Is this a re-post? Norton

[Renegade]

this may have already been posted but man i love this bike a Norton 961/ss commando :love:

its got fruit to, like ohlins and brembo :banana:

can we actually buy these?

[shafty]

WOOOOOOOOW - So good to see an old name rejoin the family - my memories of Robbie Deanes making the Norton perform will never leave me.............

[Bren]

Well...dunno if ya can get em yet but the specs look good....


FRAME

* Frame material: 4130 chromoly steel
* Swing arm: Formed Aluminum
* Oil capacity: oil-in-frame backbone tank holds 3.5 qts of oil
* Wheelbase: 56.5"
* Rake: 24.5 degrees
* Trail: 4 "
* Front suspension: 43mm Ohlins RSU - Adjustable preload, compression, and rebound damping.
* Rear suspension: Ohlins reservoir-style twin shocks - Adjstable ride height, preload, compression, and rebound damping.
* Front wheel: 3.50 X 17" BST Carbon Fiber
* Rear wheel: 5.50 X 17" BST Carbon Fiber
* Front tire: 120/70 X 17" Michelin Pilot Power
* Rear tire: 180/55 X 17" Michelin Pilot Power
* Front wheel travel: 5.5"
* Rear wheel travel: 4.0"

BRAKES & HYDRAULICS

* Front rotors: Brembo 320mm semi-floating hi carbon stainless steel
* Rear rotors: Brembo 220mm rear rotor
* Front calipers: Brembo 4 piston "Gold Line"
* Rear calipers: Brembo 2 piston "Gold Line"

POWER ASSEMBLY

* Engine type: Parallel twin with push-rod valve actuation, dry sump
* Displacement: 961 cc
* Cooling system: Air
* Valve Actuation: Push rod, hydraulic lifter, two valves per cylinder
* Bore x stroke: 88 mm X 79 mm
* Compression ratio: 10.1:1
* Horsepower: 80 rear wheel @ 6500RPM
* Torque: 65 foot pounds @ 5200RPM
* Exhaust:1 3/4" header system with merged collector and twin mufflers with catalytic converters.
* Ignition: Crank fired electronic
* Carburetors: Twin 39mm Keihin FCR

TRANSMISSION

* Gearbox: 5 speed
* Final drive: 520 "O" ring chain
* Clutch: Cush drive clutch
* Primary drive: Direct gear drive

ELECTRONICS & CONTROLS

* Charging system: 300 watt hi-output charging system
* Instrumentation: Norton electronic analog speedo and tachometer w/dual trip meters

MISCELLANEOUS

* Fuel tank capacity: 4.5 gallons
* Dry weight: 415lbs
* Seat height: 32"
* Oil capacity in frame: 3.5 quarts
* Gear case oil: 1.5 quarts
* Warranty: 2 year unlimited mileage
* Available colors: Black


Dunno about a 5 speed box though....


Where can I buy one?
The first limited production run of bikes are called the “Signature Series” and are available exclusively and directly from Norton. These will be delivered through a regional dealership network.

How much does a 961/SS Commando cost?
The MSRP for the 961 Commando Signature Series is $19,995. Scheduled production models will range from $9,995 to $19,995.

Give em an email...see what the story is on them....
info@nortonmotorcycles.com

http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/bike/bike_961specs.asp

[HenryDorsetCase]

this may have already been posted but man i love this bike a Norton 961/ss commando :love:

its got fruit to, like ohlins and brembo :banana:

can we actually buy these?

sadly not. The whole venture went tits up late last year.

Kenny Dreer

Kenny Dreer was the guy fronting it, and sunk quite a lot of his own money, and some investors into the scheme. He has been a long time tuner of and supplier of parts for vintage Nortons, and very successful and well known in AHRMA circles.

a VR880 (Vintage REbuilds 880 Norton sold for $20k USD on ebay about a month ago. thats as close as you'd get. unless you could get one of the 100 Signature series ones (Im pretty sure they completed them)

Here click (http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/04/16/norton-motorcycles-suspend-operations/) is a link to a Kneeslider article from when they suspended operations.

How do I know about this? I was on their mailing list.... :(

[Bren]

Glad you cleared that up Henry....I almost got excited....

[brit-bloke]

Looks good in red as well :msn-wink:

[klingon]

Oh that's just mean! Posting that up, getting me all excited then saying I can't have one :cry:

[HenryDorsetCase]

links to cycle world stuff on it. (David Edwards has a VR880)

http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=424


http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=90


http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=6&article_id=81


If anyone is interested I will scan and post up the May 06 CW test (though I think that last link is the same pix and text).


I really loved that 961, and its such a pity they couldnt make it work.

Great that the site is still live: you can get pix and stuff from there.

[avgas]

yep sadly i found this out as well.
too late.
i was going to look at getting one end of next year as well :(

[HenryDorsetCase]

the other good thing was the prices. from memory they were talking $20k US for the fully fruited one (Ohlins both ends, brembo brakes yada yada) and $10k for the base model. Given the exclusivity I thought that was good pricing.

[avgas]

the other good thing was the prices. from memory they were talking $20k US for the fully fruited one (Ohlins both ends, brembo brakes yada yada) and $10k for the base model. Given the exclusivity I thought that was good pricing.
Dammit - had i known that then i would have bought one before the fold :(
I was saving as i thought they were near 50K nz :(

[Renegade]

that is absolutely gutting news :ar15::love::mad:

i thought i had found "the one" but it seems not any longer :argh:

i still want one.

[HenryDorsetCase]

this (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-124738456.htm) seems like a cheap Norton.

just saying.

:niceone:

[Renegade]

this (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-124738456.htm) seems like a cheap Norton.

just saying.

:niceone:

prefer the new one

[avgas]

I'd have to agree - if i was to go that way i would actually look more at a early 70's 750 Tiger or a 650 Bonnie.
Which reminds me - how much do those Triumph Scramblers go for? anyone know what they are like off road?

[The Pastor]

I'd have to agree - if i was to go that way i would actually look more at a early 70's 750 Tiger or a 650 Bonnie.
Which reminds me - how much do those Triumph Scramblers go for? anyone know what they are like off road?
the scrablers are ok off road, not great but not bad. Good value for money.

Or so said the mag I read in cycletreads, never ridden one myself

[HenryDorsetCase]

I'd have to agree - if i was to go that way i would actually look more at a early 70's 750 Tiger or a 650 Bonnie.
Which reminds me - how much do those Triumph Scramblers go for? anyone know what they are like off road?

by all accounts they are great road/street bikes but not offroadable really. Far too heavy and not enough suspension. I look at them (and their relatively low seat heights) and think about all the gravel roads there are around here, all the farm roads in the high country, and all the times I've gone past a turn off and thought "wonder where that road goes" then flagged it thinking about how shit Super Corsas would be on shingle.

One of the bikes I would LOVE to own. theres one on tardme at present for ~$`12500.

I am sure that Big Dave did a few adventure rides on one recently and posted here.