- Joined
- Sep 17, 2014
- Messages
- 97
After a six month wait (and years of watching, lusting, and saving before ordering) I finally picked up my new Commando 961 SF last weekend just a few days after it arrived from England. I got it through Hinshaw's in Auburn, the only dealer in WA state since there is no dealer in Oregon. I was their first delivered Norton other than the one the owner of the shop ordered for himself, so I believe there is now just one new 961 in WA and one in OR. I'd love to show mine to Kenny Dreer and find out more about the difference between the Donnington Hall bikes and the bikes Kenny was building. It was actually seeing Kenny's bikes on the Cafe' Racer TV series that first made me want an updated Commando a few years ago.
I am loving the bike so far! Many of the comments I've read here apply to mine, but for me the only negatives I can list are:
1. The foot pegs have a tendency to pop up since they have no springs. I've gotten used to it, but the dealer and me are putting our heads together to give them return spring.
2. I'd prefer just a bit more turning radius. Dealer says they can help with this and they already adjusted the owner's 961 to have more turning radius (by simply grinding down the metal that stops it from turning).
3. The engine stalled easily when cold at first, but after a few hundred miles it's not stalling for me and it's running better and better.
I love the engine's sound and extra noises. I love how it accelerates, handles, brakes, and I've always loved the look. I got the two-seater version and it's easy to change back and forth between one or two-seater with four allen-wrench screws, and I like how either configuration looks like it's meant to be that way.
I have loved my Thruxton as I loved my T100 before that, but this one wins and for me was worth the wait and the price. We'll see how it holds up: Some of the comments/problems I've read have worried me a bit, but overall it seems most owners are saying the bikes are only getting better as they put on more miles.
Here's a pic the dealer took on the day I picked up the bike:
I am loving the bike so far! Many of the comments I've read here apply to mine, but for me the only negatives I can list are:
1. The foot pegs have a tendency to pop up since they have no springs. I've gotten used to it, but the dealer and me are putting our heads together to give them return spring.
2. I'd prefer just a bit more turning radius. Dealer says they can help with this and they already adjusted the owner's 961 to have more turning radius (by simply grinding down the metal that stops it from turning).
3. The engine stalled easily when cold at first, but after a few hundred miles it's not stalling for me and it's running better and better.
I love the engine's sound and extra noises. I love how it accelerates, handles, brakes, and I've always loved the look. I got the two-seater version and it's easy to change back and forth between one or two-seater with four allen-wrench screws, and I like how either configuration looks like it's meant to be that way.
I have loved my Thruxton as I loved my T100 before that, but this one wins and for me was worth the wait and the price. We'll see how it holds up: Some of the comments/problems I've read have worried me a bit, but overall it seems most owners are saying the bikes are only getting better as they put on more miles.
Here's a pic the dealer took on the day I picked up the bike: