Norton Hires Ex-Ducati CEO Van Epps

[Administrator]

Original Article:
Norton Hires Ex-Ducati CEO Van Epps

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[mscuddy]

Oh good luck. How many times has some admitted true fan of a defunct marque with deep pockets tried to resurect the brand, only to be faced with the honest truth that it takes bushel baskets of money to even get the design process off the ground? Sure, they've produced a few bikes, but what happens when you break a major engine part? God help you, that's what.

Let Norton rest in peace, like Indian, BSA, Velocette and the rest. If you want one bad enough, go buy an original thats had a 100 point resto, or drive yourself nuts doing it yourself.

Old bikes are just that, old, even when they're new. Might be nice to stare at yourself in shop windows as you rumble by, but that's about it.

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by mscuddy

Oh good luck. How many times has some admitted true fan of a defunct marque with deep pockets tried to resurect the brand, only to be faced with the honest truth that it takes bushel baskets of money to even get the design process off the ground? Sure, they've produced a few bikes, but what happens when you break a major engine part? God help you, that's what.

Let Norton rest in peace, like Indian, BSA, Velocette and the rest. If you want one bad enough, go buy an original thats had a 100 point resto, or drive yourself nuts doing it yourself.

Old bikes are just that, old, even when they're new. Might be nice to stare at yourself in shop windows as you rumble by, but that's about it.

I dunno, Matt. Personally, I couldn't be bothered with an old Norton, but I'd like to ride this new one. After all the engineering Kenny Dreer did, then the re-engineering new Norton did, it's almost assuredly oil-tight! Add to the equation a significant power boost, 75% better braking, etc, and I think a lot of 40- and 50-something well-heeled, nostalgic riders will find it a dream ride.

Also, I know Van Epps from his days at Ducati, and he's a sharp character who will bring a lot to the Norton table. I really like this brand resurrection and can't wait to ride a new one.

[acecycleins]

The Norton case is subtancially different than Indian or any other resurrected brand, I believe. Kenny did a massive amount of work with little funding. When the company went back to the Brits ir stayed with Kenny's primary design, but made everything production ready in a way that had to cost millions in prep and r&d.
Are the bikes priced too high? For us maybe, but I don't think we are the target market for the New Norton. I believe that this is a bike for the $100k+ annual disposable cash paying customer. If they only build a few thousand annual the bike company can remain compact and profitable.