First day on my 961...

Dozer · Sep 17, 2014

Was it a Beetle? :|[/quote]

Stag Beetle I think, practically had me over the back....

Dimitri, looked a bit like that, but alloy tank, race pipes, supertrapp style, looked real good, clip ons etc... I don't think it was new, more like a shop custom using a Triumph doner bike.

dimitri · Sep 17, 2014

Ah, okay, just a coincidence they were there at the time then.

When you put the Norton at the back of your garage for the winter, remember to keep the battery fully charged. They are very sensitive to slightly weak batteries. Mine would crank perfectly, but it did not fire up. If it did, it would die immediately. Up to 4-5 times. Took a while to find out it was the battery. When replaced, everything was as new again.

That same battery serves perfectly in another bike since. So it must be something with the injection or ignition system requiring a high current.

mrsimon · Sep 17, 2014

dimitri said:
Triumph just revealed last week a Thruxton 'ace cafe' special. a limited version of 1500 worldwide (in Triumph-terms, that is limited

Did it look something like this?

It's not a Triumph bike, but a collaboration with the Ace Café. This article says 100 bikes and it's the stock engine.
http://www.motorbiketimes.com/news/make ... 384294.htm

Nothing that you couldn't do through www.solotriumph.com like I did.

Dozer · Sep 17, 2014

That wasn't it either though.... Looked older.

Ive got my trusty optimate ready to go for the winter.....!

dimitri · Sep 17, 2014

mrsimon said:
It's not a Triumph bike, but a collaboration with the Ace Café. This article says 100 bikes and it's the stock engine.

Nothing that you couldn't do through http://www.solotriumph.com like I did.

It is as Triumph as a Repsol CBR is a Honda. They are sold trough the official triumph dealer network. I read before it was a limited edition of 100, but the official dealers say 1500 worldwide. Perhaps there was some confusion of 100 for a specific country. Not that it really matters.

That aside... does anyone has actual production numbers of the 961? Mine has a vin number of 0004xx. But i don't know if these are actual build numbers. It could indicate mine was number four hundred and a bit (Delivered december 2011). If so, i would like to know where they are now. It could indicate more or less production numbers?

Dozer · Sep 17, 2014

I hardly ever see one on the road over here, Ive only seen one, an SE, since Ive been looking over the last 9 months, that's apart from the first one I saw in London that started the whole thing off. So either they are all wrapped up as 'investments' like most of the first SE's were or they haven't made that many.

My frame number is 00674... Engine is 00688

If that is sequential, works out at about 200 plus a year in total, but they are making them a lot faster now I think. I think they were only making a few a week initially.

BPHORSEGUY · Sep 18, 2014

Took my 961SF to Barkhampstead Reservoir today! Gorgeous roads and late summer weather. On the way I ran into a S4RS Ducati and a 1100 monster. Of course we started dicing, I think we were pretty evenly matched as I had no trouble keeping up and actually pulled the 1100 in some corners. They pulled into the reservoir parking with me which was no surprise as it is a popular bike destination! Their bikes were mint and tastefully modded1 They thought I had the most gorgeous and rarest bike in the area!

Dozer · Sep 19, 2014

Its a cross youll have to bear, own a 961 and you automatically become the coolest kid in school. Ironic really, considering I was such a nerd at School....

Dozer · Sep 20, 2014

We now have 1000 miles on my 961, loving every minute of it and it feels great now its kind of run in...

Still not had the stage 2 remap done yet, not had a day free to go to Krazy Horse.

Had my first little niggle today. Started from cold this morning and there was a clonk from the starter motor and it temporarily locked, then span and started. I rang KH just to check and they will look at it when I go in for the remap. Apparently the starter motor is adjustable on 2 long bolts. Which can be adjusted to reposition the starter motor on the starter ring slightly. It has only happened today. The only time it turns over for more than a second on starting is first thing in the morning. I tried it again tonight when it was cold and it did the same thing again, turned over, clonk, turned over, started... For the rest of the day it fires up straight away so theres no clonk!

One tip I found, which is probably in the manual anyway, is when starting, pump the throttle twice with the ignition on, I assume the fuel pump then preloads the injection system, because it starts and idles much better if I do that. I don't have to hold the throttle at all.

Been out all day on the bike, had the day to myself, my ass is killing me though. Question: Im 48 and suffer the usual aches and pains, arthritis etc that most of us seem to suffer. I find my wrists are fine, which is the bit I was concerned about. However after a good 1-2 hr ride, I find my arms are pumped up and my shoulders are aching and my hips start to seize up! Anybody had any recipies to deal with this? I saw a thread where a Corbin seat was made, but its not shown on their website? Any other seat manufacturers doing anything for the 961? One thing Id buy, a return spring kit for the footpegs.

One thing Ive noticed, is there are almost no aftermarket parts for 961s anywhere?

G81 Can Cycle · Sep 20, 2014

Very happy to read the positive comments in this thread. I just (tonight) purchased a new 2014 SF, and will take possession in the next 2 weeks. I may come to this thread for information, as the nearest dealer to me is 900 miles away . I am sure that may cause some issues, but I will have to deal with it.

Looking forward to adding my own positive stories

BPHORSEGUY · Sep 20, 2014

Dozer, Ibuprophen and beer works wonders after I spend a day chasing cattle on Horseback. G81 congrats!

Being a limited production exotic, the aftermarket wouldn't be lucrative!

Dozer · Sep 21, 2014

G81 Can Cycle said:
Very happy to read the positive comments in this thread. I just (tonight) purchased a new 2014 SF, and will take possession in the next 2 weeks. I may come to this thread for information, as the nearest dealer to me is 900 miles away . I am sure that may cause some issues, but I will have to deal with it.

Looking forward to adding my own positive stories

Happy days and welcome, please update as often as you can!

Dozer · Sep 21, 2014

BPHORSEGUY said:
Dozer, Ibuprophen and beer works wonders after I spend a day chasing cattle on Horseback. G81 congrats!

Ibruprophen I can do, beer I can do, but value my licence and job, so that's out! [Police here are seriously hot on DUI, with a minimum of a 12 month ban after more than 1 beer....

Chasing cattle on horseback? Not much call for that this side of the pond. How about chasing cattle on a 961? Now that would be seriously cool...!

GoingCommando · Sep 21, 2014

JAYMAC said:
I don't expect it to be any quieter once you have had the 1st service, these are just extremely noisy motors! I wouldn't worry to much mine seems to get noisier with every thousand miles I cover but the performance also improves and the bike revs freely. Mi-ne was one of the first bikes delivered almost 4 years ago and I did have problems but only in the first year and 2,000 miles, since then it's been good. However I've never been happy with the gearbox it has got slightly better with use but it is still worse than any other bike I've had in the last 40 years, including British, Italian, Jap and German makes.
The engine is always at it's best above 4k revs and will cruise at 5k-6k all day long where it all seems to smooth out but still gives around 50mpg.

There may be a mod for your gearbox available. I was told that my bike (picked up last weekend) was in part delayed in production because they were making improvements to the gearboxes. To me it shifts great, maybe a little better than my 2014 Thruxton, which my friend and I both think shifts smoother than his Ducati Monster. I've only ridden a small handful of different bikes, but for me the the new 961SF shifts as good as any of them.

BPHORSEGUY · Sep 21, 2014

Dozer said:
BPHORSEGUY said:

Dozer, Ibuprophen and beer works wonders AFTER I spend a DAY chasing cattle on Horseback. G81 congrats!

Click to expand...

Ibruprophen I can do, beer I can do, but value my licence and job, so that's out! [Police here are seriously hot on DUI, with a minimum of a 12 month ban after more than 1 beer....

Chasing cattle on horseback? Not much call for that this side of the pond. How about chasing cattle on a 961? Now that would be seriously cool...!

I was not suggesting you ride that way, I was talking at the end of the day!!!! :lol:

DBono · Sep 22, 2014

Dozer said:
We now have 1000 miles on my 961, loving every minute of it and it feels great now its kind of run in...

Still not had the stage 2 remap done yet, not had a day free to go to Krazy Horse.

Had my first little niggle today. Started from cold this morning and there was a clonk from the starter motor and it temporarily locked, then span and started. I rang KH just to check and they will look at it when I go in for the remap. Apparently the starter motor is adjustable on 2 long bolts. Which can be adjusted to reposition the starter motor on the starter ring slightly. It has only happened today. The only time it turns over for more than a second on starting is first thing in the morning. I tried it again tonight when it was cold and it did the same thing again, turned over, clonk, turned over, started... For the rest of the day it fires up straight away so theres no clonk!

One tip I found, which is probably in the manual anyway, is when starting, pump the throttle twice with the ignition on, I assume the fuel pump then preloads the injection system, because it starts and idles much better if I do that. I don't have to hold the throttle at all.

Been out all day on the bike, had the day to myself, my ass is killing me though. Question: Im 48 and suffer the usual aches and pains, arthritis etc that most of us seem to suffer. I find my wrists are fine, which is the bit I was concerned about. However after a good 1-2 hr ride, I find my arms are pumped up and my shoulders are aching and my hips start to seize up! Anybody had any recipies to deal with this? I saw a thread where a Corbin seat was made, but its not shown on their website? Any other seat manufacturers doing anything for the 961? One thing Id buy, a return spring kit for the footpegs.

One thing Ive noticed, is there are almost no aftermarket parts for 961s anywhere?

I'm the guy with the Corbin seat. It was custom made to fit while I watched. In and out in the same day. It completely solved the hip issue. They can build one on an existing seat pan, or build from scratch, which is what I did, so that I could save the original seat. If you can't feasibly bring the bike there, they could likely make one from an existing seat pan, but the personal fit wouldn't be as good.

Dozer · Sep 22, 2014

Did they keep the design, how much did it cost?

DBono · Sep 22, 2014

Dozer said:
Did they keep the design, how much did it cost?

No, it was completely custom. They said they couldn't use the one they created as the "mold" for new seat pans. In order to do that, they would need to keep the bike for several days.

It cost $500+. They said it would have been $100 less if I provided the seat pan.

Although the seat is a perfect fit for me and couldn't be more comfortable, I would do it differently next time. The leather I chose was a more classic leather grain and a bit too reflective, such that it shows the imperfections in the manually shaped foam underneath. A grainier leather that is less reflective would have been a better idea. You wouldn't likely notice this if I didn't point it out, but it's something that I notice.

The price was a bit high, but for the quick turnaround and they also repaired my Ducati 916 Corbin seat free of charge, I felt it was worth it. The Ducati seat came on the bike when I bought it used and the leather had delaminated from the foam in one area. I don't know how anybody uses the stock new Norton seat for any period of time as it killed my hips.

Dozer · Sep 24, 2014

Dbono, I think Ill leave that a while then!

Winter is coming.... I took the 961 to our local Tuesday night bike meet in Cambridge last night, only 50 or so bikes there, usually over a hundred. Temperature was 8 degrees on the way home, no more riding in sunglasses... I was in goggles and scarf and still cold, not used to it after a halfway decent summer in UK.

Starting to look at the Triumph Explorer, heated grips, fairing, thinking, 'your turn is coming sunshine'.... This involves a major revolving of access routes into the garage and what bikes are accessible easily. Then optimate charger ready, cotton sheet ready, handful of conkers to keep the spiders out and its 'see you in Spring....'

I live on a boat, time to start getting the logs in as the river fogs are starting and they get very cold and damp...

Fast Eddie · Sep 24, 2014

Dozer said:
Dbono, I think Ill leave that a while then!

Winter is coming.... I took the 961 to our local Tuesday night bike meet in Cambridge last night, only 50 or so bikes there, usually over a hundred. Temperature was 8 degrees on the way home, no more riding in sunglasses... I was in goggles and scarf and still cold, not used to it after a halfway decent summer in UK.

Starting to look at the Triumph Explorer, heated grips, fairing, thinking, 'your turn is coming sunshine'.... This involves a major revolving of access routes into the garage and what bikes are accessible easily. Then optimate charger ready, cotton sheet ready, handful of conkers to keep the spiders out and its 'see you in Spring....'

I live on a boat, time to start getting the logs in as the river fogs are starting and they get very cold and damp...

Hey Dozer... Is it really true that conkers keep spiders out? (Que our confused colonial cousins: "what the hell are conkers"!).

We've got a huge old conker tree overhanging our garden and my girls (nearly 4 and nearly 7) are madly collecting them and organising a conker fight tournament! (Que our confused colonial cousins: "what the hell is a conker fight?!)

You must have a big boat if its got a garage big enough for your bike collection!

First day on my 961...

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