Morning,
I'm new here so please forgive the noddy question. After thinking about a bike for a long time, I finally decided to get on with it and get my license, a typical mid life crisis having not ridden bikes since I was 17. Really enjoyed the process but nowhere near as much as shopping for a bike which began about an hour after getting my mod 2 certificate! I fell in love with the 961 as soon as I clapped eyes on it, my bike is being delivered on Saturday.
A few people have warned me about riding any bike in winter, salt on the roads etc. This is a bike maintenance question, not a safety question......do people ride these modern machines throughout the winter, I had assumed that with regular cleaning and maintenance, that would be fine. This is a hobby for me, not commuting etc. I doubt I would do many miles but it would be nice to get out on the odd dry, crisp winters day.
Thanks in advance.
Tom
Welcome Tom and I am sure…
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Thanks for the response Tony…
Thanks for the response Tony, I appreciate it. I will indeed follow your advice. My plan is definitely not to cover a lot of miles over winter but I can't imagine I'll be able to leave it alone completely between now and March, particularly this weekend when it arrives, my excitement levels are through the roof! I have loads of questions about ways to clean the bike safely but I'll do my research first before subjecting people to what I'm sure will be very simple questions. Lots to learn, thanks again.
Tom
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I apply ACF50 to my bike and…
I apply ACF50 to my bike and confess to not using it in salty/icey conditions.
It's why people seek out a winter hack, a cheap bike, normally lower powered , for commuting etc in winter but if your bike is for hobby use then folly Tony's advice, but Acf50 will help. There is probably another product out there as well.
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961 Register
Congratulations Tom on your imminent ownership of a 961 Norton, and welcome to the club. There is a dedicated club officer, Tony Lockwood, who maintains an informal register of the 961s, both Donnington and Solihull. I am sure he would love to hear from you; he can be contacted at 961register@nortonownersclub.org
Also, there are branches scattered around the country, so try and get along to your nearest one. Look at the Branches tab at the top of the page for a dropdown list.
PS don't be afraid to ask questions about anything related to your Norton on this forum- there are no "silly questions", we all started clueless at some time or other! You may sometimes find too many responses, sometimes conflicting, but press on!
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Thank you, that's good of…
Thank you, that's good of you to say. I'll happily drop Tony a note and I'll definitely have a look at what's happening with my local chapter.
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No so sure
I have used my bikes all year round for commuting (generally a 60 mile round trip). Two Moto Guzzis developed electrical problems
as did a Honda Deauville (an under-rated bike) as well as becoming rapidly shabby and eating exhausts.
In every case, the Dominator or BSA ended up being the machines to cope with the salt (loads and loads in Scotland) and general road muck for the winter. Chains suffered horribly though.
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Welcome Tom and I am sure you will love your 961.
I don't know about the 961 in the winter, and I tend not to ride my Commando in the winter, but when I bought it back in 1977, it was my only form of transport so only sheet ice and / or packed snow would stop me using it.
The main thing is, do not let anything get away from you. After a ride, let it cool and wash off any salt. Even if the roads are dry but salt has been put down, it will stick to any condensation on the metalwork. If you think it looks ok, and leave it for a couple of weeks, you will find corrosion setting in. It is easy to keep in good condition, much harder to recover once deteriorated.
Keep the chain lubricated.
Enjoy the ride and post pictures when you are out and about on the thread 'where did you go today' in the NOC RIders section.