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For a long time, Norton has had a long-standing top rank in motorbike history. The Norton Motorcycle Company is a motorcycle manufacturing company that originated from Birmingham in England. The company was established in 1898, initially as a manufacturer of parts and fittings for the two-wheel industry.

James Lansdowne Norton also nicknamed Pa, established Norton. By the year 1902, the company had already started the manufacture of motorbikes featuring engines bought from different suppliers such as the Swiss and French. Norton built a driver in 1908 and added it to the range of engines. This was the start of the production of at first single, then a twin-cylinder motorbike, and eventual involvement with races. The Military Big 4 and Model 16H side valve motorbikes were the contribution Norton made towards WWII, and almost 100,000 bikes were manufactured.

Norton manufactured the Big 4 and 3.5hp throughout the war. In 1916, the Munitions ministry decreed that no more motorcycles would be made without obtaining a permit. Most motorcycle companies were into exports, aircraft parts, or munitions. Norton was already exporting and has previously announced earlier in that year a new model of Big 4, with 633cc, whose ground clearance was better, from 4.25 to 6. They had changed the frame, added a larger tank, put a more significant mudguard clearance, and added a sturdier carrier in the rear. They did not change the engine, and a Sturmey-Archer 3 –speed gearbox provided transmission.

In 1953, primary shareholders started to exit Norton, the company started going downhill, and Associated Motor Cycles purchased the shares. In the 1950s, motorcycle sales faced a recession. Norton was a small company, and its sales went up, with several brands such as The Dominator Twins of 500,600, 650 and 750cc keeping the company afloat, mostly from sales to the US.

Norton manufactured motorcycles again for the military in the Second World War after undergoing a tender process. Since then, Norton has been manufacturing motorcycles, and Norton bought Donington Hall in Northwest Leicestershire as its headquarters in 2013. Donington Hall has 26 country acres that are surrounded by parkland.