50th anniversary Cafe Racer

Ok, so it’s not really high-end engineering (more like low end, bad weather induced, faffing)!

The stock grips are really quite thin and hard, something made more noticeable with clip-ons. So I’ve just fitted some fancy Progrips with a soft comfort material. I use Progrips a lot, especially on anything going on a track, they just seem to give more feel and control.

I also fitted the dark smoked brake and clutch reservoirs (thanks for the tip MxMartin). There’s nowt wrong with the stock jobs really, but with all the blackness of my front end, the smoke jobs do look a lot better me thinks.

I’m gonna try and stop faffing with it now, hopefully we’ll get decent weather soon so I can ride the bloody thing instead!


50th anniversary Cafe Racer
50th anniversary Cafe Racer
50th anniversary Cafe Racer
 
Good Lord. I think you've got one of the finest looking 961s I've ever seen. Who knew they can get any better?? Just effing WOW!!
 
Mine is still on factory settings, I’ve not fiddled at all. It feels to firm I think, but I want to get some more miles on it first and see if it softens up any before I fiddle.
 
Has anyone removed and blanked off the rear footrest mounts? My sport has the single seat fitted and I'd like to remove the footrests and tidy up the mounting holes.
 
Peter Smith said:
Has anyone removed and blanked off the rear footrest mounts? My sport has the single seat fitted and I'd like to remove the footrests and tidy up the mounting holes.
Click to expand...

Mine had them removed by the PO, with some nicely rounded plugs, shown here, and had replaced the pillion seat with the plastic cowl. I put the passenger pegs back because I also reinstalled the pillion seat, which came along with the bike. I like the option of having a passenger in case someone in our riding group breaks down during a ride. The plugs looked like some sort of kit intended for the purpose.

50th anniversary Cafe Racer


Ken
 
Peter Smith said:
Has anyone removed and blanked off the rear footrest mounts? My sport has the single seat fitted and I'd like to remove the footrests and tidy up the mounting holes.
Click to expand...

You can buy the none pillion type rear tubular frame ‘triangles’ direct from Norton and make a proper job of it.

S’what I did.
 
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I wonder if all the 50th models have sold? I think the café most likely, then the sport and just a well placed add in the US biker mags and a short video of Boris shouting "freaking or frigging ausome" should do it
 
jan nelder said:
there are two California models currently on Ebay.co.uk, about £16,500 each.
Click to expand...

Indeed:-

Norton Commando 2018 CALIFORNIA.LTD,50 ANNA EDITION,5 COLOURS,LAST CHANCE,£16500
THOR MCS MAIN NORTON DEALERS S/WEST,FINANCE+DELIVERY
£16,500.00
Make Norton
Model Commando
Year 2018
Engine Size 961 ccm
Emission class --
HURRY LAST CHANCE TO BUY A FIFTY ANNIVERSARY COMMANDO , THE NEW CALIFORNIA AND CAFE £16500, SPORT £15500,
ONLY 50 OF EACH MODEL WILL BE PRODUCED, ONLY A FEW LEFT NOW , IF YOU ORDER AFTER THE ALLOCATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED THEN THIS SAME BIKE WITH SAME SPECIAL EDITIONS WILL COST MORE THAN £21000,
PLEASE CALL US FOR MORE INFO ,,,

THIS BIKE HAS JUST BEEN ADDED TO OUR STOCK LIST,A FULL WRITE UP ON THIS BIKE TO FOLLOW VERY SOON,,SO PLEASE CALL US ON 01208831774 FOR ANY MORE INFO ON THIS BIKE INCLUDING QUESTIONS ON PART EXCHANGE,FINANCE OR DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR COST,,,,,,WE ARE HERE TO HELP, 01208831774

PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE US A CALL IF YOU ARE MAKING A SPECIAL VISIT TO VIEW A PARTICULAR BIKE AS STOCK IS CONSTANTLY
CHANGING ,
FINANCE AND DELIVERY[£120] AVAILABLE, FOR MORE INFO PLEASE CALL US ON 01208 831774,
YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE WWW.THORMOTORCYCLES.CO.UK
 
Fast Eddie said:
Ok, so it’s not really high-end engineering (more like low end, bad weather induced, faffing)!

The stock grips are really quite thin and hard, something made more noticeable with clip-ons. So I’ve just fitted some fancy Progrips with a soft comfort material. I use Progrips a lot, especially on anything going on a track, they just seem to give more feel and control.

I also fitted the dark smoked brake and clutch reservoirs (thanks for the tip MxMartin). There’s nowt wrong with the stock jobs really, but with all the blackness of my front end, the smoke jobs do look a lot better me thinks.

I’m gonna try and stop faffing with it now, hopefully we’ll get decent weather soon so I can ride the bloody thing instead!


View attachment 4539 View attachment 4540 View attachment 4541
Click to expand...

Re the Progrips for vibration dampening-
I read about them on this site and fitted them to my 650ss which had thin hard grips. The Progrips were an improvement-
However-
I fitted a second pair to the BSA Super Rocket which had an elderly pair of Japanese made Amal knockoff grips in place.
I thought this had pretty quiet bars until I fitted the Progrips.
A ten Mile ride at 60 mph with the Progrips fitted left my hands partially numb and tingling for half an hour!
Back on with the Softon Japanese Amal style grips and things are smooth again at 60, no numbness or tingling in the hands even after a longish ride at 60.

So I don't know if the 961 vibes are on par with an old BSA, but if they are, you might try Softon Amal style grips.

Glen
 
For me, it’s not so much the vibes, but the pressure on my palm / palm heel, caused by the clip ons.

The extra cushioning afforded by the pro grips is a revaluation with regards to this.
 
worntorn said:
So I don't know if the 961 vibes are on par with an old BSA....

Glen
Click to expand...

Glen,

Not even close to the vibes on an old Britbike.
I have virtually no vibes through the clip-on bars w/ stock grips, and the only annoying vibes are in the foot pegs around 70+ mph indicated.
So I just ride faster or slower than 70 and there is no problem.

I agree with Nigel that the effect of clip-on/peg ergonomics on the body is what effects distance riding with the cafe racer model.

Vibes - not a major issue.
 
Long reach to the bars. Heck , even on a Sport its a long reach to the bars for me with the 1 in risers ! When I had my seat raised that helped , and almost there. Don't get me wrong though I can ride the bike for 2000 mile trip so its not too bad. The pleasure of having that machine on a trip and explaining how you managed to get there is priceless ! Just don't let on it was a fairly easy task ...
 
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