First day on my 961...
- Thread starter Dozer
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That's the same with mine and every other 961 I've heard when you pull in the clutch it's a lot quieter like the Ducati engines. I've never heard a Ducati make as much noise as my 961 on tick over though and I had mine serviced at Norton in Donny recently and I was told that the noise was normal for these motors. It is a lot worse without the loud pipes which drown a lot of it out, it's a while since I've heard one with standard silencers.
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I have owned 3 Ducatis and all made more mechanical noise then a Norton including my present 2006 Sport Classic Monoposto. Half of the air cooled bikes on the road probably make as much noise. Any air cooled bikes motor is going to make more noise then the Norton's stock exhaust which makes almost none at all. Mine has had the optional long pipes since the beginning and none of the dozens of people I have showed it off to have commented anything negative! Quite the contrary, they say it sounds Ducati like!
Those of you that have the optional pipes do yourselves a favor if you haven't already. Let a trusted friend take the bike and do a pull up the road away from you and then comeback down shifting to a stop near you! If you like the sound of a Ducati you will love this! It is what people that ride with you and bystanders are hearing. It also sounds great from the seat!
Those of you that have the optional pipes do yourselves a favor if you haven't already. Let a trusted friend take the bike and do a pull up the road away from you and then comeback down shifting to a stop near you! If you like the sound of a Ducati you will love this! It is what people that ride with you and bystanders are hearing. It also sounds great from the seat!
BP Horseguy - Id that very thing today... I friend of mine owns a 2 stroke tuning shop in Cambridge, I popped in today and he took it for a quick spin. I was standing in his car park and it sounds bloody gorgeous...
One quick point, I can now do 6000 revs and Ive noticed pinking at about 5000 in top when I open the throttle. I rang Krazy Horse, the head chef George rang Norton and it turns out that with the long sport pipes I have on, a second remap is possibly required if it pinks. Its a 5 minute job with the laptop apparently, so KH are going to do it next week.
JAYMAC, I tried 6000 revs, that's 109 miles an hour on my speedo you madman....
One quick point, I can now do 6000 revs and Ive noticed pinking at about 5000 in top when I open the throttle. I rang Krazy Horse, the head chef George rang Norton and it turns out that with the long sport pipes I have on, a second remap is possibly required if it pinks. Its a 5 minute job with the laptop apparently, so KH are going to do it next week.
JAYMAC, I tried 6000 revs, that's 109 miles an hour on my speedo you madman....
Yes 6K RPM is well over 100mph on my speedo, it's amazing how quick it gets from 5-6K and it's the same up to 7K and above, 7K is just over 120mph on my speedo. It just keeps on accelerating up to about 8K and doesn't start to tail off until 7.5K. It's also very stable at higher speeds, I've never noticed any instability at any time even on UK roads. I had a T100 Bonny a few years back and although it was a fantastic bike it ran out of go at about 100 mph and only had a realistic top speed of around 110 mph.
I took my 961 on a track day at Silverstone a few years back and was getting 130 mph indicated on the hanger straight, I didn't get many bikes passing me in the intermediate group and none in the corners! I've not done any on it since as I have a MV Agusta F4 1000RR which is more suited to it especially fast circuits and I've not seen any other 961's on track yet.
I took my 961 on a track day at Silverstone a few years back and was getting 130 mph indicated on the hanger straight, I didn't get many bikes passing me in the intermediate group and none in the corners! I've not done any on it since as I have a MV Agusta F4 1000RR which is more suited to it especially fast circuits and I've not seen any other 961's on track yet.
Had the 961 treated with ACF50 anti corrosion treatment today ay the adventure bike shop in Sudbury, Suffolk. It should now be rust free for the entire winter.
Had a race back to Bury with 2 Hinckley Triumphs, had a great little run. When we pulled over at a petrol stn one of them said "f*ck that thing's quick..." Ive not had it over 6000 revs yet, but I cant see it up there too often, as that's well into ban territory... Its getting looser and quieter with every mile.
FYI, Does anyone remember a book called 'Jupiters Travels'? It was the first real book of a round the world motorcycle trip, way before Messrs Boorman and Mcgregor and 20 support staff tried it. It was written by Ted Simon , who rode a Triumph Tiger 500 round the world ON HIS OWN and who happens to be at an open day at the adventure bike shop tomorrow. Im going along just to meet him and shake his hand as hes probably the biggest single reason I got into bikes, reading that book at School in 1981....
Had a race back to Bury with 2 Hinckley Triumphs, had a great little run. When we pulled over at a petrol stn one of them said "f*ck that thing's quick..." Ive not had it over 6000 revs yet, but I cant see it up there too often, as that's well into ban territory... Its getting looser and quieter with every mile.
FYI, Does anyone remember a book called 'Jupiters Travels'? It was the first real book of a round the world motorcycle trip, way before Messrs Boorman and Mcgregor and 20 support staff tried it. It was written by Ted Simon , who rode a Triumph Tiger 500 round the world ON HIS OWN and who happens to be at an open day at the adventure bike shop tomorrow. Im going along just to meet him and shake his hand as hes probably the biggest single reason I got into bikes, reading that book at School in 1981....
Hmmm, Hinkley Triumphs. I have a Hinkley Triumph with 161 HP and a bit more now the soft rev limiter has been deleted. It does zero to 120 mph in a smidge over nine seconds.
Then there are the Hinkley Triumph Bonnevilles that we can beat with our old style Commandos. Which type were you racing?
Glen
Then there are the Hinkley Triumph Bonnevilles that we can beat with our old style Commandos. Which type were you racing?
Glen
These weren't those kind of Hinckley Triumphs, lol... These were the retro kind, I don't think a 961 would even keep up with my stock explorer, let alone a tricked out Triumph. The place I was at today is a bit of a mecca for old Brit Iron, I saw quite a few there. But the 2 I was playing with were the new kind, not the oily, gear change on the right kind.
One was a New Bonnie, which sounded like a sewing machine, but handled beautifully, the other was an immaculate 1996 Speed Triple in black, with Termig pipes and clip ons, sounded fantastic.... But it handled like a supermarket trolley though by the look of it. I think it still had the original 18 year old suspension... I haven't seen an original Speed Triple for ages, I think they were all crashed! It blasted off on the straights and then wallowed round the corners... Nice guys though, we had a coffee on the way back, the 3 bikes made a cool photo.
The 961 just went over 800 miles, the bike is now 10 days old. Im officially allowed to open it up, but I cant until the stage 2 software update is carried out next week! Although now I know what the rough speeds are in relation to revs I cant see it being opened up much, as the police round here are a bit fierce.... I passed 3 speed traps today in 50 miles!
One was a New Bonnie, which sounded like a sewing machine, but handled beautifully, the other was an immaculate 1996 Speed Triple in black, with Termig pipes and clip ons, sounded fantastic.... But it handled like a supermarket trolley though by the look of it. I think it still had the original 18 year old suspension... I haven't seen an original Speed Triple for ages, I think they were all crashed! It blasted off on the straights and then wallowed round the corners... Nice guys though, we had a coffee on the way back, the 3 bikes made a cool photo.
The 961 just went over 800 miles, the bike is now 10 days old. Im officially allowed to open it up, but I cant until the stage 2 software update is carried out next week! Although now I know what the rough speeds are in relation to revs I cant see it being opened up much, as the police round here are a bit fierce.... I passed 3 speed traps today in 50 miles!
Fast Eddie
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Dozer said:
Great posts Dozer. You are single handedly helping to restore a balance of positivity on these bikes! Please do keep the posts coming especially as you seem to have the audacity to actually want to ride you new Norton!!
I hope things keep going well and look forward to your updates.
auldblue said:
0-100 in 12.9 sec from memory top speed 135mph not the best handling motorcycle but a classic retro machine of the nineties and never let me down once in four and a half years.supermarket trolley, whatever!
J
That's the cookie, but in black! I reckon 18 yr old suspension didn't help, still got a screamer of an engine though....
Dozer, looking down the length of the 961 in your photo, it has to be the best looking production bike ever built. It is good to know that at least some of them are running well. Perhaps quality control is not quite what it needs to be, given the problems some owners are dealing with. Hopefully this will improve over time.
Glen
Glen
I think so, its definitely my current favourite! I cant leave the thing alone. Any excuse to get it out.
Ive never really done forums, not posting anyway, only the odd comment, but I was getting jacked off with all the negativity around the 961, because I desperately wanted one, and it to be good, and also for the new Norton company to succeed. My experience with social media and forums seems to be all the negative stuff airs first, with very little positive comment, on any bike, not just 961s. The UK Norton site is very negative, with very little in the way of 'happy' posts! Some people delight in just writing snide little comments when they don't even own one... On the UK NOC site I was politely asked by a 'member' to stop posting until I had something to say... I told him if he didn't like it, don't read it... Fair play to the others though, they told me to carry on....
I first saw a 961 on the road in 2013 in Central London and thought, wow, I really really want one of those... Then I was driving my wife to hospital in London again (she has a long term illness) in Feb this year when a red 961 Sport pulled up next to us at a set of lights, complete with open pipes, wax jacket, pisspot helmet, goggles etc. Totally the coolest kid in school.... My wife took one look and said 'that's gorgeous, why don't you get one of those?' He then gunned it off across Westminster Bridge sounding like a WW2 Spitfire... I ordered mine that night... then found out there was a brand new Norton dealer 25 miles from me, a company I knew well. I am a Director of an Air Conditioning company and I designed the heating and cooling in their new showroom...!
Id heard all the horror stories about reliability, mainly from USA forums, and the cashflow stories, non delivery etc and I thought 'but nothing that looks and sounds that good can be that bad' and Im 100 miles from Donington so reckon Ill take a chance.... I also met some 961 owners who had had no major issues at all with their 961s and they all said the factory backup was superb here in UK. I was impressed for what is basically a cottage industry with the layout, setup and attitude of the factory and especially the workforce when I did the factory tour. Also there was no pressure for payment, no hard sell, just seemed to be a bunch of decent blokes building a really good looking motorcycle. I didn't pay for mine until the week it was completed and delivered.
This is mine at a petrol station today in Newmarket.
Ive never really done forums, not posting anyway, only the odd comment, but I was getting jacked off with all the negativity around the 961, because I desperately wanted one, and it to be good, and also for the new Norton company to succeed. My experience with social media and forums seems to be all the negative stuff airs first, with very little positive comment, on any bike, not just 961s. The UK Norton site is very negative, with very little in the way of 'happy' posts! Some people delight in just writing snide little comments when they don't even own one... On the UK NOC site I was politely asked by a 'member' to stop posting until I had something to say... I told him if he didn't like it, don't read it... Fair play to the others though, they told me to carry on....
I first saw a 961 on the road in 2013 in Central London and thought, wow, I really really want one of those... Then I was driving my wife to hospital in London again (she has a long term illness) in Feb this year when a red 961 Sport pulled up next to us at a set of lights, complete with open pipes, wax jacket, pisspot helmet, goggles etc. Totally the coolest kid in school.... My wife took one look and said 'that's gorgeous, why don't you get one of those?' He then gunned it off across Westminster Bridge sounding like a WW2 Spitfire... I ordered mine that night... then found out there was a brand new Norton dealer 25 miles from me, a company I knew well. I am a Director of an Air Conditioning company and I designed the heating and cooling in their new showroom...!
Id heard all the horror stories about reliability, mainly from USA forums, and the cashflow stories, non delivery etc and I thought 'but nothing that looks and sounds that good can be that bad' and Im 100 miles from Donington so reckon Ill take a chance.... I also met some 961 owners who had had no major issues at all with their 961s and they all said the factory backup was superb here in UK. I was impressed for what is basically a cottage industry with the layout, setup and attitude of the factory and especially the workforce when I did the factory tour. Also there was no pressure for payment, no hard sell, just seemed to be a bunch of decent blokes building a really good looking motorcycle. I didn't pay for mine until the week it was completed and delivered.
This is mine at a petrol station today in Newmarket.
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nice story, too bad USA owners can’t boast stories like that. looks like approx 30% of the owners are having problems that for a 20K machine shouldn’t have. esp considering that the US market has waited the longest ; exception being australia or asia....
Husky, Like I said when I first started posting about my experiences with my 961, I can only comment on my personal experience of my bike, my dealer and the backup I get from Norton here in UK....
Which, after 2 whole weeks and 800 miles of ownership, is completely positive. If anything goes wrong, it will be listed here, plus whatever Krazy Horse and/or Norton do about it, alongside the good stuff...
Which, after 2 whole weeks and 800 miles of ownership, is completely positive. If anything goes wrong, it will be listed here, plus whatever Krazy Horse and/or Norton do about it, alongside the good stuff...
Hugely entertaining day yesterday.... I took the 961 to work in Richmond, West London. On the way back I stopped at the Ace Café on the North Circular as I often do. In the car park was an American TV crew filming a Triumph Café Racer, I think it was a special, modern Hinckley retro, alloy tank, open pipes, looking the business, with a US plate on it.
As I pulled in they started filming me, I assume as background to their film. I parked up and went into the Café. 10 minutes later I was dragged from my sausage and chips by the producer and asked if I would mind moving my bike so it was in the background of their film! After this taste of potential stardom I am expecting a call from my agent any day now....
The bike now has 1000 miles on it, trouble free apart from first day glitches and awaiting the stage 2 remap. Runs like a dream and sounds like a Brit twin is supposed to. Engine noise is much quieter, I actually like the mechanical noise now, its a bit like a Ducati, and theres nothing else on the road that sounds like it. Complete strangers still stop me in the street (and especially at petrol stations) but Im getting used to it now.
I haven't touched anything else in my garage since the day it arrived and the others must be feeling neglected. With winter coming on it will go away in the back of the garage, wrapped in one of her indoors' finest cotton sheets and the Triumph Explorer will come out to handle the awful British winter roads, salt and muppet drivers. Hopefully not yet though, as we are experiencing a slight 'Indian Summer', 24 degrees here yesterday. Went to my local bike meet last night, on the way back was hit in the adams apple at 85mph by an insect the size of a Volkswagen, that really hurt.....
As I pulled in they started filming me, I assume as background to their film. I parked up and went into the Café. 10 minutes later I was dragged from my sausage and chips by the producer and asked if I would mind moving my bike so it was in the background of their film! After this taste of potential stardom I am expecting a call from my agent any day now....
The bike now has 1000 miles on it, trouble free apart from first day glitches and awaiting the stage 2 remap. Runs like a dream and sounds like a Brit twin is supposed to. Engine noise is much quieter, I actually like the mechanical noise now, its a bit like a Ducati, and theres nothing else on the road that sounds like it. Complete strangers still stop me in the street (and especially at petrol stations) but Im getting used to it now.
I haven't touched anything else in my garage since the day it arrived and the others must be feeling neglected. With winter coming on it will go away in the back of the garage, wrapped in one of her indoors' finest cotton sheets and the Triumph Explorer will come out to handle the awful British winter roads, salt and muppet drivers. Hopefully not yet though, as we are experiencing a slight 'Indian Summer', 24 degrees here yesterday. Went to my local bike meet last night, on the way back was hit in the adams apple at 85mph by an insect the size of a Volkswagen, that really hurt.....
