Norton Commando - British Icon Reborn

Published November 16, 2017
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4 min read

The Commando is the most affordable offering from the UK-based bike maker and will be the first model to be launched here

As you might have heard, Norton, the legendary British bike maker, has entered the country by signing a joint venture with Kinetic Group’s Motoroyale for assembly and rights to sell their motorcycles in India and other ASEAN countries. Norton is among the oldest British motorcycle brand. It’s been around since Great Britain was a colonial superpower!

Sadly, due to tax issues and pressure from competition, the brand died down just like the British empire. The bike maker was revived again in 2008 and has been working towards taking on established bike makers such as Ducati, MV Agusta and Triumph. Norton’s decision to enter the Indian two-wheeler scene indicates how important our two-wheeler market is to international motorcycle manufacturers. Having more competitors battle it out on our soil is always a welcome sight for enthusiasts like us.

From the press conference that was held on November 15, 2017, we know for a fact that the Commando and the Dominator are heading to India. So, let’s start with one of the oldest and most popular products from Norton - the Commando. The Commando, which first debuted in 1967, defines Norton’s identity. When the motorcycle was first launched, it came with a 745cc engine. In 1973, it received a bigger 828cc engine. The Commando won the prestigious ‘Machine of the Year’ award for five years on the trot and was popular around the world.

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The current motorcycle, the Norton Commando MKII, replaces its ancestor and is powered by a 961cc, oil-cooled, parallel-twin engine that is capable of producing 80PS of maximum power and 90Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The same combo can be found on the other motorcycle that will make its way to Indian, the Norton Dominator.

Norton’s motorcycles are well known for their craftsmanship and provide a premium feel that is hard to beat. In an era of mass produced, factory-built bikes, the Commando stands out with its handmade tailoring. The minimalistic body, the finely sculpted fuel tank that narrows towards the driver, the dual seats, and the gold-coloured Ohlins suspension gives the the Commando a unique look that other manufacturer have tried hard to emulate. The colourful pinstripes on the tank and the Norton logo are a thing of beauty. The black carbon-fibre mudguard ensures all eyes are fixed on the bike.

In terms of aesthetics, the 961 Sport variant of the Commando is more closer to the older motorcycle with the same form and hardware. It gets regular handlebars with a laid back seating position for a relaxed ride. The 961 Cafe Racer variant, on the other hand, gets an aggressive seating position and clip-on handlebars with a tiny windscreen for the instrument console. While both bikes may share a lot in common, they hold their distinctive personalities. The Sport is more of a traditional naked street bike with its telescopic forks and no-nonsense headlight that dissolves into the design of the bike. The Cafe Race, as expected, follows the current trend of neo-cafe racers.

Both motorcycles get the same 17-inch spoke wheels on either ends. The 961 Sport, as mentioned before, gets conventional 43mm telescopic forks from Ohlins. The 961 Cafe Racer gets a more sporty 43mm USD forks from the same brand. At the rear, both bikes share the same Ohlins twin shocks with a remote reservoir. They also share fully-floating, 320mm twin-disc brakes and 4-piston calipers from Brembo at the front and a 220mm single disc unit with a 2-piston caliper at the rear. Although both bikes are likely to cost upwards of Rs 15 lakh, they do not get ABS, not even as an option! But you do get a gorgeous pair of upwards-facing stainless steel exhausts on either side of the bike.

The 961 Sport and the 961 Cafe Racer get a twin-analogue setup for the speedometer and tachometer. There’s a small digital screen on the left unit that displays vital information. You get a 300-watt charging socket too. Norton will also provide a cowl to cover the pillion seat when not in use to maintain the design and flow of the bike. Both motorcycles will be offered in six different colour options - red, silver, black, grey, white and green.

The duo featured here will be the most affordable motorcycle from the British bike manufacturer, and while Norton hasn’t announced the prices for the Indian market yet, it retails between Rs 13 lakh and Rs 15 lakh in the UK. Initially, Norton will be importing a limited number of bikes for sale in India. Hence, expect these to cost upwards of Rs 15 lakh here. However, the company has promised to bring CKD units of three of their motorcycles by late 2018. This should help them slash the price by a big margin.

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