Support

His times were higher or lower....?

One of the problems with the 961 as I see it is a shortage of Facts in a sea of Opinion,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Is it worth comparing the introduction of the Norton Rotary with that of the 961? Were there any serious teething troubles with the Rotary after its launch to the paying public? Did any potential Rotary owners pay a deposit or more and then not get a delivery for a couple of years?

Hello - Yes I'd give support if Norton went all electric and pensioned off all four stroke engines. Its time that all this was brushed aside there well of 120 year old technology we're still playing with. WHY for heaven's sake we need a BIG BIG change and get these old four stroke power out of our heads , we're never going to have a clean and green planet if we keep on using this type of transport, when we have technology that will blow your socks off and has been kept hidden since 1947. The Germans were building this type of transport as far back as 1936, so its time to move on to something new. Yours Anna J

Previously roger_johnson wrote:

Previously charles_scouller wrote:

His times were higher or lower....?

One of the problems with the 961 as I see it is a shortage of Facts in a sea of Opinion,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I meant bhis times were shorter on the Hesketh ....I agree, why don't satisfied owners put their heads over the parapet. Roger

Maybe because it does feel like a parapet. There seem to be some regular, vocal posters with an axe to grind who are only interested in hearing the bad news. I'm happy with my 916. It hasn't been trouble-free, but the issues have been sorted out, without fuss and with good communication. In fact I would say that getting the issues resolved was a lot easier than with some of the other bikes and cars I have owned.

I knew what I was buying and if I had wanted "new technology" I would have gone elsewhere. If it gets to the point where I need to work on this engine I'm quite confident I will be able to. I don't do much work on my cars these days, too complicated, whereas my son's old Fiesta with a push-rod engine is a piece of cake.

I waited just over a year for delivery. It wasn't a problem, I was told it could take that long.

I have no particular allegiance to Norton, apart from owningan ES2 when I was at school, wellover40 years ago. I sprayedit red and orange with rattle cans and added ape-hanger bars!

Clearly some owners have been really unlucky and I hope they get their issues resolved. The representation on this forum seems to below for the number of bikes now sold and I guess the tendency is to post about issues rather than any positive experience.

I have bought some bikes on a whim, but the Norton was a more considered decision. If I had to sell my bikes the Norton would be the last to go.

I'm also happy with my 961.

Previously roger_johnson wrote:

Previously charles_scouller wrote:

His times were higher or lower....?

One of the problems with the 961 as I see it is a shortage of Facts in a sea of Opinion,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I meant bhis times were shorter on the Hesketh ....I agree, why don't satisfied owners put their heads over the parapet. Roger

Maybe because it does feel like a parapet. There seem to be some regular, vocal posters with an axe to grind who are only interested in hearing the bad news. I'm happy with my 916. It hasn't been trouble-free, but the issues have been sorted out, without fuss and with good communication. In fact I would say that getting the issues resolved was a lot easier than with some of the other bikes and cars I have owned.

I knew what I was buying and if I had wanted "new technology" I would have gone elsewhere. If it gets to the point where I need to work on this engine I'm quite confident I will be able to. I don't do much work on my cars these days, too complicated, whereas my son's old Fiesta with a push-rod engine is a piece of cake.

I waited just over a year for delivery. It wasn't a problem, I was told it could take that long.

I have no particular allegiance to Norton, apart from owningan ES2 when I was at school, wellover40 years ago. I sprayedit red and orange with rattle cans and added ape-hanger bars!

Clearly some owners have been really unlucky and I hope they get their issues resolved. The representation on this forum seems to below for the number of bikes now sold and I guess the tendency is to post about issues rather than any positive experience.

I have bought some bikes on a whim, but the Norton was a more considered decision. If I had to sell my bikes the Norton would be the last to go.

I'm also happy with my 961.

Hello well my old Transit van a 2.5lt push rod engine and there bullit proof engine but that does not stop all the polution that fossel fuels give off, that killing this planet every day bit by bit, So in the next few years when you get flooded , ! will now say I told you so!!! yours anna J

Previously anna jeannette Dixon wrote:

Previously paul_hailey wrote:

Previously roger_johnson wrote:

Previously charles_scouller wrote:

His times were higher or lower....?

One of the problems with the 961 as I see it is a shortage of Facts in a sea of Opinion,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I meant bhis times were shorter on the Hesketh ....I agree, why don't satisfied owners put their heads over the parapet. Roger

Maybe because it does feel like a parapet. There seem to be some regular, vocal posters with an axe to grind who are only interested in hearing the bad news. I'm happy with my 916. It hasn't been trouble-free, but the issues have been sorted out, without fuss and with good communication. In fact I would say that getting the issues resolved was a lot easier than with some of the other bikes and cars I have owned.

I knew what I was buying and if I had wanted "new technology" I would have gone elsewhere. If it gets to the point where I need to work on this engine I'm quite confident I will be able to. I don't do much work on my cars these days, too complicated, whereas my son's old Fiesta with a push-rod engine is a piece of cake.

I waited just over a year for delivery. It wasn't a problem, I was told it could take that long.

I have no particular allegiance to Norton, apart from owningan ES2 when I was at school, wellover40 years ago. I sprayedit red and orange with rattle cans and added ape-hanger bars!

Clearly some owners have been really unlucky and I hope they get their issues resolved. The representation on this forum seems to below for the number of bikes now sold and I guess the tendency is to post about issues rather than any positive experience.

I have bought some bikes on a whim, but the Norton was a more considered decision. If I had to sell my bikes the Norton would be the last to go.

I'm also happy with my 961.

Hello well my old Transit van a 2.5lt push rod engine and there bullit proof engine but that does not stop all the polution that fossel fuels give off, that killing this planet every day bit by bit, So in the next few years when you get flooded , ! will now say I told you so!!! yours anna J

Off topic again Anna !!!!!!!! Aarrhhh

Sorry, but on the NOC website, i only ever hear about a few bikes that have gone wrong? Where are the satisfied owners, theve sold hundreds....?

Well im a satisfied owner, putting my head above the parapet.... 1 year old 961, 3500 miles, goes like a train, sounds like a spitfire and the most important thing to me, it makes me remember why Ive always rode motorcycles....I always get off grinning. I dont use it for work, or commuting, its my indulgence, as I expect most 961s are....

Its different, but i like different, or id be riding a Honda with the rest of the civilians...

Theres nothing else like it on the road currently in my opinion, Ive yet to see a bike in a car park that i thought 'I prefer that to my 961'. I also have great service and back up from my dealer, Krazy Horse and i see lots of 961s there most weekends at their Ace Cafe franchise, They sell 961s almostas fast as they can get them. There are 2 in their workshop today (Tuesday) for repair, both crash damage....

If you get a chance, buy one, but treat it as like its a piece of italian exotica, rather than a jap multi... If youve ever owned a new Guzzi or Duke youll know what i mean. Its all hand built, bespoke and stunning. My bike must be the most photographed set of wheels in East anglia, every petrol station, camera phones come out....

As you can tell, Im very keen for the new Norton Companyto succeed, i visited the factory and was impressed with the ethos and atmosphere, more like a custom build shop, rather than a factory. I also own a modern Triumph (1215cc Explorer), again a company which i am keen to see succeed, althoughI dont believe Triumph need my help any more. Even my son has got into Hinckley Triumphs, with his first Street Triple.

I am happy to put my money where my mouth is and buy these bikes andride them, rather than sitting at the end of a keyboard knocking a British product, as seems to be the case on the NOC, which as the official Norton Owners Club, we should be supporting. This is one of the reasons i rarely come on the UK site, preferring the US site, which is full of enthusiasts.

Im not saying the 961 doesnt have issues, they do, but ill take one over just about anything else on the road, which i have done actually.

Ride Safe.

Well said Steven, that's what we want to hear! Well, some of us do, anyway...

We seem to fall into two camps here, those who look to find fault in achievements which we should be proud of, and those who champion the underdog. I know which side I would rather be on...

Hurrah. Positive postings at last. A British company employing British workers, making British bikes in Britain, for British riders and then also exporting to bring money into the country. That is really good news. A different business model to Triumph which rather than havong them competing allows each of them to prosper. Long may it continue.

So AJD is going electric, to stop world pollution, so I guess that she will be sacrapping her Mangyman to prevent it falling into the hands of a petrol head enthusiast. Peace at last.

Electric bikes. Great aren't they. All that hype and a range of about 65 to 90 miles followed by a 3 hours or longer recharge. We need another means of propulsion if we are to do away with the ICE. Battery technolgy is stunted by the laws of physics. Nuclear powered perhaps then we could all glow in the dark Anna and do away with the lights. LOL.

Don't start her off, Michael!!

Ian, I think it was too late for that when I typed my message. LOL.

Is that a Spitfire with a Merlin engine, Griffon Engine, Ttriumph Engine, BSA Engine or an imaginary Spitfire Engine.........................?

And wot kind of train!?

Previously charles_scouller wrote:

Is that a Spitfire with a Merlin engine, Griffon Engine, Ttriumph Engine, BSA Engine or an imaginary Spitfire Engine.........................?

Merlin engine.... Now if the lady that complains all the time proposed an electric bike that sounded like a merlin, where do i sign....!

I don't thnk you can sompare anything to a Spitfire, Merlin or Griffon engined.

The serious point - as I see it - is that we have an awful lot of good opinion, but most of the reported facts on this forum appear to centre on reliabilty issues.

This is why I have asked for performance data and "normal" oil consumption figures, to get an objective basis for assessment

Has not one sigle 961 owner put his or her 961 on a dynamomoter yet?

What is the factory standard oil consumption figure?

Why does the air box need to be drained after a "good run" and what is a "good run" any way?

Sorry, but on the NOC website, i only ever hear about a few bikes that have gone wrong? Where are the satisfied owners, theve sold hundreds....?

Well im a satisfied owner, putting my head above the parapet.... 1 year old 961, 3500 miles, goes like a train, sounds like a spitfire and the most important thing to me, it makes me remember why Ive always rode motorcycles....I always get off grinning. I dont use it for work, or commuting, its my indulgence, as I expect most 961s are....

Its different, but i like different, or id be riding a Honda with the rest of the civilians...

Theres nothing else like it on the road currently in my opinion, Ive yet to see a bike in a car park that i thought 'I prefer that to my 961'. I also have great service and back up from my dealer, Krazy Horse and i see lots of 961s there most weekends at their Ace Cafe franchise, They sell 961s almostas fast as they can get them. There are 2 in their workshop today (Tuesday) for repair, both crash damage....

If you get a chance, buy one, but treat it as like its a piece of italian exotica, rather than a jap multi... If youve ever owned a new Guzzi or Duke youll know what i mean. Its all hand built, bespoke and stunning. My bike must be the most photographed set of wheels in East anglia, every petrol station, camera phones come out....

As you can tell, Im very keen for the new Norton Companyto succeed, i visited the factory and was impressed with the ethos and atmosphere, more like a custom build shop, rather than a factory. I also own a modern Triumph (1215cc Explorer), again a company which i am keen to see succeed, althoughI dont believe Triumph need my help any more. Even my son has got into Hinckley Triumphs, with his first Street Triple.

I am happy to put my money where my mouth is and buy these bikes andride them, rather than sitting at the end of a keyboard knocking a British product, as seems to be the case on the NOC, which as the official Norton Owners Club, we should be supporting. This is one of the reasons i rarely come on the UK site, preferring the US site, which is full of enthusiasts.

Im not saying the 961 doesnt have issues, they do, but ill take one over just about anything else on the road, which i have done actually.

Ride Safe.

Well they need to know when things are not has they should be , or no one will put them right will they, and the only thing I can see thats British on a Norton Commando 961 is the Norton name on the tank, the rest is soured of else where , around the world , and the last time I heard A 961 it sounded more like a bag of spanners rattling with out of beat exhaust ,but if your happy with your motorcycle that can only be a good thing, there is nothing wrong with being happy, but just remember none of you are free has your all dependant on the oil companys that are make a fortune out of you all, and I will not be scapping any thing , more like convertiing to run of air only, and electric motorcycle do not have to be plug in to change them up if you know a thing or two about engineering yours anna j

Charles. You keep going over the same ground again and again, and not getting the answers you want. Direct your questions at the factory; just pick up the phone and ring them; ask them!. Although, I don't know why you are pursuing it, because you have said you don't want one. You said they are unreliable, have too little 'rwbhp', too slow, use too much oil.... . You have said you want a street bike that will do a standing 1/4 mile in 11 seconds! Go and buy one then; from Aprilia, or Ducati, BMW, Kawasaki, Honda, MV Agusta, Yamaha, Suzuki; the marketplace is littered with them, at anything from £9000 - £18000. How do you expect a little company like Norton to compete with them? Why would you expect them to try? They have built a super retro bike, which is obviously not for you. It has had a few issues, as the others have had; just ask owners of very expensive MV Agustas. I think the launch control, anti-wheelie, and traction control which you would need to perform your 11 second standing 1/4 sounds very un-Norton to me... Maybe you have strayed to the wrong forum?

And any regular reader of New Scientist will recognise fruitloopery when they see it. Anna's way off topic again. I think most of us do indeed know a thing or two about engineering andeagerly await her demonstrating an old blue 650 that runs on air only. Let's get back to 961s.

Previously ian_cordes wrote:

Charles. You keep going over the same ground again and again, and not getting the answers you want. Direct your questions at the factory; just pick up the phone and ring them; ask them!. Although, I don't know why you are pursuing it, because you have said you don't want one. You said they are unreliable, have too little 'rwbhp', too slow, use too much oil.... so stop banging on about it. You have said you want a street bike that will do a standing 1/4 mile in 11 seconds! Go and buy one then; from Aprilia, or Ducati, BMW, Kawasaki, Honda, MV Agusta, Yamaha, Suzuki; the marketplace is littered with them, at anything from £9000 - £18000. How do you expect a little company like Norton to compete with them? Why would you expect them to try? They have built a super retro bike, which is obviously not for you. It has had a few issues, as the others have had; just ask owners of very expensive MV Agustas. I think the launch control, anti-wheelie, and traction control which you would need to perform your 11 second standing 1/4 sounds very un-Norton to me... Maybe you have strayed to the wrong forum?

I emailed Norton weeks ago and asked for a power curve but did not receive a reply. I spoke to Thor who said they could not provide one and to Krazy Horse who kindly offered to put their demo machine on their own dyno and email me a power curve bu so far it has not arrived in my inbox.

Norman Whiteran a 12.24 standing quarter on a standard 750 Commando in theearly 70's, with circa 58 BHP available at the crank.

I wouldn't have thought a sub 12 time ought to be beyond the reach of a 961 - or is it Ian?

If you know for sure please tell us.

In the early '70's, Norman White was a strip of a lad who weighed about 7 stone dripping wet. He was also on a race-tuned bike, and was/is a very skilled rider. Life is not all about numbers, Charles.

I am getting bored now.....yawn.....

Previously ian_cordes wrote:

In the early '70's, Norman White was a strip of a lad who weighed about 7 stone dripping wet. What do you weigh, Charles? Power to weight ratio; heard of it? He was also on a race-tuned bike, and was/is a very skilled rider. Life is not all about numbers, Charles. I would love to see you attempt an 11 second 1/4 mile on a bike powerful enough to do it; I think you would fall off!

I am getting bored now.....yawn.....

And so am I ...........

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