Norton® Motorcycles For Sale Near Santa Ana, Long Beach, & Los Angeles, CA
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About Norton Motorcycles
Norton boasts over 100 years of history, with a focus of manufacturing high-performance motorcycles with stripped-down style. Their unique place in the industry lets them draw heavily on a great heritage while pushing the envelope of design moving forward. Norton Motorcycles leave the frills out and deliver thrills on machines as versatile as they are simple and easy to ride. When riding a Norton, you’ll turn heads with plenty of classic style.
Origins of Norton Motorcycles
Norton was founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of bicycles, but they were making motorcycles by 1902 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Though they didn’t make their own engines until 1908, Norton certainly made a name for themselves as an early producer of motorcycles. Norton continued production until 1916 when the British Ministry of Munitions ordered that no more work on motorcycles would be allowed without a special permit. This gave Norton plenty of time to focus on production for the military as well as exports, and they began designing what would become innovative post-war motorcycles.
A World At War
Civilian production resumed in 1919 with a new line of models meant for younger riders who either got their first taste of motorcycles during the war and a growing culture around them. Norton went with reliability of performance with long-stroke single-cylinder engines that had separate gearboxes. Norton also resumed racing, which had been an important influence on their early success. Civilian production wouldn’t last for long, however, and in 1936 a modified Norton 16H motorcycle beat out contenders for a prestigious military contract. Norton produced solid parts and service, becoming an integral military manufacturer and producing over 100,000 units for military use.
Modern Innovation
With both World Wars done and over, Norton was eager to get back to civilian production — and racing! Between 1947 and 1954, they won every Isle of Man Senior TT, though they went against some stiff competition. Not wanting to give other manufacturers the chance to catch up to their racers, Norton focused on innovative design and engineering for the rest of the 20th century. They soon reclaimed their racing prestige and transferred this success to their legendary cafe racers, a style that would last and make a huge impact on the whole of custom motorcycle culture.
For the latest and best from Norton and other great motorcycle manufacturers, head into Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County, where we’ve got the best new and used bikes for sale. We’re located in Westminster, California and proudly serve Santa Ana, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Los Angeles, Anaheim, and Orange County.