Norton: almost bankrupt and Podevine legacy

That used to be the pinnacle of corniness: “Do you know that bowl of those two guys who went to Paris (Rome, New York, Brummen or Drempt, fill in it)? No? They didn't go! ” Quite down to that kind of thunderous sense of humor, we move on to, “Did you hear that about Norton's latest restart? He was canceled. ” A comparison has even been made between Norton and cats. Cats have nine lives. That is long gone for Norton.

A long history

Norton Motorcycles, with a 122-year history, has had ranks of owners over those years. In 2015, Stuart Garner acquired Norton Motorcycles, promising to make the company shine like never before. The new Nortons were the greatest tribute to history. People ordered and paid for them out of blind passion. And got… Nothing or much too late.

Death by guilt. Tax debt

Now it is rumored that the case is going to hit again because the British tax department Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has charged the company for an amount they spend every day before twelve on plastic coffee stirrers at Honda. So do like the former Flemish Norton importer Podevijn (for the Walloons: Podevin, in England Podevyn). He bought Nortons and left the then unsaleable Commandos dormant in their crates. After all, nobody wanted a Norton anymore? After all, there were CB750 and Z900s. They had more cylinders and more power. And, not unimportant for motorcyclists, they remained intact.

But everything passes

Similarly, the life of the more than idiosyncratic importer with the suggested political criminal rumors had 11 1975 Commandos in his estate that were auctioned in 2010. The 11 new Norton Commando motorcycles fetched between 17.000 and 14.000 euros.

That kind of motorcycles is of course a weird kind of motorcycles

Because for that money you also have a very nice copy of the 'start, run and enjoy' kind. The crated Nortons ended up with a different kind of buyers. With investors, gamblers and ... yet with enthusiasts. In Brummen one of the eleven Nortons from the inheritance stands at Gallery Aaldering. The Norton is there in a crate like Corgi Toys used to be in their boxes. You can see what's in it. This phenomenon has been realized by replacing three sides and the top of the crate with thick plexiglass. The back is still covered with the original cardboard. The whole is emphatically not for sale. Nick Aaldering beams: "We think it is way too beautiful ourselves!" Funny: we know more classic specialists who keep an undercover private collection. Maybe their trade is just an excuse to get involved with their hobby as much as possible. There is an idea about a new section. People who want to confess that are allowed to report.

Then just an ordinary Command?

A good Norton Commando requires a lot of attention, care and love, no demanding machine. But afterwards he rewards his owner with delicious steering characteristics, beautiful looks and a divine sound. And the production sloppiness back then? They will have been tinkered with the machines that are still alive today. The Commandos lived in the twilight of the illustrious brand: There was no money. The machinery was worn out and motivation within the factory was about zero. A new Commando that broke down with 5000 km on the counters? Nobody was surprised. But the brand had and still has such a charisma that entire tribes of people have engaged and kept busy to do the Commandos justice. Perhaps it would be better if the machines from Podevijn's legacy simply remain monumental. But a good Commando now simply gives you a delicious classic.

And whether Norton may continue to exist or be reborn for the umpteenth time? the future will tell.