R&D – Norton develops twin-cylinder engine for future Zhongshen motorcycles – Used NORTON ZONGSHEN

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Norton develops twin-cylinder engine for future Zhongshen motorcycles

R & amp; D - Norton develops twin-cylinder engine for future Zhongshen motorcycles - Used NORTON ZONGSHEN

While outsourcing to Asia to cut costs is common for European motorcycle manufacturers, Norton is embarking on a different kind of collaboration: developing a 650cc twin to power the motorcycles of Chinese giant Zhongshen !

The Norton motorcycle brand, relaunched by businessman Stuart Garner, has been blowing the ashes of its glorious past for several years in the hope of rekindling the flame with a very high-end and deliberately elitist production, made by craftsmen in its premises in Donington Hall. 

  • MNC of 2 December 2009 :

An approach opposed to that of the Chinese giant Zhongshen, who built no less than 4 million (!) Engines last year and whose catalog is based on small displacement motorcycles at competitive prices. And yet, these two companies with such different profiles have just sealed a 20-year (!!) agreement for the joint development of a 650 cc vertical twin..

This new liquid-cooled engine, designed by Norton, will be used exclusively on future Zhongshen motorcycles and its Cyclone brand, allowing the Asian group to seriously expand its range. As part of this partnership, Norton will develop this twin cylinder which will then be manufactured in the giant Zhongshen factories in Chongqing, with all the economic advantages provided by this type of assembly..

R & amp; D - Norton develops twin-cylinder engine for future Zhongshen motorcycles - Used NORTON ZONGSHEN

The other big interest for the third Chinese manufacturer of two-wheelers is to benefit from the expertise of Norton on a mechanical level, in particular for the control of polluting discharges. Zhongshen will thus quickly be able to export high-performance motorcycles, and above all compatible with the latest anti-pollution standards (currently Euro4, then Euro5 around 2020).

"Working with Zhongshen will allow them to offer high quality engines with low polluting emissions meeting current global standards in this area", confirms Stuart Garner, CEO of Norton.

Interest in Norton? "Substantial income" !

As for Norton, the benefit of the operation is easy to understand: the British manufacturer will receive a large sum of money from Zhongshen to carry out this project, then royalties on each engine block sold. In view of the Chinese giant’s strike force and the length of the contract (two decades, all the same!), The argument is not without interest !

"This will allow us to invest substantial income in our skills, training and engineering capabilities, while ensuring the long-term viability of our Nortons made here in England," says the CEO of the English brand..

R & amp; D - Norton develops twin-cylinder engine for future Zhongshen motorcycles - Used NORTON ZONGSHEN

On the other hand, Stuart Garner establishes his scale a little more with this partnership: Norton goes from being a small, low-volume, artisanal builder to that of a privileged partner of a behemoth like Zhongshen. This gives you a brand, in addition to reassuring potential investors and customers of its financial strength !

  • MNC of November 24, 2016 – Norton V4RR: the Superb Bike passes the second !

Far from being stupid, the British industrialist specifies that Norton will however continue to manufacture “all its own engines in its factory”, located close to the magnificent Donington Park circuit. Impossible otherwise to continue to enhance the luxurious and handmade aspect of the Nortons if their thruster were assembled at low cost in China! Remember that Norton has sold in two weeks only 200 copies of its, yet invoiced a trifle of around 50,000 euros !

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