[TusharK]

According to a media report, Motoroyale dealerships have started accepting bookings for the Norton Commando 961. While, the price of the bike is not yet known, dealers are reportedly charging Rs. 2 lakh as booking amount, while some are asking for an upfront payment of 50% of the bike's price.



In the international market, the Norton Commando is offered in two variants - Sport and Cafe Racer. Media reports suggest that the Sport version will be offered in India initially. Deliveries are expected to start around June 2018. The Commando Cafe Racer and Dominator are likely to be announced at a later date.

Both the Dominator and Commando share the same 961 cc, air/oil-cooled, parallel twin-cylinder engine. It produces 79 BHP @ 6,500 rpm and 90 Nm of torque @ 5,200 rpm and is paired with a 5-speed gearbox.

Kinetic Engineering and Norton Motorcycle Company had announced a joint venture (JV) back in November 2017. As part of the JV, Dominator and Commando models from Norton's range of bikes will be offered in India. These will be imported as completely built units (CBU) but the company does plan to start CKD operations in the future.

Source: NDTV

Link to Team-BHP News

[TusharK]

Motoroyale and the Norton Motorcycle Company have launched the Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer in India. The bike will be imported as a completely built unit (CBU) and is priced at Rs. 23 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune). The booking amount for one of these bikes is Rs. 11.5 lakh and deliveries will take around 2-3 months.



The Commando 961 Cafe Racer is a retro-styled bike with a wheelbase of 1,400 mm and a seat height of 810 mm. It has an adjustable 43 mm Ohlins upside-down front fork and adjustable Ohlins twin shock absorbers at the rear.



The bike has a classic cafe racer appearance with a round headlamp and a short wind deflector at the front. It has clip-on handle bars and a twin-pod instrument cluster. The fuel tank has knee recesses and it has a curved tail section with an integrated tail light and twin stainless steel exhausts. At present, the bike is only offered in a silver colour option.



The Commando 961 Cafe Racer is powered by a 961 cc, air/oil-cooled, parallel-twin cylinder, push-rod actuated engine that develops 79 BHP @ 6,500 rpm and 90 Nm of torque @ 5,200 rpm. The engine is paired with a 5-speed gearbox via a wet multi-plate clutch. Braking duties are handled by twin 320 mm floating discs with Brembo 4-piston monobloc radially-mounted calipers in the front and a single 220 mm disc in the rear with a 2-piston Brembo caliper.

The Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer will compete with the Triumph Thruxton R in the Indian market. At present, the former is priced significantly higher than its rival. However, its price is likely to drop once local assembly commences, which is expected by the end of 2018.

Source: Autocar India

Link to Team-BHP News

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by TusharK

The booking amount for one of these bikes is Rs. 11.5 lakh

Originally Posted by TusharK

The Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer will compete with the Triumph Thruxton R in the Indian market.

The booking amount for the Norton is the same as the ex-showroom price of the rival - Triumph Thruxton R. Hope they begin local assembly soon - else they are simply priced out of the game.

Will these be sold in MV Augusta showrooms?

[Porschefire]

Originally Posted by TusharK

The Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer will compete with the Triumph Thruxton R in the Indian market. At present, the former is priced significantly higher than its rival. However, its price is likely to drop once local assembly commences, which is expected by the end of 2018.

Stupid decision. Why not launch the bike after the local assemblies have started and enjoy much better sales rather than hoping to sell a couple at the insane price it is launched now!!! Unless they're hoping to create a "Prices slashed! Your Norton is even more affordable now!" kinda buzz thinking they'll lure in customers (which I don't think will help), I see this as DOA. Why? Because of its rival.
The Thruxton R is a brilliant machine in itself which matches the Norton spec to spec and leaves it in a field of dust when it comes to power. Yeah the Norton has the exclusivity factor and blah blah but is it worth buying it over the Thruxton, which has the 'Triumph' after sales backing? Also, the CKD versions' ex showroom prices will significantly be higher than the OTR prices of the Thruxton R for sure.

[Turbanator]

It's expensive at most of the places, don't know the history or the reasons, recently saw at Calgary.

Even in Canada with Zero duties it's priced around 15 Lac

[v12]

Agreed that the Norton brand comes with history and pedigree and whatever Norton stood for during its British days. But all this still cannot justify the "almost double of the Thruxton R" price tag - come on Norton, this is not the Norton Manx. A realistic figure for this bike could be around a lakh more than the Thruxton to keep the exclusivity.

[timuseravan]

Absolutely delusional pricing. In India, Norton used to have history and pedigree. I doubt, apart from some old-timers and biking enthusiasts, anyone is even aware of Norton motorcycles. Most people would associate Norton with the anti-virus.

Triumph has been here for a decade or so and just about now people have started recognizing the brand.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Zigwheels has come up with an exclusive first look video -

https://youtu.be/QjRzpq9GW58

[sids911]

Those things are really tough to ride - don't know what it was, but collectively, the ergos, the gear ratios, the heaviness of ride, the lack of quality (welds, wires hanging loose) and just the sheer deliberation of things to just go - yielded a motorcycle not worth considering for the price they are asking.

Its just for people who'd want to keep these in the living room or garage showcase and wipe clean it everyday - everything but ride.

No thanks - The thrux for me anyday.

[narula123]

I agree with what most folks have mentioned above. Its a Dud-On-Arrival thanks to the over-enthusiastic estimation of the selling value by the company.

Norton may have the legacy and the aura etc etc but Triumph isnt some cheap Chinese brand either. Infact the Triumph Sales & service setup in India is pretty well established unlike Motoroyale which with its Kinetic roots isnt the best of the pack. Infact the Thruxton R seems a better package overall without even bringing the price into consideration. Consider the price and its bye bye Norton.

What is the reason to buy the Commando over the Thruxton for double the money? Cannot be legacy alone.
The MVs hardly sell, the Norton won't gather volumes either. How does the brand expect to keep the dealerships afloat?

[nitrogary]

For 23 lacs, the R nineT cafe racer offers so much more!
If anyone had 23 lacs to spend on motorcycles, i am sure they can get the thruxton r and a vintage norton commando in that money. That ways, you have two bikes - both having the "heritage" factor.