Norton Returning to U.S.A.

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

An old Norton always turns heads when out of the road and gathers crowd when parked. It’s a sure bet that a new Norton will do the same. Norton Motorcycles Ltd. has announced that the famous British brand will return to the U.S.A. in May 2011 with Dan Van Epps, former CEO of Ducati North America, leading the effort. 

“We have been producing the new 961 Commandos for almost two years, and the orders have been beyond our most enthusiastic expectations,” said Norton Motorcycles Ltd. owner and CEO Stuart Garner. “We’ve had to ramp up production much earlier than anticipated to grow on pace with our customers’ requests.”

The new Commando comes in three versions: the traditional Commando 961 Sport, the 961 Cafe Racer and the high performance 961 SE. Each has a 961cc, parallel twin, fuel-injected powerplant with Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes. More info may be found here at the company’s website.

For those who don’t remember the original Norton as well as those who do with great fondness, here’s a picture of a vintage Commando owned by Dean Mojon of New Hartford. It’s one of those head-turners that I mentioned. Dean takes meticulous care of the bikes in his collection, but he rides them, too. And, yes, a crowd always gathers when he comes to a stop and parks his Norton.

For those into history, the first Norton – dubbed the “Engerette” – rolled out of a factory in Birmingham, England in 1902.