| Author |
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Trojan
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 12:46 pm: | 
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http://www.nortonracing.com/
The Norton name, and all rights to manufacture the Commando 961 and revolutionary rotary engined race and road bikes has been bought by UK businessman Stuart Garner, who is building a state of the art factory at Donington Park adjacent to the race circuit.
Production will commence shortly, and I for one hope that they have more luck than the previous few incumbents of the famous name have had  |
Spiderman
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 12:55 pm: |
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Production will commence shortly
Been hearing that since ol' Kenny boy... |
Barker
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 01:46 pm: |
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170hp, sub 300lbs, sub 600cc
niiiiice, how much?
looks spensive. |
Bill0351
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 02:01 pm: |
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It would be cool if someone would buy up all the really cool designs that ALMOST made it and build a brand around them. Maybe that could be HDs new approach for the next few decades.
It would be sort of like the Island of Misfit Toys for motorcycles. |
Glitch
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 02:34 pm: |
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Ducted fan air cooling for rotors
Great, more people to bitch about loud fans. |
New12r
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 02:43 pm: |
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That rotary race bike is dope!
The specs are just plain sick! |
Buellinachinashop
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 02:58 pm: |
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The Commando looks interesting as well. |
Glitch
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 03:39 pm: |
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I can see the ad campaign now...
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Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 05:12 pm: |
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itsa veyr nyce it make me whant to hve seksy time in ma pants |
Teddagreek
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 05:38 pm: |
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I'm very Partial to twins but I love to experience a WANKEL POWERED motorcycle..
I know they are bitch to keep quiet, I'll go watch Import racing and those old Rotary Cars are Beyond loud..
I want to say the new RX8 has 3 mufflers |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 06:50 pm: |
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I liked Wankels a lot more in theory then I did when I finally got to drive an old RX7.
Maybe my expectations were unrealistic, but at the end of the day it felt like my CRX, but lots slower and lots heavier.
Maybe they can sell it in MotoCyz dealers next to the Indians  |
Alchemy
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 08:24 pm: |
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I wonder what the gas mileage is? There was a flying car company that was supposed to be developing a ceramic wankel for use with ducted fans for lift etc. It was to be very light. The basic concept of the wankel seems fundamentally superior to a piston that has to reverse directions repeatedly for every power stroke.
A car makes more sense than a motorcycle however. I will have to give this Norton a look. |
Skinstains
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 09:46 pm: |
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I would love to have one of those old Norton rotaries. When I wasn't riding it I would park it next to my 63 Atlas. Niiice. |
Glitch
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 09:55 pm: |
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I wonder what the gas mileage is?
Don't know about the bike, but the RX8 gets horrible gas mileage. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 10:11 pm: |
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I WANT one of the New Commandos. That thing is sick! |
2008xb12scg
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 11:08 pm: |
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If the Wankel engine had been given the R&D that the regular engine has gotten, who knows it might be as good or better off paper as on. Also shouldn't they come up with a better name for it? |
Teddagreek
| | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 12:50 am: |
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It was named after the inventor Felix Wankel.. |
4cammer
| | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 09:48 am: |
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Good luck (new) Norton. We have seen this show before - hope it works out.
The Commando is a hell of a bike and deserves the chance to make it. |
Ducxl
| | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 10:06 am: |
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I had a '73 Commando 850.Here's a pic of me on it.My new(at the time)BMW was ridden by my sister.My FATHER bought the BMW because the Norton didn't tour well.
 |
Trojan
| | Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 12:29 pm: |
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Years ago, when I was a mere motorcycle cop in London, we were equipped with Norton Commander rotary engined bikes for a short but very entertaining period. Reliability or fuel consumption were never strong points, but boy could the shift!
They had some very strange habits too. Absolutely no engine braking whatsoever, and when you shut the throttle they would momentarily accelerate, which was interesting at first! Ergonomics were never even considered either, as they were like riding a plank of wood!
Their best trick though was firing 12' flames from the exhaust. We used to wait until we got into the tunnel under the Embankment alongside the Thames, then flick the kill switch on and off....Boom!
Just the thing while escorting Royalty |