Made In Britain. I Ride The Norton Commando 961 To The Factory & See How It's Made!

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Today I had the pleasure of a private tour around the Norton factory in Solihull Birmingham, It was amazing to see every step of how a motorcycle is made and also to see British manufacturing first hand. They are a very low volume manufacturer so that means they have a small economy of scale which also adds to the costs.
After seeing the factory I can really appreciate what goes into creating these bikes and why they are the price they are.
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[@garys7828]

When you look at what Harley charge for their mass produced bikes. Norton seems quite reasonable. I wish Norton well in this next chapter. Cool brand, cool bikes 😊

[@jirihorsky9600]

That is one of the effects of having a monopoly on a given sector (american cruisers in this case).

[@bananabrooks3836]

Good point, about H D

[@AF-O6]

I wish Norton all the success the marque deserves!

[@splodge5714]

Nice tour. I had a '73 Commando 850, that was a lovely bike to ride. These were bikes for the masses. Unfortunately like anything hand built in such low volume the new Nortons are for those with a much bigger wallet than mine.

[@Scout4x]

This video alone, especially with the fantastic drone shots, should put you and the Ol' Man over the 100K subscriber threshold. A great video!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Awesome, thank you 😊

[@silkycherry]

The Drone Pilot is very good. Its more like a secret test lab than a motorcycle factory though.

[@kwakithailand]

Great drpne views of a spectacular factory. Norton's prices are justified 👍

[@richardgitz2264]

Well done Mr. Darcy, thank you.

[@JoJo-hc4dj]

What an interesting factory tour, thanks for that 😊

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@BlakesPipes]

well done ! love the drone feature and great tour. thank you and Norton to allow this amazing footage, it should be given to every person that buys a Norton. can see how the bike was made! again, well done

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@edwardsenesac]

Thank you for the tour! I see that I am the first viewer!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

You’re welcome! It’s members only until next Tuesday so you are the first member to view 😁

Beautiful bike but my hands would be dead due to the vibration Iv been tempted a couple of times 😃 great video

[@user-hf6ok2tj5h]

Shame the current lineup is only saleable in the UK and then only on a limited 😢Single Vehicle Application (SVA) basis. At least in the USA, there seems to be quite a bit of pent-up interest in the Commando 961 derivatives at the moment. I really hope Norton can continue to keep that interest alive while they are working on a Euro 5 / USA compliant version. Meanwhile, I enjoyed looking behind the curtain with you.

[@SeriouslyMikey]

Norton, like Triumph is a company that I would love to work for. Especially as a design engineer. It would be an honour to work for a truly British based company. Where every detail is built from the ground up merely round the corner from the company's beginnings.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Let’s hope they’re reading the comments 😉👍

[@darrenhall6509]

When I visited the factory/assembly plant a year ago, I was surprised how quite it was and how unbusy people seemed to be. Still seems the same...

[@05rollerman]

Awesome video, thank you!

[@pipes9878]

They have to crush the old v4's 😮thats concerning if you've got 1 of those 😬 Awsome tour and great you spike about the faulg you experienced and gave Nortons responce too. Errors occur in mass manufacturing trusts is built when companies acknowledge and resolve that instead of hiding the facts.

[@speedtriplerider7853]

That was great, thanks.

[@Shinysideup]

I visted the Ducati factory just last week. That was hugely impressive too.

[@ingopaul67]

Definitely looks like a proper factory setup unlike the one run by the conman at Donnington.

[@minimilo25]

Very enjoyable.

[@roygardiner2229]

That was splendid! I enjoyed it immensely. Full marks to the gentleman who guided your tour of the factory. As an aside, some of the photography was excellent. It looked to be drone footage but I cannot believe that could be so.

[@bananabrooks3836]

I think that footage is 'supplied by Norton'.

[@bananabrooks3836]

'Some, of the photography'. Yes sometimes there was too much focus on the speaker and guest rather than looking at the technicians in action through the windows, but l suspect any footage must be approved by Norton before being published.

[@ikust007]

Cool!😊

[@Sn0wdawgz]

Awesome tour

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thanks 😊

[@trevjones1315]

A very interesting and professionally done job. 👏

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Many thanks 😊

[@stewy62]

Interesting video and great camera work !

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thank you very much!

[@Christian-gf2ef]

I want one. I will buy one in a few years.

[@alq1967]

Legend!

[@timothybrockbank7474]

Oh for a lottery win

[@milansharma8828]

Norton now owned by TVS which has presence in many countries, TVS will make NORTON big, mahindra will make JAWA big, These foreign legacy brands are managing them good, modern retro bikes ❤️

[@barryrose4850]

If Willy Wonker had a motorcycle factory 😎

[@frankmlchaelglasscock6539]

That should not have happened on a bike that is so expensive i love the look of them but I have said this before what i like to see I review on one that as do at least 30 Thousand Miles and ridden in all weather's it would be interesting

[@alq1967]

They should make an affordable 400 cc I think. Or even 250 cc. I would still pay ten grand for one of those hand built works of art.

[@kokilimonke]

Did you tell them how to properly choose colors for the forks?

[@FunWithAJ]

Appreciate the factory tour. Still think their commandos are over priced for what they are. I'd love to see them available in the States at some poijt for under 17k but have a feeling that wont happen. Id be curious to know out of those 8k bikes they produce a year how many actual sell.

[@Persian-Immortal]

All! long wait list!

[@longjonwhite]

You didn’t ask him where all the components are made. We saw them welding frames, but who makes the tube and all the engine parts?

[@lfoggy3061]

I did ask that on my tour of the factory before I purchsed my Commando. From what I was told, a surprising number of the components are of UK origin including the engine. castings and the machining of most of the engine parts.

[@crumblymal8479]

Interesting watch Darcy but boy they ain't cheap of course they a niche market I guess a bit like the CCM brand which is also a low number output and of course this doesn't mean they are of higher quality than anything else in the equivalent price range. I would say I am not keen on the look especially the tail and tank but that's all a matter of taste I guess . Not for me though better bikes out there in that price range me thinks .🤔👌👍

[@jamesschneider3828]

I remember how many times Indian changed hands before a big stable company like Polaris industries got the name rights and started producing the great bikes they produce today. I fear that the way these Norton's are being hand made today will not last.

[@brendanmccabe8769]

Norton don’t do Just In Time. They do Just Too Late instead. About 20 years too late in the case of the 961.

[@loddude5706]

Interesting vid, thanks. As 'Norton', are they at liberty to produce bikes from that company's back catalogue? ie. a 1955 ES2 500 'rep' (with discs, ABS, FI. etc.) to rival say, a pastiche like the BSA. Would a complete replica be road legal? . . or even, design age wise, MoT & R-tax exempt?! : )

[@drewiediggler1]

One of the big downfalls of the original 961s were poor electrical components sourced from outside suppliers (cam/crank sensors and ecu in my case) . Sounds like the problem still lives on 😅 But that's a minor detail compared to the bursting coolant hose my Indian FTR was re called for. Or the collapsing fuel tank that my 701 Vitpilen was re-called for. I would have another 961 in a heartbeat. One of the only current new bikes with any soul and character. Don't even compare it to a Thruxton.

[@junkmangeorge6363]

I suspect that if I was to purchase one (probably a used 961, there is one kicking around locally) I'm afraid the FI and maybe the stock electronic ignition would be things of the past.

[@drewiediggler1]

​@@junkmangeorge6363 I think there would always be a way to fix it. Some people on the Norton forums know them inside out. I often think it's better to buy something with considerable mileage on, because most of the teething troubles will have been sorted. The Garner era 961s to avoid are the barely used bikes with very few miles on them. Almost all of them had issues initially ,from what I heard.

[@johnmartin7158]

Are the bikes only made to order as is some elite super cars.

[@saltaireorangebicyclechopp8555]

Good luck to them but l can't help thinking that the market for high priced "bespoke" bikes is tiny, even Triumph needed an Indian collaboration to bring a small bike out. And, unfortunately l think the target Norton buyer won't be around to buy for much longer.

[@Banditmanuk]

I so want this British manufacturing business to succeed but the running on one cylinder of their press bike doesn’t fill me with hope. The current 916 isn't the bike to rescue Norton. The new factory does look smart compared to that office space in Donington that Garner was using. Fingers crossed something exciting is being developed behind the screens. Interesting that they think the Garner era V4 SS are only fit for scrap. Plenty of owners didn’t take up the offer of a new bike + contribution. Seen one or two for sale 😮

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

It was a faulty sensor, not made by Norton 👍🏼

[@Banditmanuk]

@@bananabrooks3836 Yep Garner was a proper low life. Unfortunately he's got away with it........

[@alq1967]

Buy one, then...

[@michaelarchangel1163]

It's truly excellent how stringently the bikes are inspected for scuffs etc., before being approved. Sad to say, but I've personally had to threaten some franchised dealerships with legal action, following gouged stanchions, three inch long scrapes, red hot discs from seized calipers which I'd specifically requested to be attended to, during fitment of new replacement discs. I became so disillusioned with shit workmanship that for many years I've done almost all of my own servicing, barring for tyre changes and valve maintenance, both being entrusted to smaller but trustworthy places. One can only hope that Norton dealerships are as respectful as the manufacturer. The vast majority are 'get that bike out asap, this one needs seeing to by today', something which is no fault whatsoever of the mechanics themselves. £££££££££££££££££££££££ !

[@sidweazel2883]

So stringently inspected they don’t work in the rain!

[@michaelarchangel1163]

I don't know of any bike manufacturers that subject their bikes to thunderstorm conditions, do you ? If so, enlighten us all. Every firm is reliant upon electrical componentry being up to snuff. My own bike had an HT lead that had turned green, causing an initially hard to isolate misfire on one cylinder, and it was like that from as low a mileage at 500 odd from brand new. Your argument is very silly, if I may say so, without causing you any undue personal angst. Check to see if your next scone has the requisite number of currants and that none are overly hard.@@sidweazel2883

[@sidweazel2883]

@@michaelarchangel1163so you’d find it accept to pay top dollar for a bike that doesn’t work in the rain? Considering this was a press bike which was checked and double checked, not a great advert the best they can do, wouldn’t you agree?

[@jamesschneider3828]

@@michaelarchangel1163 I'm sure most manufacturers do test their bikes in all types of conditions including heavy water logging. I think this is one area that hand making each bike is a big disadvantage

[@richarddevaottien7724]

What brand of bikes does the parent company make?

[@vickyyadav5723]

TVS is Big Successful Automotive Brand in India they also make Bikes.....Tech loaded bikes r there USP

[@flatcapcaferacer]

I think if they made more they would certainly sell more at a cheaper prizes. Having only one dude to polish is a formula for failure having seen similar situations in aerospace manufacturing and it always ended badly. Personally I don't see why they would have tons of inventory which adds to the cost of motorcycles especially with no plans for even medium rate of production. I wish Norton and TVS great success and hopefully they have a plan to get there but unless they have some aces up their sleeves but I'm not hopeful.

[@bananabrooks3836]

They can't make so many that it breaches the single SVA testing rules, l think

[@flatcapcaferacer]

@@bananabrooks3836 You are correct about that but unless they can't hit the sound or the emissions I would hope they would make more than is allowed right now.

[@darrenhall6509]

Spelt quiet wrong, sorry.

[@Lukep123456]

TVS?

[@GrahamW722]

The Indian based company that now owns the Norton brand. The bikes are still largely assembled in England, hence the higher prices compared to some of their other brands which are fully built and assembled in India. So, that’s not a bad thing… right ?

[@Lukep123456]

@@GrahamW722 well of course, happy to see Norton is getting the support

[@milansharma8828]

Was TVS mentioned in the video?

[@quad_solo_az]

I have wondered if the release of this bike has anything to do with the end of the Thruxton, which is the basically the same bike but less of a ripoff.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

They may look similar but they are completely different. Definitely no correlation

[@bananabrooks3836]

The TVS Comm. was available in 2022, which was before the Thrux. production finished. As l understand it the Trium. wasn't made in the Uk. Although an arguably faster more nimble machine smoother and an 8 valve head.

[@jamesschneider3828]

Wait a year or two or three and Triumph will reintroduce a brand new Thruxton that they can charge couple thousand more for limited edition models.

[@jfro5867]

You may have wanted to blag a long termer for your channel Darcy but I’d be careful what you wish for cos only 4K views, many negative, versus (for example) huge numbers of views on your RE content says it all. There’s not much interest now and initial curiosity has waned somewhat.

[@worldofameiso5491]

Typical Norton then...

[@jfro5867]

Decent walk around, nicely done. Who’s buying all these bikes then cos dealers aren’t shifting many? You didn’t cover what the ride over was actually like on the motorway just that it was wet and cold. Shame the bike developed a fault, not really a good advertisement even though it’s now been fixed Think you’ve really got to want one and be prepared for things to go wrong.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

It was only a faulty 02 sensor not made by Norton

[@jfro5867]

@@MrDarcy-OlMan Appreciate that Darcy but if you’re stranded on the side of the road (for example) you don’t care who made it, just that your bikes broken. Knocks confidence in product reliability.

[@jamesonpace726]

Aw, sweet, the English, high priced, so workers get to eat, hand built in yer country, HD. I'm stickin' with RE, 'cuz I'm cheap....

[@thiaguinhooitodois2211]

No way they will compete with let’s say Royal enfield

[@kristophertrout7328]

A better comparison would be with Moto Guzzi. They are hand built also, so the costs would be more apples to apples.

[@sidweazel2883]

Every top Guzzi is awesome, every other Norton is ok.

[@mikerider58]

We were never introduced to the tour guide but he give the impression that one scratch and the bike would be binned 😅 You should have told him to stop boasting because you arrived on a broken down Norton 😅😅 The classic Kawasaki 900 who be a far superior motorcycle imo, still, the Norton looks nice but how reliable is it. You didn't have much luck with yours 😢

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

It was only an 02 sensor not even manufactured by Norton. Once replaced it was fine 👍🏼👍🏼

[@Treker-yv7nz]

Their advertising has gone Woke

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

?

[@ttrguy9952]

Norton went belly up in the 70's. Now like Indian, it's just a name that's been bought. 👎👎