961 'Agenda'

Hi Charles

The Club does indeed have an 'Agenda' with respect to the New 961 Commando's and Stuart Garner's manifest success in resurrecting the Norton Marque. To quote the club's constitution..."The purpose and aim of the Club shall be the worldwide promotion, encouragement and development of an interest in Norton motorcycles, their preservation and usage."

Our view is that the vast majority of our members like Nortons and want to keep the club being positive about how we can keep our bikes on the road and in use. We are a large and successful motorcycle club and wish to remain one for the benefit of all our members. This forum is provided to members in support of our aims.

I am not aware of the email that you mention - but i'd be surprised if it emanated from anyone on the NOC Executive committee. As the Chairman reported at the AGM we did have to take action to remove two members access to the forum last year for persistantly making defamatory statements. I for one can't see any benefit for our members in publishing ill-informed, defamatory or libellous gossip - that's simply not what we should be about?

Peter White

Charles, it's in nobody's interest (that owns a 961 or that's part of the EC ) to decry the 961 or the current messiah. We should stick to discussing the shortcomings of the previous 110 years of Norton products and leave the current saviour of the Name alone. It's a pretty bike and we should be grateful for that.

Previously Peter White wrote:

Hi Charles

The Club does indeed have an 'Agenda' with respect to the New 961 Commando's and Stuart Garner's manifest success in resurrecting the Norton Marque. To quote the club's constitution..."The purpose and aim of the Club shall be the worldwide promotion, encouragement and development of an interest in Norton motorcycles, their preservation and usage."

Our view is that the vast majority of our members like Nortons and want to keep the club being positive about how we can keep our bikes on the road and in use. We are a large and successful motorcycle club and wish to remain one for the benefit of all our members. This forum is provided to members in support of our aims.

I am not aware of the email that you mention - but i'd be surprised if it emanated from anyone on the NOC Executive committee. As the Chairman reported at the AGM we did have to take action to remove two members access to the forum last year for persistantly making defamatory statements. I for one can't see any benefit for our members in publishing ill-informed, defamatory or libellous gossip - that's simply not what we should be about?

Peter White

What Ho,

I have ridden a 961 and was suitably impressed. Subsequently I was made aware of said email (and it's origin) )(yes you know who I'm talking about) and as I don't have access to a medium sized wad of fifty pound notes to pay for the aftercare (of a 961) I don't think I will bother. Petter to stick with the Com and ES2. No more from me on this subject from me (Traps shut all round eh?)

Andy

I'm a 961 owner, only by a 1000 miles so new to the fold and hands up I am guilty of airing a grievance or twobut no than I have aired similar mechanical failings with my Combat and Mk111Commandos. I look to other club members whom might share my problems to help resolveissues regardless of the model of Norton.My Combat had issues resultingfrom manufacturing faults back in 1972which I am suremost are aware of. My Mk111 eats sprags as do many others which was a fault back in 1977. We all talk about and work around these issues.Some 961's have got minor problems but I know the factory are working flat out to correct them, after all it is there livelihood and they of all people want a first class bike.I love my 961 and am very proud to ride it.I havenothing but good reports to say about the factory and my dealerbut I would like to feel that I can ask/report the occasional problem without fear of being chastised or shock horror removed from the forum. The 961 is tomorrows Norton.

Mark.

No one is suggesting anyone with an 'issue' as in mechanical or service related cannot air it here. This is a forum after all.

On the other hand the malicious actions of a few, hell-bent on causing as much trouble as possible and contributing absolutely zero is another matter.

Even on this thread Andy just couldn't resist having a little dig by stating the 961 is unreliable and will require a mountain of money to maintain. I hear rose tinted glasses are all the rage these days...

As a returning member to the NOC and a relatively new owner of a 961 I must agree that there were some very uniformed and destructive comments posted in the past. It nearly put me off buying a 961. I have had excellent service from the factory and the servicing is extremely reasonable as due to Hydraulic tappets there is little to do except change filters and oil.

The only issue I have is the oil in air box one covered elsewhere and this does not prevent the bike being used and will be corrected FOC at the next service.

It handles superbly and the engine performance characteristics are just right in my mind with good flexibility and plenty of go at the top end for me.

One of the most important elements which made the original Commando so popular in the important US market was the support it received from the US's 'Cycle World' Magazine. Interesting therefore that Cycle World yesterday published an up-to date review of the 961 Commando/

Members might be interested to see the review here

http://www.cycleworld.com/2015-norton-commando-961-sport-standard-motorcycle-review-road-test

All we need now are and updated version of those Norton girls in the adverts - or would that be non-pc??

Peter

I am all for giving praise and criticism where it is due so I would have thought that in the interest of fairness that if there is an email which is already in the public domain that we all get to read it. Likewise if this is a private email between two parties then it should remain private and no further comment made. I would hate to think that all of my email content could be made public and debated on.

I think it would be interesting to know how people talked about the then new Commando back in the sixties. As far as I can remember, the language used in cafÃ?s ( and in garages where we tried to get 'em running again ) was definetly more harsh than any opinions written on this forum.

So please be broadminded both to the 961 and to the old people who still believe that the best motorcycles where made in Birmingham.

Mike

I wonder if the webmaster may feel that this rather shabby little thread, which is contributing nothing to 961 owners in terms of technical information etc, which is what the 'Commando 961' section is for, I quote :- 'A Technical Forum for the Commando 961 Range', is in the wrong section? Could it instead be moved to 'News and Views'?

Hey... I'm all for flag waving, chest thumping, and credit where it's due..

BUT... I would also like to think that any owner withvalid grievance or criticism could rely on the club to provide an unbiased platform to air or share those views.

And what about queries from prospective owners? Hopefully they'll begiven access to unbiased opinion.....

Unfortunately, if you want unbiased opinion from actual owners of 961 Commandos and not members of the NOC with a personal axe to grind, you need to join the USA Access Norton forum, which is an enthusiasts site.

PS my 84 year old dad owned an original commando in the 60s, bought brand new. I asked him recently about it. His exact words were 'Biggest pile of rubbish Ive ever owned....' I remember it as a kid, always in bits. But I don't post on the other forums slating a bike I never rode....

And I am a 961 owner, I love the thing to bits. I also own 7 other bikes, including old 50s and 60s British Iron (Sunbeam S7DL and BSA A65 Lightning), so I think I know what I'm talking about.

I have now seen this e-mail referred to by the OP. The reference to 'gagging' could be interpreted as either an instruction, or a self-imposed restraint, taking all interests into account. Therefore it has a level of ambiguity, making it fall far short of the allegations made by the OP.

When one considers who is circulating the e-mail, all becomes clear! Known to have a grudge against the EC, and unable to post on here, he has coerced others into doing his dirty work for him, those with a track record for slagging off the 961 and poking at the EC.

As for the cost of servicing a new bike, try buying a Ducati, for example, and see what that costs you in the first year or so of ownership. We are all used to servicing our old bikes, but when it comes to a new one, having to pay to comply with warranty conditions hurts, Andy. I suggest that if you can't afford to service it, you can't afford to buy it.

As Graham said, this is a private e-mail between two parties, which should not even be discussed here.

'Hey... I am all for flag waving, chest thumping and credit where it's due..' Yeah, right. We have yet to see it from you Charles, aka Mr RWBHP....

Charles. It is a bit difficult to answer your posts; which you have invited me to do by your question at the end; when you keep editing them. Neither do I intend wasting my time commenting on nit-picking.

As you know, having read the e-mail, the word 'gagging' was used. I have therefore stuck to what IS in print, and it is disingenuous of you to imply otherwise.

Coerced? Yes, wrong word; sucked in, more like. Whatever....

You have most definitely made an allegation, by asking the question 'Does the club have an agenda regarding suppressing negative comment about the 'new' Nortons?' Then demanding to know 'who instigated such an agenda, who endorsed it and why?'

Forget the semantics, it is quite clear what you mean.

'These people'...... dear oh dear.....

What Ho All,

It's a bit difficult to see the screen and keypad with all these hornets flying around. BUT if one were happy (with one's purchase) why would one explore a part exchange against a T120?

The Stafford Show was good. Especially the two wonderful ladies who got my two sweatshirts out of the van as they hadn't received the order.

Andy