Comments on: Norton, Terblanche and the V-4 (Bike Reports) (News) http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/01/norton-terblanche-and-the-v-4/ Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:25:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: ROXX http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/01/norton-terblanche-and-the-v-4/comment-page-1/#comment-16265 ROXX Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:19:23 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=13061#comment-16265 You might want to look at this Gerald before you bash the 999; http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2007/05/doug-polen-not-so-impressed-with-ducati.html You might want to look at this Gerald before you bash the 999;
http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2007/05/doug-polen-not-so-impressed-with-ducati.html

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]]> By: Gerald G http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/01/norton-terblanche-and-the-v-4/comment-page-1/#comment-16088 Gerald G Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:12:34 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=13061#comment-16088 I don't know how anyone can praise the 999/749 design. It's different, I will definitely give it that, but there is nothing aesthetically pleasing or functional about this design. The swingarm is flexy and flimsy and looks absolutely out of place when viewing the whole bike. The gauges, tach/speedo, and the instrument cluster in general look like they were drawn up by a 1 year old. And the front end...with those two round lights and cheesy mirrors. Absolutely horrible. There's a huge reason the 1098/1198/848 have taken Ducati back to profitability that the 999/749 couldn't accomplish, and style and functionality are but a couple of those reasons. I don’t know how anyone can praise the 999/749 design. It’s different, I will definitely give it that, but there is nothing aesthetically pleasing or functional about this design. The swingarm is flexy and flimsy and looks absolutely out of place when viewing the whole bike. The gauges, tach/speedo, and the instrument cluster in general look like they were drawn up by a 1 year old. And the front end…with those two round lights and cheesy mirrors. Absolutely horrible. There’s a huge reason the 1098/1198/848 have taken Ducati back to profitability that the 999/749 couldn’t accomplish, and style and functionality are but a couple of those reasons.

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]]> By: jaybond http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/01/norton-terblanche-and-the-v-4/comment-page-1/#comment-15978 jaybond Wed, 02 Feb 2011 02:16:49 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=13061#comment-15978 Or maybe the 1200cc parallel twin Norton superbike! Or maybe the 1200cc parallel twin Norton superbike!

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]]> By: jaybond http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/01/norton-terblanche-and-the-v-4/comment-page-1/#comment-15976 jaybond Wed, 02 Feb 2011 02:12:11 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=13061#comment-15976 Before even thinking of jumping into MotoGP, first Norton should produce a superbike and compete in WSBK. This is the foundation in which Norton could build, before moving on to the next level. Look at Ducati & Aprilia, the have followed the same route (although Aprilia failed miserably with the ill-advised 3 cylinder GP machine). Despite the glitz & glamour, MotoGP has the potential to push the small manufacturers into the brink of collapse. So the best option for Norton now, as a motorcycle company that started to 're-grow' is to go for WSBK, and enter with those two types of superbike - 4 cylinder & rotary machines, that would be more interesting (and worth it)! Before even thinking of jumping into MotoGP, first Norton should produce a superbike and compete in WSBK. This is the foundation in which Norton could build, before moving on to the next level. Look at Ducati & Aprilia, the have followed the same route (although Aprilia failed miserably with the ill-advised 3 cylinder GP machine). Despite the glitz & glamour, MotoGP has the potential to push the small manufacturers into the brink of collapse. So the best option for Norton now, as a motorcycle company that started to ‘re-grow’ is to go for WSBK, and enter with those two types of superbike – 4 cylinder & rotary machines, that would be more interesting (and worth it)!

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]]> By: jimbo http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/01/norton-terblanche-and-the-v-4/comment-page-1/#comment-15900 jimbo Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:29:33 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=13061#comment-15900 I too question Dirck's comment that "...Norton is already doing well..." IIRC Norton is 100% privately owned and operated, not a publicly held company, and that means its books are permanently closed to public scrutiny. A source for the comment is appreciated, especially because a reader might infer financial health. Maybe he simply meant that Norton's current bikes are well accepted by professional road testers and public comments are positive. Norton's bikes look awesome and the specs are attractive, though of course they are not mass-produced, hence costly. A similar yet polar opposite exists in the caged vehicle world: The current Mustang GT is the best so-called "pony" cage of the three available (in spite of being the oldest platform). The GT is a fantastic performing cage, but because it's so affordable you pass yourself on every drive. Won't happen on a Norton! I too question Dirck’s comment that “…Norton is already doing well…” IIRC Norton is 100% privately owned and operated, not a publicly held company, and that means its books are permanently closed to public scrutiny. A source for the comment is appreciated, especially because a reader might infer financial health. Maybe he simply meant that Norton’s current bikes are well accepted by professional road testers and public comments are positive. Norton’s bikes look awesome and the specs are attractive, though of course they are not mass-produced, hence costly. A similar yet polar opposite exists in the caged vehicle world: The current Mustang GT is the best so-called “pony” cage of the three available (in spite of being the oldest platform). The GT is a fantastic performing cage, but because it’s so affordable you pass yourself on every drive.

Won’t happen on a Norton!

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]]> By: jimbo http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/01/norton-terblanche-and-the-v-4/comment-page-1/#comment-15896 jimbo Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:14:10 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=13061#comment-15896 His claim might be correct. Mazda's Wankel rotary motor in their RX8 is street licensed, passing all EPA regulations in 2011 and beyond, and is a mere 1.3L making 238hp IIRC, or 183hp per L, on par with the BMW's current 1000R. I presume passenger caged vehicles have far more stringent EPA regulations vs. race-replica bikes. Suzuki's mid-70s street licensed production rotary was a mere .5L, and compared directly to touring bikes with piston motors twice its size like Honda's 1000cc Lead (Gold) Wing. IIRC there are no reciprocating parts in a Wankel. Non-engineer boobs like me can only imagine the heat and power loss directly caused by the many reciprocating parts constantly changing directions in a typical piston motor. Wankel's suck fuel at a rate that would make a 2-stroke envious. His claim might be correct. Mazda’s Wankel rotary motor in their RX8 is street licensed, passing all EPA regulations in 2011 and beyond, and is a mere 1.3L making 238hp IIRC, or 183hp per L, on par with the BMW’s current 1000R. I presume passenger caged vehicles have far more stringent EPA regulations vs. race-replica bikes. Suzuki’s mid-70s street licensed production rotary was a mere .5L, and compared directly to touring bikes with piston motors twice its size like Honda’s 1000cc Lead (Gold) Wing.

IIRC there are no reciprocating parts in a Wankel. Non-engineer boobs like me can only imagine the heat and power loss directly caused by the many reciprocating parts constantly changing directions in a typical piston motor.

Wankel’s suck fuel at a rate that would make a 2-stroke envious.

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]]> By: Brinskee http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/01/norton-terblanche-and-the-v-4/comment-page-1/#comment-15811 Brinskee Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:59:09 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=13061#comment-15811 Do you know how long it takes to design and implement a bike? They had no choice, you go with what you have at some point. Responsibility rests solely on the designer's shoulders. You can't let a designer bask in the glory of a stunning bike, and not blame one when they fail. Teblanche needs his pencils taken away. Actually, no, they should be broken first, and then taken away. Awful. Do you know how long it takes to design and implement a bike? They had no choice, you go with what you have at some point. Responsibility rests solely on the designer’s shoulders. You can’t let a designer bask in the glory of a stunning bike, and not blame one when they fail. Teblanche needs his pencils taken away. Actually, no, they should be broken first, and then taken away. Awful.

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]]> By: Norm G. http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/01/norton-terblanche-and-the-v-4/comment-page-1/#comment-15790 Norm G. Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:11:43 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=13061#comment-15790 well not single-handedly but in collusion. at the end of the day, terblanche was an employee like any other. ultimately somebody (or a collective somebody[s]) in management at borgo panigale had to give the design the green light. they could've told him "NO" let's try again. instead, they made a conscious decision to manufacture. guilt on that one spreads like peanut butter. well not single-handedly but in collusion. at the end of the day, terblanche was an employee like any other. ultimately somebody (or a collective somebody[s]) in management at borgo panigale had to give the design the green light. they could’ve told him “NO” let’s try again. instead, they made a conscious decision to manufacture. guilt on that one spreads like peanut butter.

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]]> By: Norm G. http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/01/norton-terblanche-and-the-v-4/comment-page-1/#comment-15787 Norm G. Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:24:53 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=13061#comment-15787 along with the ST line, the last SS, and the oh-so delicious Hypermotard. along with the ST line, the last SS, and the oh-so delicious Hypermotard.

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]]> By: Kai Ju http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/01/norton-terblanche-and-the-v-4/comment-page-1/#comment-15780 Kai Ju Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:11:35 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=13061#comment-15780 All these people that are bashing Terblanche's designs seem to forget a very important fact: Ducati's Management signed off on these designs before they went into production. So who's fault is it ? The guy that penned the bike or the company that built it ? All these people that are bashing Terblanche’s designs seem to forget a very important fact:
Ducati’s Management signed off on these designs before they went into production.
So who’s fault is it ? The guy that penned the bike or the company that built it ?

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