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961 and 1975 Mk.111 850

Here is a picture of my two Norton Commando's 850 and 961, as you can see they do have a lot in common. They have done a good job in keeping the looks very similar.

http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jaymac_011/IMG_0716.jpg

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great photo's John, Kenny Dreer and friends did a good job on the design for sure! a nose to nose or nose to tail pic of the two would be cool if you can find the time maybe?

Some great shots of the 961 on the Silverstone trackday in your album. I've got a 'track evening' booked for the 15/4 at the Anglesey circuit Ty Croes, can't wait! will be doing it on my 961 rather than my 1098 :)

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The new Triumphs, like the Bonneville are just modern bikes with Triumph Bonneville written on them. The same as new Minis, Fiat 500s, etc etc. No tangiable link what so ever with the original machines.

The 961 though is what you expect the Commando to have evolved to if it had stayed in production. Its still a twin cylinder pushrod engine. The genes and heritage are there.

I say well done Kenny Dreer and Stuart Garner- its a nice bike.

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Peter,

Evolution is the process by which something develops into a different form. So you would expect the new Triumphs to be at least a modern bike, otherwise they would not have evolved. Granted the 961 'looks' like a Commando, on which Kenny Dreer performed a good styling job, but this is not evolution. This is styling, which is subjective. The bike is simply part of a trend supplying a demand for 'retro' products, which most bike manufacturers have provided models of. The fact it is a pushrod engine highlights lack of evolution. From 38 years engine development I would have expected more than only an engine balancer and fuel injection. Overhead cam shaft would have been a nod toward the Manx, 4-valves per cylinder would produce more power and constitute real development.

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Previously wrote:

great photo's John, Kenny Dreer and friends did a good job on the design for sure! a nose to nose or nose to tail pic of the two would be cool if you can find the time maybe?

Some great shots of the 961 on the Silverstone trackday in your album. I've got a 'track evening' booked for the 15/4 at the Anglesey circuit Ty Croes, can't wait! will be doing it on my 961 rather than my 1098 :)

Thanks Derek, I will get some pics of them nose to nose this weekend as long as the weather is ok. The 961 performed well on the trackday but I only did the morning, I used my MV F4 1000RR for the afternoon. Although the MV was obviously a lot quicker I enjoyed the sessions on the Norton more and it was certainly more comfortable! I should think that the 961 will be more suited to Anglesey, have fun!

Cheers, John Mc

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Previously wrote:

Previously wrote:

great photo's John, Kenny Dreer and friends did a good job on the design for sure! a nose to nose or nose to tail pic of the two would be cool if you can find the time maybe?

Some great shots of the 961 on the Silverstone trackday in your album. I've got a 'track evening' booked for the 15/4 at the Anglesey circuit Ty Croes, can't wait! will be doing it on my 961 rather than my 1098 :)

Thanks Derek, I will get some pics of them nose to nose this weekend as long as the weather is ok. The 961 performed well on the trackday but I only did the morning, I used my MV F4 1000RR for the afternoon. Although the MV was obviously a lot quicker I enjoyed the sessions on the Norton more and it was certainly more comfortable! I should think that the 961 will be more suited to Anglesey, have fun!

Cheers, John Mc

Hi John,

Did the bike club's track evening with the 961 and it was huge fun! Can't get over how nice the handling is on the Norton it corners like a dream, so much so I was able to pick my way past a number of bikes in the corners.

Caught a guy on a Ducati 750SS and passed him on the hairpin, was then surprised to see he could pull past me after exiting the hairpin! rode the last 3 laps trying to get by this Ducati but each time I passed him on a bend he'd pull alongside and then past as we got on the straight again! Huge fun and entertainment but it was 'only' a 750SS :(

 


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