961 Review & South Downs Motorcycles Video

brendanq

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Nov 10, 2008
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I managed to get myself on one of the new bikes finally! It was at the new dealership near Winchester. They were really helpful and had some very cool old bikes in the showroom.

I owned a 74 Commando for 5 years and growing up a Commando (old one) was my dream bike so to finally get my hands on this to complete the circle had been on my to do list for a while. Wish I had longer on it, certainly as I see some of Youtube videos haven't been the kindest to the Norton. I feel most of these videos are totally missing the point of the bike! I personally loved it!

I only had an hour with so I will apologise in advance if there was errors :)

And if you like what you see give me a subscribe and maybe I can badger Norton to give me a press bike for a bit!

 
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Nice review, as good as I've seen. I really like the video/sound quality of the ride, and the fact that you actually pushed it a bit so we can see it in action. Overall, I don't see any problems with these bikes other than the cost, and I guess that's always relative to your bank account. Of the latest crop of retro bikes, this seems like a great option. Someday I'd hope to see how well my MK3 can hang with one of these through some twisty hilly roads.
 
Well put together in the really short period you had ithe bike Brendan; you managed to capture the sound of those exhausts properly as well without feeling the need to talk over that beautiful sound track👍.

Interesting price drop, they are obviously trying to shift the standard models - wonder if that is being influenced by sales of the anniversary models.
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Well put together in the really short period you had ithe bike Brendan; you managed to capture the sound of those exhausts properly as well without feeling the need to talk over that beautiful sound track👍.

Interesting price drop, they are obviously trying to shift the standard models - wonder if that is being influenced by sales of the anniversary models.
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Thank you Stephen

Possibly, they said that cost also included the pin striping and black engine, chrome casings etc which last I checked online was extra. I think they need and could do more to promote themselves. They are a used car dealership with Norton bolted on and it does show, their website isn’t great and no instagram etc. it’s kind of sat there and no one knows about it.
 
brendanq said:
Thank you!

I think your MK3 would sit with it just fine. It had lots of power but I don’t think it did anything my MK2A couldn’t, in the short time I had it at least.
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I would suspect the combination of a modern suspension and gearbox would overwhelm my MK3 in not too long of a run. In any event, it may be a while before we see these running around the roads in the US.
 
brendanq said:
Thank you Stephen

Possibly, they said that cost also included the pin striping and black engine, chrome casings etc which last I checked online was extra. I think they need and could do more to promote themselves. They are a used car dealership with Norton bolted on and it does show, their website isn’t great and no instagram etc. it’s kind of sat there and no one knows about it.
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Good review and an honest opinion, after test riding one decided to buy price included all the extras and the discount and also took my 2016 sport in exchange. Just waiting for the weather to pick up and get some miles on her.
 
brendanq said:
Thank you Stephen

Possibly, they said that cost also included the pin striping and black engine, chrome casings etc which last I checked online was extra. I think they need and could do more to promote themselves. They are a used car dealership with Norton bolted on and it does show, their website isn’t great and no instagram etc. it’s kind of sat there and no one knows about it.
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I don’t live in the UK so difficult to gauge how widely knowledge of the Marque has been spread amongst bikers. There seems to have been plenty of social Media (incl Insta) - all of the bike media, Vloggers and Bloggers have aired there opinions; with mixed reviews of course. Lots of road shows/test rides and bike shows/gatherings etc. No doubt they could do better in this lull before the release of new models - any further hints of what’s to come would kick off a fresh round of commentary. They should certainly do that IMO.

I think that reality may have bitten with the dealership situation. To get the UK coverage they want they are being forced to partner with dealerships that maybe don't meet their own Atelier/premium vision. A plan rarely survives first contact.


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Oops sorry Brendan - you may be referring to the promotion of that dealership. ‘My bad’, as the yoof say!
 
Unbolt the centre exhaust hanger and watch (feel) the vibrations significantly improve. Buying a pillion seat as an extra for a bike that comes with pillion pegs is cockeyed. Should come with a pillion pad, and have the cowling available as an extra.
 
Stu Bodycote said:
Unbolt the centre exhaust hanger and watch (feel) the vibrations significantly improve. Buying a pillion seat as an extra for a bike that comes with pillion pegs is cockeyed. Should come with a pillion pad, and have the cowling available as an extra.
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I have been using the do not tighten the hangar bolt method for years . I jam nut the bolt but it is loose and will spin with my fingers . The best solution is to improve the foot pegs to the vibration isolating design which is what I hoped Norton would do. I have installed the new Norton parts to allow the footpeg to fold back . If the Norton factory did this it would look so much better , we can always hope ! (Thanks Norton and Stu Bodycote)

961 Review & South Downs Motorcycles Video

961 Review & South Downs Motorcycles Video
 
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Stu Bodycote said:
Unbolt the centre exhaust hanger and watch (feel) the vibrations significantly improve. Buying a pillion seat as an extra for a bike that comes with pillion pegs is cockeyed. Should come with a pillion pad, and have the cowling available as an extra.
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Spring mounting the exhaust head pipes (like Thiel shows on his new system) could also be of benefit here .
 
TonyA said:
I have been using the do not tighten the hangar bolt method for years . I jam nut the bolt but it is loose and will spin with my fingers . The best solution is to improve the foot pegs to the vibration isolating design which is what I hoped Norton would do. I have installed the new Norton parts to allow the footpeg to fold back . If the Norton factory did this it would look so much better , we can always hope ! (Thanks Norton and Stu Bodycote)

961 Review & South Downs Motorcycles Video

961 Review & South Downs Motorcycles Video
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Can’t see those images Tony - getting ‘Image not found’ Icons. Can you repost. Thanks.

Same situation for me. No centre exhaust hanger bolt and weighted bar end mirrors. I get no vibration to feet or hands. Mileage on the bike helped also I suspect.
 
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Stephen_Spencer said:
Can’t see those images Tony - getting ‘Image not found’ Icons. Can you repost. Thanks.

Same situation for me. No centre exhaust hanger bolt and weighted bar end mirrors. I get no vibration to feet or hands. Mileage on the bike helped also I suspect.
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Anybody else cannot see my pictures ? This is the part you need to get , the anti-rotational slot on the retainer has been rotated. If you want the peg to flip up part way , you will need the new Norton mount and peg assembly.

961 Review & South Downs Motorcycles Video
 
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I only see this on your original post Tony, but I do see the picture you just posted.

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cliffa said:
I Can see them now. Are those footrests from Norton?
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Definately not from Norton . Chinese copy of BMW F650 footpegs from Ebay . They are the only thing I could find that I could make fit with a bit of filing. But in the end I got a decent footpeg with good foot pad .
 
Loving the solutions to the footpegs vibrations!

I should of added in the video that I was due to ride a Commando at P&H dealership but they the totally forgot about agreeing it and then when pushed further said they don’t allow test rides in the winter. I was rather taken aback and told them how dumb that was as many of still ride and purchase bikes during the winter.
 
Stu Bodycote said:
Unbolt the centre exhaust hanger and watch (feel) the vibrations significantly improve. Buying a pillion seat as an extra for a bike that comes with pillion pegs is cockeyed. Should come with a pillion pad, and have the cowling available as an extra.
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Agreed. If ever ordered one it would have to be included as part of the deal. They also didn’t allow test rides with a pillion, which sadly is quite normal but that would now stop me buying as we get on so well with current bike
 
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