First day on my 961...

every bike mfg . sets the bikes up lean so they pass the start up emissions test. none will run priorly without a remap. duc, aprillia, honda, yamaha,kawi, you name it. and your fuel is better then ours too !!
 
Dozer said:
Here in Europe the Norton remap software is possibly the most important thing, after installing the free flowing exhausts on a 961. Ive now had 2 remaps, the first at 500 miles when my 'longs' were installed. The effect was instantaneous, more power, crisper response, much better tickover and cold running, sounds better too.

Then at 1200 miles last week a second remap. As the bike is now officially run in, I was finding a bit of 'pinking' at 5-7000 revs, where I couldn't go before running in was complete. This only happened in top gear if I opened the throttle hard at 5000rpm. Im not sure if its called that in USA, but its when the top of the engine jangles like theres a coin sitting on it. Its a symptom of not enough fuel and the engine going lean. The latest remap adds a LOT of fuel I think, the pinking has gone, the bike feels different, more powerful, pull better from lower revs, theres a noticeably louder growl from the airbox now, the tickover is different too. However, fuel economy has gone from 50mpg to 42mpg, which Im not fussed about as that's about where id expect a 960cc bike to be, especially the way I ride it. 50+ mpg sounded too good to be true to me!

It has made a big difference, I didn't think there was anything wrong with the way it went before, but after the latest remap, no 077, its way way better.

I don't understand why the USA dealers don't know about this software? Its standard over here in all dealers and they have different downloads for different set ups. Im just wondering is USA fuel different to EU fuel? We have 95 octane standard unleaded and 98 octane super unleaded. The Norton fuel injection system is pretty simple from what a bike tuner told me, do USA spec bikes actually need the fuelling adjusted? In Europe they are pretty rabid about emissions. Bikes aren't emissions tested like cars here so the can be remapped for power, is USA the same?
Click to expand...

Not sure if "pinking" on your side of the pond is the same as "pinging" over here, but that could be the sign of detonation, and a very lean mixture. I also have a fueling issue, but a bit different. My problem occurs down around 2800-3400 RPM. The bike's acceleration flattens out in that range, regardless of the amount of throttle applied. Once above 3400, the bike accelerates nicely, no problems to red line. Also, my bike is hard to start when cold. After 90 seconds or so of extra throttle the bike will settle down to a lumpy idle.

I would really like to get one of those remaps on my bike. However, I do like the 54 MPG mileage that my 961 delivers now. It would be a disappointment to go down to 40 something MPG. I have read posts from a number of owners who have experienced different fueling issue. I'm wondering now if the Norton folks have applied slightly different efi maps to their bikes throughout their production. So no one can say that their bike has the "production" map. There may be 70 sightly different maps that are currently in use.
 
Possibly, but the download list I saw at Krazy Horse (Looking over Georges shoulder) only had a dozen files on it. I assume these are the remaps fit for public consumption after testing at the factory.

It seems that you do need a remap.... I get no flat spot anywhere in the rev range but I try to keep the engine spinning above 3000rpm, as it just seems happier there. I didn't realise USA fuel is worse than Europe? But then we pay £1.30 a litre for ours, which is about $9.50 a gallon! Most of which is tax....
 
I too, when I still had a Norton, had to hold the throttle at about 2000 rpm to warm it up to keep running. Either that or it would stall about 4-5 times until it would stay. Can't say I experienced any flat spots though. Once I passed 500 mi., she ran like a raped ape. The torque and acceleration far exceeded its 80HP. Pure joy. I nagged like hell about a remap to no avail.
 
Britfan60 said:
I too, when I still had a Norton, had to hold the throttle at about 2000 rpm to warm it up to keep running. Either that or it would stall about 4-5 times until it would stay. Can't say I experienced any flat spots though. Once I passed 500 mi., she ran like a raped ape. The torque and acceleration far exceeded its 80HP. Pure joy. I nagged like hell about a remap to no avail.
Click to expand...

I've heard that the dealer in Canada has the new maps. Maybe I should try to contact one of them to see if it's practical to take my 961 up there to have it re-mapped.
It just shouldn't be this difficult to resolve a simple issue with the efi. I agree that the bike does haul the mail from 4500 RPM up.
It will cruise nicely at an indicated 90 MPH too. Only problem is after a while the wind blast begins to get to me. The tiny carbon fiber screen is pretty good up to 80 to 85MPH. After that the pressure from the wind becomes tiring. I was thinking maybe to rig up a bikini fairing over the headlight. Like the R90S Beemer had back in the 70's. Maybe a good winter project.
 
BritTwit said:
Britfan60 said:
I too, when I still had a Norton, had to hold the throttle at about 2000 rpm to warm it up to keep running. Either that or it would stall about 4-5 times until it would stay. Can't say I experienced any flat spots though. Once I passed 500 mi., she ran like a raped ape. The torque and acceleration far exceeded its 80HP. Pure joy. I nagged like hell about a remap to no avail.
Click to expand...

I've heard that the dealer in Canada has the new maps. Maybe I should try to contact one of them to see if it's practical to take my 961 up there to have it re-mapped.
It just shouldn't be this difficult to resolve a simple issue with the efi. I agree that the bike does haul the mail from 4500 RPM up.
It will cruise nicely at an indicated 90 MPH too. Only problem is after a while the wind blast begins to get to me. The tiny carbon fiber screen is pretty good up to 80 to 85MPH. After that the pressure from the wind becomes tiring. I was thinking maybe to rig up a bikini fairing over the headlight. Like the R90S Beemer had back in the 70's. Maybe a good winter project.
Click to expand...
It's not a bike to do long stints over 80mph so it's not a problem you need to fix. It's a naked canyon carver not a track bike or a tourer.
Problem resolved.
 
mrsimon said:
BritTwit said:
Britfan60 said:
I too, when I still had a Norton, had to hold the throttle at about 2000 rpm to warm it up to keep running. Either that or it would stall about 4-5 times until it would stay. Can't say I experienced any flat spots though. Once I passed 500 mi., she ran like a raped ape. The torque and acceleration far exceeded its 80HP. Pure joy. I nagged like hell about a remap to no avail.
Click to expand...

I've heard that the dealer in Canada has the new maps. Maybe I should try to contact one of them to see if it's practical to take my 961 up there to have it re-mapped.
It just shouldn't be this difficult to resolve a simple issue with the efi. I agree that the bike does haul the mail from 4500 RPM up.
It will cruise nicely at an indicated 90 MPH too. Only problem is after a while the wind blast begins to get to me. The tiny carbon fiber screen is pretty good up to 80 to 85MPH. After that the pressure from the wind becomes tiring. I was thinking maybe to rig up a bikini fairing over the headlight. Like the R90S Beemer had back in the 70's. Maybe a good winter project.
Click to expand...
It's not a bike to do long stints over 80mph so it's not a problem you need to fix. It's a naked canyon carver not a track bike or a tourer.
Problem resolved.
Click to expand...

I agree, I went to a bike show with a mate on his Speed Triple in Ipswich on Sunday and absolutely howled back, I was aching....!
 
mrsimon said:
BritTwit said:
Britfan60 said:
I too, when I still had a Norton, had to hold the throttle at about 2000 rpm to warm it up to keep running. Either that or it would stall about 4-5 times until it would stay. Can't say I experienced any flat spots though. Once I passed 500 mi., she ran like a raped ape. The torque and acceleration far exceeded its 80HP. Pure joy. I nagged like hell about a remap to no avail.
Click to expand...

I've heard that the dealer in Canada has the new maps. Maybe I should try to contact one of them to see if it's practical to take my 961 up there to have it re-mapped.
It just shouldn't be this difficult to resolve a simple issue with the efi. I agree that the bike does haul the mail from 4500 RPM up.
It will cruise nicely at an indicated 90 MPH too. Only problem is after a while the wind blast begins to get to me. The tiny carbon fiber screen is pretty good up to 80 to 85MPH. After that the pressure from the wind becomes tiring. I was thinking maybe to rig up a bikini fairing over the headlight. Like the R90S Beemer had back in the 70's. Maybe a good winter project.
Click to expand...
It's not a bike to do long stints over 80mph so it's not a problem you need to fix. It's a naked canyon carver not a track bike or a tourer.
Problem resolved.
Click to expand...


Ha ha!

Just sayin'....
The motor does have some intestinal fortitude. A little more streamlining and the fun factor would go way up.
 
The motor does have some intestinal fortitude. A little more streamlining and the fun factor would go way up.[/quote]

I like that.... 'Intestinal fortitude....'!
 
One thing I noticed helps it stay running from first start up, is if you pump the throttle once with the ignition on, then start it, it ran better straight away at tickover, plus 98 octane fuel helps a lot too.
 
That didn't quite work for me. I gave one pump, started and held it at 2 grand for about 30 seconds. Then she stayed ok.
 
My 961 is now cleaned and polished, parked at the back of the garage covered in a sheet, not to be seen again until March.

Had one last blast on the 961 on Saturday, which was warm and sunny, 150 miles, huge grin, lots of noise, revs, teenage antics etc with a few mates before our horrible winter closes in.

Great day.
 
Update: March 2015, sunny and warm....

Bike now back on the road again after the winter layoff. Didn't have to keep the battery charged although I did fire it up a couple of times over the winter but fired up first time in anger today.

Took it out for a thrash, met some more Nortonists at Krazy Horse, then tootled down to Black Bear Harley Davidson to look at some Outlaw Accountants. Went for a wee and came out to find the usual circle of people photographing the bike. Pulled slowly out of the car park with a huge audience thinking 'don't stall you bastard...'

Bike still running perfectly, pulling like a train and sounding like theres a Rolls Royce Merlin between my legs (check your WW2 history for the best engine sound ever made).

Thank you to the nice lady in the Vauxhall astra who tried to wash her windscreen with washer jets pointing directly over the roof of her car and into my open face lid at 75mph. It was like riding into a miniature fucking fire hose....

Outstanding day and I feel for the brothers stuck in the snow on the other side of the pond. On the plus side, I got sunburn on my face....
 
Today it was over 50 degrees F and I was tempted, but there is so many huge potholes filled with water from melting snow and tons of salt and sand on the road, I just didn't feel like getting pelted. Salt feels like buckshot and doesn't do my paint any good. Damn, I was tempted. Fired her up for a minute. siiiiiiiigh.......
 
You said it.
City roads here are wet with brine, and potholes. sand, gravel everywhere.
Tomorrow will be in the 50's and sunny. Very tempting.
 
Actually BT, in might be near 60. I might gently putt to the highway and get on. I'm dying here. Besides, that bike is so damned easy to clean. 8)
 
I just started my 961 sport for the first since it's birth.
Bloody hell, noisy or what! Clanky clankity clank. I let it run for 5 or 6 minutes then turned it off. Looked at the gloomy weather outside, cold and windy, yea reminds of England in the summer.
I said to myself, gotta go for spin around the block. Grabbed a jacket and jumped on it and done a couple of laps. First impressions, noisy, a little rougher ride than the '06 triumph bonneville I just sold, seat was a bit hard, but I'll get used to it I'm sure. Tomorrow's supposed to be warmer, maybe some miles.
 

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