 Re: 2005 Norton
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For the price of 2 Thuxtons and change or a Thruxton and a Rocket III??
Bob _Budesky
aka- rbb
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Re: 2005 Norton
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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they could have been more original no?
Frank
(Former)05 BA tbike pipes, ai removed, Freak, mikuni hsr 42's, 904, ported/polished head, 1mm oversized valves
NOW-2010 silver and black tbird
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Re: 2005 Norton
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OP
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I dunno what the price tag is. But by looking at it, I would say that it's very expensive. Doesn't look like any corners were cut. If you could redesign the Thruxton without concern for the price, I think many poeple would come up with something similar to this. As for the rocket3, it's 700 lbs. Thats fine for some people, but I like my motorcycles light. The Norton is more of a corner carver, not a muscle cruiser like the rocket3. Apples and oranges.
To me it looks pretty original. Doesn't look like anything I've seen before. But of course I haven't seen everything.
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Re: 2005 Norton
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This isn't the same company as the old Norton Motorcycles out of Minneapolis, MN. They bought the rights to the name and trademark and are based out of Oregon. The new bike looks sweet as hell, and they did a great job of designing it to look like the old ones.
From their site: "The MSRP for the 952 Commando Signature series is $19,995. Production 952 Commandos are expected to retail for $14,995."
Also, it's not the "answer" to the Thruxton 900. They announced the thing back in mid 2003 if I remember correctly.
Specs: http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/bike/bike_952specs.asp
WAV file of rev-up
WAV file of fly by
04 America
SS Pipes, Airbox Mod, 132/45, TBS Needles
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Re: 2005 Norton
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Honestly, I think it would be hard to say which came first, since no one here knows when the Thruxton first hit the drawing boards at Triumph, and there was open discussion about the Thruxton soon after I bought my bike in 2003. I did however write to Norton about that, because they made a claim that they had the first retro Brit sportbike or something like that, and mentioned that the Thruxton was already in production. So, yes, the Thruxton was technically (regardless of which started on the design boards first) first, because it was actually in production quite a bit before the 952 was actually for sale...
Last edited by Bayern710; 05/24/2005 9:57 AM.
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Re: 2005 Norton
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Old Hand
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Old Hand
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Quote:
they could have been more original no?
Frank
Actually, they do look like the original.
http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/197766/
And both the Norton and Triumph Thruxton look as if they may have been copied from the Velocette as you can see here.
http://www.velocette.org.au/photos/v013.html
Seems that most, maybe all Brit bike makers had a similar styled bike to run on the paved tracks and in the popular road races such as the Isle of Man TT.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: 2005 Norton
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Quote:
Seems that most, maybe all Brit bike makers had a similar styled bike to run on the paved tracks and in the popular road races such as the Isle of Man TT.
Not to mention that British manufacturers (especially Norton) started to build bikes styled after what the café racers were already building out of the stock bikes.
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Re: 2005 Norton
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Norton sent me some information in 2003 that said the first run of bikes would retail for 25k (maybe they sharpened their pencils a bit).
Bob _Budesky
aka- rbb
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Re: 2005 Norton
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(Former)05 BA tbike pipes, ai removed, Freak, mikuni hsr 42's, 904, ported/polished head, 1mm oversized valves
NOW-2010 silver and black tbird
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Re: 2005 Norton
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yep, $20K BUT....look at that GORGEOUS bike. Ohlins(the best) suspending both wheels. I understand that after the initial run, Kenny Dreer is talking of a lower price model sans Ohlins(possibly Kabayas) for about $15K. If they can quell the vibration that Alan Cathcart wrote about on his recent pre-production ride review, AND if Norton can become a viable enity, I'll have a hard time talkin' myself out of seriously considering a purchase.
I wish them luck, but this is a long-shot gamble to succeed.
Dwight
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: 2005 Norton
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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I recently ran across a mid 70's Norton Commando Interstate. Back when they were new it was the only bike I ever lusted after more than a Triumph. After 30 years it still looks beautiful. The new one has a lot of the same looks.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: 2005 Norton
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I entered a raffle for this sweet Norton (pic below) back in 2003. The raffle ticket cost me $5, so I was sure I was going to win it, - but they haven't called me yet. 
"Speedmaster" is a title not a name, - and the title is not plural.
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Re: 2005 Norton
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Hey BT,
Have you gone to the Norton site the guy in Portland has? Last time I looked a few months ago he had a video tape sequence of one of these things screaming down a two lane!!! Yeeeeooowwwww....!!
JH
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
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Re: 2005 Norton
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Second Wind
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Second Wind
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I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: 2005 Norton
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Even at 15k I don't see a lot of sales. It is really pretty. Compared to every other (street fighter) type bike makes they have way more power than 80HP. Most for a whole lot less.
Lots of folks with 20k liquid money would buy an old original one and pay the cost of rebuilding. It has to be affordable to the masses and compete with less famous bikes that are new. VFR800 is a sport type hybrid. It makes 27 more HP than the Norton as an example of my point.
Thruxton and Scrambler do not support Triumph. I don't see this one bike supporting much of a company.
But it is pretty! If I were rich I would mount that baby on a wall as art.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: 2005 Norton
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Quote:
Even at 15k I don't see a lot of sales. It is really pretty. Compared to every other (street fighter) type bike makes they have way more power than 80HP. Most for a whole lot less.
Lots of folks with 20k liquid money would buy an old original one and pay the cost of rebuilding. It has to be affordable to the masses and compete with less famous bikes that are new. VFR800 is a sport type hybrid. It makes 27 more HP than the Norton as an example of my point.
Thruxton and Scrambler do not support Triumph. I don't see this one bike supporting much of a company.
Good points across the board.
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