Nortons ortons on the way? way
Customers who splashed out for Nortons under the Garner regime may yet get their bikes…
Norton’s interim CEO John Russell told Bike in August that he would ight to make sure customers got the bikes they had paid for before the company went bust. And he seems to be a man of his word: customers have recently received letters from Norton’s administrators asking if they want to receive their bikes, or would they prefer to wait and see if they get a refund.
‘It finally looks like some sort of justice might be done,’ said Stewart Campbell, who paid £44,000 for a Norton V4 in November 2019. ‘If I do get the keys to that bike, I will ride off in my Union Jack underpants! I still want the bike. It’s a wonderful-looking thing and it’s British. It would take pride of place in my collection.
‘I won’t see anything before the end of the year, maybe early next. I paid a deposit over two years ago and the full amount nearly a year ago. It would be an amazing thing to finally get the bike I have paid for. We have all been through a lot in recent times and having something like this to look forward to is very special. I have always had a little bit of hope, and it looks like that hope has paid off.’
Interim CEO John Russell said: ‘Norton appreciates the great importance of the need to look after customers who placed deposits on orders that are as yet unfulfilled, despite there being no legal obligation to do so. In this initial stage of Norton’s rebuilding phase, with the backing and support of TVS, the most important commitment we face is to address all open orders. We are doing our utmost to ensure all our valued customers can reach a positive outcome.’
If customers choose not to receive their bike, they can remain as an ‘unsecured creditor’ and hope that, eventually, they might get some money back. John Phillips, who paid for a bike up front, is wary: ‘It’s a shot in the dark really, but it looks like taking the bike might be the best option. I just can’t get too excited about the whole thing as it’s been dragging on for over two years. I am not counting my chickens just yet.’
‘If I do get the keys to that bike, I will ride off in my Union Jack underpants’
Harley will have to pull their entire Sportster range from the UK and Europe in 2021 because the air-cooled V-twins do not pass Euro5 emissions regulations. That means ten models – including the Street 750, Iron 883 and 1200, Forty Eight and Roadster – will vanish from Harley showrooms.
The news was confirmed by Harley’s French importer, but curiously Harley refuse to say officially what’s going on.
The loss of Sportsters is a big deal for UK Harley dealers because for most of them it’s the best selling model and they rely on it to get younger, less experienced riders into the Harley fold. Now these customers will have to start on something like a Softail, which is bigger, heavier and considerably more expensive to get into the garage. The problem has been caused by the Sportster’s motor, which has been knocking about since the 1980s. Getting it to pass Euro5 would be costly. But the situation has been exacerbated by the trade war between the EU and President Trump, which resulted in Harleys having a 25% price tariff in Europe. That means European Harleys are making little profit.
Reports suggest the motor will be replaced by a version of the new water-cooled ‘Revolution Max’ that will power the Pan America adventure bike. But a replacement before 2022 seems unlikely.