Beautiful but flawed?

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Jun 25, 2019
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I've had my Norton 961 Sport Mk2 for probably a month now and have just fitted new tyres and had the ECU re-mapped by the factory and now it seems to handle pretty well and runs a lot better. For some reason however I can't shake the feeling that it looks better sat in the garage or outside a Cafe or similar than it feels to actually ride it.

I can't put my finger on it and I get a buzz when-ever I ride it but I find I like the admiring looks I get when others see it more than I enjoy a 40 mile blast which is a bit of a quandry. Its the sort of bike that everyone else loves and drools over and makes you look back at it when you park it up - but when you ride it you wish for a seat which wasn't a piece of wood, an engine which was a bit less agricultural and a little more 'get up and go' - or is it just me?

I suspect that I'm expecting too much and really the Norton is more of a second or third bike for that trip to the nearest bikers meet rather than a blast through the Lincolnshire Wolds. If I had wanted a bike that would be comfortable at 80 maybe a Ducati Diavel or similar would have been more suitable? Perhaps I just need another bike as well to give me the choice?
 
Interesting. I personally find mine an absolute blast to ride. I love the noise and vibration and the whole visceral experience.

Are you riding it fast enough? I’m not taking the piss, they smooth out and liven up immensely above 5,000rpm.
 
... well... the engine has loads of "character", but it feels indeed pretty agricultural imho. Still love the overall sense of occasion of the bike though...
 
Whilst, of course, the engine would be nice with another 20 or so BHP, my only real criticism of it is the mechanical din that comes from the primary case. If that could be gotten rid of I’d be over the moon!
 
My Son has a Laverda 650 Formula (one of the newer Zane bikes), also a parallel twin, also vibrates a lot but somehow feels keener to rev. Perhaps I'm just not using enough of the rev range - I do find I change gear at 6-7K at the most. I guess my worry there is how robust the engine is if I give it lots of revs! The noise and vibration are part of the whole appeal I admit - I'd love a quick action throttle though - I never use anywhere near full throttle as I need to take another handful to get it there! What's odd is that I also have an old Honda CX500 Turbo and somehow I can ride that old tourer quite a bit quicker than I can/do the Norton... Don't get me wrong - there is definitely something 'special' about the Norton, I just think that perhaps it can't be my only bike!
 
Whilst, of course, the engine would be nice with another 20 or so BHP, my only real criticism of it is the mechanical din that comes from the primary case. If that could be gotten rid of I’d be over the moon!
with the decat and shorties, it's a lot better !
 
My Son has a Laverda 650 Formula (one of the newer Zane bikes), also a parallel twin, also vibrates a lot but somehow feels keener to rev. Perhaps I'm just not using enough of the rev range - I do find I change gear at 6-7K at the most. I guess my worry there is how robust the engine is if I give it lots of revs! The noise and vibration are part of the whole appeal I admit - I'd love a quick action throttle though - I never use anywhere near full throttle as I need to take another handful to get it there! What's odd is that I also have an old Honda CX500 Turbo and somehow I can ride that old tourer quite a bit quicker than I can/do the Norton... Don't get me wrong - there is definitely something 'special' about the Norton, I just think that perhaps it can't be my only bike!

Strewth Chris, why not compare it to a RD350LC, that’s a parallel twin too!

Ok, that’s not really serious, but the Lav is a DOHC, liquid cooled, 8 valve twin with a 69mm stroke... it is therefore impossible for it not to ‘feel keener to rev’...!
 
Strewth Chris, why not compare it to a RD350LC, that’s a parallel twin too!

Ok, that’s not really serious, but the Lav is a DOHC, liquid cooled, 8 valve twin with a 69mm stroke... it is therefore impossible for it not to ‘feel keener to rev’...!

Well sort of - actually it is a DOHC air/oil cooled motor derived from a design that dates back to the 500 montjuic from the 70's so not really that unfair a comparison! The bikes are more similar than you might think - a rather antiquated engine in a top notch chassis - both seem equally unreliable as well if you read around! The Laverda also manages to put out more power than the Norton with slightly less in the way of coarseness. Anyhow never owned an RD350LC so I can't compare it with that :)
 
with the decat and shorties, it's a lot better !
Agreed - I have decat and open long pipes which look and sound fabulous - and Ash at the factory service department was kind enough to put the latest map in for me when I took the ECU down and it's it MUCH more tractable than before now.
 
exactly... to do the running in, I left the cats and OEM long pipes.
After that, I only fitted the shorties (and remap). That was better, not only the sound, but the engine ran better too...
It took me a year to finally fit the decat (and remap), and that made a huge difference ! More torque down low, and happier up there in the rev range !
 
I must admit I am a bit with Chris, love the look of it, always wanted one, sounds awesome and attracts crowns, but not the best thing in the world to ride, got me thinking do o want to keep her, proberbly, I also seem to get a numb right hand for some reason, and no I am not holding on too tight
 
I must admit I am a bit with Chris, love the look of it, always wanted one, sounds awesome and attracts crowns, but not the best thing in the world to ride, got me thinking do o want to keep her, proberbly, I also seem to get a numb right hand for some reason, and no I am not holding on too tight

Is that your Dominator in your avatar?

If so, pound to a pinch of salt that the numb right hand is due to the very aggressive riding position putting weight one your wrists and aggravating the nerves and tendons passing through your carpel tunnel.

At least that was my conclusion with my own CR, which now has Sport bars.
 
The bike also smooth out after more miles are put on. My bike is smoother now with 13,500 miles on it than it was when new . The real test for Norton company will be with their "new" designs. They had a clean sheet so no more excuses this time !
 
Do you remember that nostalgic feeling of riding the parallel twins of yesteryear? That's the niche Norton was trying to fill and they accomplished it perfectly. My only beef is I wish it were more reliable and not as quirky. while running. It's very inconsistent. Also a more prompt response with customer support and availability of parts would be nice.
 
My only beef is I wish it were more reliable and not as quirky.

Ditto.
However, this is Norton's first attempt at producing a real motorcycle.
With a shoestring startup company no less.
What could possibly go wrong?
We're living it!
They've made a lot of mistakes, but also good faith efforts to correct them, and improve.
Give them their due for that.

Let's hope the performance and reliability of the 1200's and 650's will create a new, positive public perception of the brand.
 
I love looking at it, especially through rose-tinted glasses (aah those were the days); I love tinkering with it, I would do more if budget allowed; I love the first 20 miles as it/I warm up and begin to feel 'as one'; I hate the next 10 miles when I start to ache and the realisation I still have another 50+ miles to go; I love the last 50+ miles once my mindset has shifted and I start to wind her up, partly to get the trip over, partly 'cos she loves to be mistreated, partly 'cos she sounds better; I absolutely love the coffee/bacon sandwich break at the end of the ride as I mentally prepare for the return trip :)
 
Is that your Dominator in your avatar?

If so, pound to a pinch of salt that the numb right hand is due to the very aggressive riding position putting weight one your wrists and aggravating the nerves and tendons passing through your carpel tunnel.

At least that was my conclusion with my own CR, which now has Sport bars.
I have fitted risers and rizoma bars, still be it, May be because I am 57
 
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