There’s been no shortage of speculation among CRM’s staff and readership concerning the future of the re-born (or should I describe it as re-re-born) Norton Motorcycle Company. After shedding its previous management that had led the firm into an investment scandal and the properties being sold off to Indian transportation firm TVS in 2021, the vaunted British Motorcycle marquee had limped along, marketing three streetbikes that were neither popular with the riding pubic nor viable in the long-term sense.
The handsome-but-outdated 961 Commando was basically a fuel-injected, better-suspended version of the old 880 Commando, a small-batch custom offered briefly by American engineer Kenny Dreer. The V4SV Superbike and V4 Cafe Racer were considered fast and sexy, but clearly outclassed compared to other V4-powered offerings from the likes of Ducati and Aprilia. They also cost upwards of $60,000, making their UK-only availability a non-issue with potential international buyers.
Some of the confusion surrounding the brand was cleared up this week when Norton’s new CEO Robert Henschel announced that production on all three of these existing models was to cease immediately. Norton’s new ownership has been teasing the riding public with promises of no less than six all-new, freshly engineered motorcycles by the end of 2025, and he swears the firm will make good on that promise. The new lineup will be revealed at the upcoming EICMA motorsports industry show in Milan, Italy come October and to prepare for the massive launch and re-branding, Norton was revealed a new company logo and removed references to the now-cancelled models on its social media pages.
This makes for some excitement among the British bike enthusiasts around the world, many of whom look to the unprecedented success of fellow-British brand Triumph and the auspicious launch of a re-born BSA (now also under Indian control) in 2023.
We tested several models of the 961 Commando after its initial 2009 release and logged several hundred miles on a revamped parallel twin back in 2014. The transmission may have sounded like a clothes dryer filled with wrenches and its 80 horsepower, pushrod-operated engine was no powerhouse, but the 961 did possess a certain amount of character. It was also a damned good-looking retro cafe racer, which helped the company move a couple of thousand models during its too-long production run. By the end, the Commando’s emission setup wasn’t up to snuff with stringent Euro 5 laws and couldn’t be sold outside the Uk where it was only roadworthy thanks to stipulations in that country’s vehicle code.
Let’s hope Norton’s new owners have figured out a new lineup that fits the needs and desires of a rapidly changing riding public. It’s going to be interesting either way.
