas Ranger Nomad wait owner
Norton Atlas Ranger and Nomad

Norton Motorcycles will continue to be British made and the new owner, India’s TVS Motor Company, promises to go ahead and build the pledged Atlas (pictured above) and V4 RR models.

TVS bought the troubled British manufacturer in a $A31m cash deal at the weekend.

Click here to read more about the historic sale.

The Indian company plans to continue production at Donington Hall and then move to a new headquarters nearby in Leicestershire.

Norton Motorcycles Donington Hall factory crowd
Norton’s Donington Hall factory

New owner

TVS Corporate Communication VP Varghese M Thomas tells us the new owner will continue to build the Commando, Dominator and V4 RR as well as the promised Atlas series.

In further good news for Australian Norton fans, Varghese tells us they will continue with their current dealer network with importer james Mutton of Brisbane Motorcycles.

James says they have returned deposits to those who paid for bikes not yet delivered, but if they decided to go ahead wth their order, they would not lose their place in the queue. 

Norton Motorcycles V4 RR British atlas
Norton V4 RR

The 1200cc V4RR was priced at £28,000 in the UK and $59,990 in Australia plus on-road costs, but we don’t believe any models have yet been delivered to customers.

Likewise, the Atlas models which have powered by a 650cc which is basically half the 1200cc V4’s engine, were expected to be released this year for £9995 (Nomad) and £11,995 (Ranger), but have not yet been produced. They should cost around $A20,000 here.

Varghese says he cannot answer our questions about warranty and spare parts “at this point in time”.

There is also no word yet on whether any motorcycles or at least components will be built by TVS in India.

However, it should be noted that Norton signed a deal in 2017 with Indian company Kinetic Group to jointly produce and sell Norton motorcycles in India.  That deal is not expected to go ahead.

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Mark Hinchliffe
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4 Comments

  1. I don’t think the Atlas 650 engine has been sold – I think it’s the 961 parallel twin that has been sold.

  2. In 1974 my best friend had a new Norton Commando, I had a new Yamaha TX750 (the retro fixed & cheaper model after the Castrol 1972 debacle of frothing oil engine failure) We spent many nights on the sides of dark roads with repairs of varying complexity being contemplated or executed by the headlight beam of the now reliable but tarnished imaged Yamaha TX750.
    Norton to me as a Boomer is like a firework, the anticipation, expectation & the magically encapsulated visions of the spectacular, to the unveiling premier flashes of breathtaking brilliance played before us….to me it’s once bitten twice shy or may you be willing, to be tortured until you die.
    I hope for the Norton lovers, this rebirth is successful, I sincerely do.

  3. I love the Norton Atlas Nomad. One thing TVS seriously needs to tackle on all the Norton engines: Get rid of that in-engine cartridge oil filter and replace it with a spin-on oil filter. For God’s sake, Wolverhampton-built Nortons had them in 1974.

  4. If the Atlas looks as good in production form as it does in those renderings – and retains something of the classic Norton sound-track – that baby is hipster gold!

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