Those that have been road registered tend to fetch considerably more than their original $36,500 asking price when they (infrequently) come up for sale. Norton built just 50 examples of the Domiracer РІР‚вЂњ many of which were ordered specifically for track use only and will never be road registered. Brakes are Brembo front and rear, with hefty four-piston calipers up front on 320 mm rotors and a single 220 mm disc in the rear with a two-piston caliper. The monoshock in the back is also anР’В Р“вЂ“hlins unit, also adjustable forР’В spring preload, compression and rebound damping. Nortons have always been famous for their handling and this one is no different, it has a setР’В ofР’В Р“вЂ“hlins 43mm forks up front that areР’В adjustable for spring preload, compression, and rebound damping. The bike has a wet weight of just 381 lbs, or about 172 kilograms, a seat height of 32 inches, and a rake/trail ofР’В 24.5Р’С”/3.9 inches. Perhaps the most notable differences are the monoshock rear, the staggeringly curvaceous aluminium fuel tank, and the new Featherbed sports chassis. This additional input was then rolled into a new bike with an classicР’В name РІР‚вЂњ the Domiracer.Р”Р„ tweaked version of the 961cc parallel twin was used, now with 3 extra horsepower thanks to a freer-flowing exhaust, and it uses the same modern 5-speed gearbox. The plan was possibly the most British thing ever conceived РІР‚вЂњ staff were encouraged to critique the concept bike on their tea breaks. Ideas were taken by the staff at Norton, then head designer Simon Skinner and his team created a concept bike that was placed in a prominent position on the factory floor. In 2014 Norton decided to let its workforce have a hand in the design of a special low volume bike that would be named the Domiracer, as a hat tip to the racing Norton Dominators (also called Domiracers) that had won the 500cc class at the Thruxton 500 9-hour endurance race in 1960. Although itРІР‚в„ўs a pushrod engine it has modern internals, includingР’В hydraulic roller lifters,Р’В electronic fuel injection, a digital ignition, and a 10.1:1 compression ratio. The design is 100% new and at its heart sits the 961cc air and oil-cooled parallel twin with 80 hp at 6500 rpm and 66 lbf.ft at 5200 rpm.

The first model introduced was the Norton Commando 961 РІР‚вЂњ a modern take on what is arguably the marqueРІР‚в„ўs most famous model. The new Nortons are selling faster than the company can make them, and they often sell on the secondhand market well above the original MSRP.

Norton is one of the most iconic of all the British motorcycle marques, so its return to British hands was warmly welcomed, even though the timing coincidedР’В with the Great Recession РІР‚вЂњ leaving many wondering if the newly revived marque could survive. Norton Motorcycles was returnedР’В to England in 2008, after having spent 15 years in American hands.

2017 norton motorcycles