More sensible pipes are at least available, apparently. But as a wake up call it’s better than a Victoria Secrets model who finds herself in your hotel room, or a jump in an ice cold lake. Luckily, I learnt my lesson from last time on a Norton and put earplugs in, such is the deep racket of the Dominator on its aftermarket race pipes. Grown men covered up their dogs’ ears as I passed, children screamed, old ladies took for cover. The Dominator makes the same unforgettable growl. It’s a noise your hearing will ever forget. If you were at Motorcycle Live last year then you’ll already know what an uncorked Norton 961cc motor through straight-through handmade pipes sounds like. The lads are attaching to the trade plate to the Dominator, then run it up on the dyno to check everything is in order before parking it outside and chucking me the keys. But it’s still a stunning motorcycle and £24,000 as it sits in front of me.ĭomiracers which were bought new for £24,000 (plus £2000 for a road homologation kit) and just one year on are already fetching between £38,000 and £44,000 in the used market. Though the basic silhouette is the same, dig deeper and the level of detail is not quite to the same level as the ornate brackets and finishing on the Domiracer, the spec is a bit lower. It’s a more production-ised version of the Domiracer sold last year.
We’re here to ride Number 1 in the production of the new Norton Dominator SS, the latest bike in a run of 50 for the UK, and a total of 200 SS versions to be built worldwide. The Goodwood scrutineering stickers still telling the story of the weekend, where burnouts in front of the main grandstand where the order of the day.īut we’re not here to ride this bike today. It’s Number 1 of 50 and the exact bike we rode last year, and ran up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The room is where the Isle of Man TT team spend 12 hour days trying to perfect the V4-powered TT racer and their ambitions of one day winning the prestigious Isle of Man TT race are born.Īnd then, round the corner is the ultra-rare Domiracer. It’s where all the TT magic happens and where the latest development of the Norton TT bike is being rebuilt ready for a shakedown test at Mallory Park with two-times TT winner Cameron Donald on board. Engineers in black Norton racing shirts pulling together the new bikes before they’re boxed, shipped and sent round the world.īehind a closed door in the corner of the factory is the race department.
The factory’s spares department looks over the work benches where the bikes are assembled. And they’re all built here in the heart of England. In reception sits a Norton trials bike and a timeline of their history from 1898, to more recent events like in 2008 when new owner Stuart Garner bought the name.įrom that humble beginning of a reborn brand, Norton is now selling motorcycles to Japan, America and Australia once again. It’s the home of the historic British brand and just walking in brings the Norton name to life. The factory at Donington Hall is always buzzing. Ride past the grand Norton sign, and down the long driveway of the Norton factory at Donington and you step into their world.Ī world of design, metal and love for the Norton brand that goes way beyond a badge on the tank of a motorcycle.
0 kommentar(er)
