Norton Back In Business?

NORTON BACK IN BUSINESS?

Now, now, don’t go gettin’ all misty-eyed at the thought of an updated-for-the’90s Commando 850. What we have here is a Norton in name only, debuted at last November’s Birmingham Show. Called the 652SM, it uses a four-valve Single for power, the same Rotax-built unit used by BMW in its F650. Tubular-steel perimeter frame and minimalist bodywork were drawn up by Tigcraft, one of England’s single-cylinder specialists. Former Norton importer for Germany, Jo Seifert, commissioned the bike and says he’ll sell 100 after this spring’s proposed production run.