Stu Bodycote
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- Jun 12, 2020
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I was a little torn as to where to post this thread, as yes there is a dedicated restoration area of this forum....but then again there is a dedicated "modern Norton" section, which I think gets the most traffic. I very rarely poke my nose in the restoration section at least. Obviously if this is deemed the wrong place, admin will move it and thrash me for my insubordination...and quite rightly so, what what.
So then, on to the matter in hand. I bought a bike. I bought a Norton 961. This poor Norton 961 though has taken a beating, an undeserved beating....a beating that essentially left her for dead. Smashed up with what looks to have been a hammer and a brick, then dumped under water. Yes, she's bad. The pictures don't really do how bad she is justice. My heart 100% ruled my head on this purchase.
Sold at a salvage auction in Switzerland, she eventually found herself back in the UK, just nine miles from her place of birth.
My end goal with this bike is to bring her back better than how she left Donington Norton in the first place. A second chance at life. She originally left Norton as a black euro 4 Commando, base model with no trinkets. She will be coming back as a manx silver café, with stubby exhausts and all the mods that we in the 961 community deem necessary.
Replating of parts will be done to a much higher standard than original, by using Derby Platers. The frame and other associated components that were originally powder coated, will be blasted, primered (something Norton cut corners on....hence corrosion concerns) and powder coated properly.
Once completed and done her duty in advertising what I can do, she'll be put up for sale (I currently have two peoples names down for the completed bike).
Jonathan Furminger has very kindly lent me a camera etc to record this, and I've been snapping away and filming the strip down....but in the mean time, here's a few pictures to show what I have, just from my phone. Once the camera stuff is polished up by Jonathan, I'll post that.
Currently the rolling frame is down at Motoliner in Kent, but it'll be an easy two months before she's back with me....so next up will be the engine overhaul.
So then, on to the matter in hand. I bought a bike. I bought a Norton 961. This poor Norton 961 though has taken a beating, an undeserved beating....a beating that essentially left her for dead. Smashed up with what looks to have been a hammer and a brick, then dumped under water. Yes, she's bad. The pictures don't really do how bad she is justice. My heart 100% ruled my head on this purchase.
Sold at a salvage auction in Switzerland, she eventually found herself back in the UK, just nine miles from her place of birth.
My end goal with this bike is to bring her back better than how she left Donington Norton in the first place. A second chance at life. She originally left Norton as a black euro 4 Commando, base model with no trinkets. She will be coming back as a manx silver café, with stubby exhausts and all the mods that we in the 961 community deem necessary.
Replating of parts will be done to a much higher standard than original, by using Derby Platers. The frame and other associated components that were originally powder coated, will be blasted, primered (something Norton cut corners on....hence corrosion concerns) and powder coated properly.
Once completed and done her duty in advertising what I can do, she'll be put up for sale (I currently have two peoples names down for the completed bike).
Jonathan Furminger has very kindly lent me a camera etc to record this, and I've been snapping away and filming the strip down....but in the mean time, here's a few pictures to show what I have, just from my phone. Once the camera stuff is polished up by Jonathan, I'll post that.
Currently the rolling frame is down at Motoliner in Kent, but it'll be an easy two months before she's back with me....so next up will be the engine overhaul.
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