Fixed but shaken!

Tony I doubt if anyone here knows those frame weights, I sure don't. I agree that the Triumph 1200 motor would be best left in the rolling chassis designed for it.
The Triumph has an alloy swing arm, so I imagine the 961 frame is going to be heavier right off.

I hope I'm not pushing Triumph superiority down your throat. If I have, please accept my apology.
It seems that, for me it's mostly defense mode re discussion of that bike on this part of the site. Mention of the WC Triumphs by 961 owners happens fairly often here. Its to be expected that the Thruxton R in particular will get compared to the 961, there are styling similarities.
I suppose the bike doesn't really need me defending it, I should just go riding!

Glen
 
TonyA said:
Clearly this is the route to take for a Modern British for those who want that . I had already purchased my Norton 961 long before this 1200 came out. What I don't get is why do some come back to the 961 , when the Triumph is clearly better ? What I don't like is having Triumph superiority pushed down my throat . And why would some even consider putting the 1200 into the Norton frame if everything works great as a stock 1200 ? Has anyone ever measured (weight) a Triumph frame vs a Norton 961 frame ? And lastly , IF the Norton 961 was a full 1200cc motor and not 961 it would be making more power . My XR12 is making 85 HP at the wheel with just an intake kit and tune.
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Tony.
The Triumph may be functionally better, but the 961 has it's virtues too. It's truer to the classic form with an air cooled engine. It's aesthetically more pleasing (yes that can be argued.) the design is simpler. Everything a modern classic should be. I think you're correct that it really doesn't make sense to put the 1200 motor into the 961 frame. But someone did do this with a gen 1 Hinckley Bonneville motor, so it can be done, but it doesn't answer the question, should it be done.

Matt Capri was working on an 1105cc high performance kit for the 961, he went out of business before he could complete the work and market the kit. He was shooting for around 110hp at 8500rpm, with big valves, hc pistons, lightweight rockers and pushrods, and a split lobe roller cam. This is what Matt did for years. He produced a Triumph Bonneville high performance kit call the Magnum engine. 1087cc billet cylinders, stroked tufftrided crankshaft, hc pistons, forged carrillo rods, 39mm Keihin FCR carbs.... These motors produced 125 crankshaft hp at 9000rpm. They also cost about $10,000. Ouch!
 
I ride my CR almost exclusively around the Sunshine Coast hinterland and surrounding area. Enough great twisty roads up there to last a lifetime. Have to say that I really don’t need 30+ more HP, just not really possible to use it on these types of roads. That said, I wouldn’t refuse it if someone were to a perform a miracle on the 961 - supercharger anyone?

The other issue at play for me is the draconian traffic police in this part of the world. Check out the new speeding fine regime that came out this week.

Don’t get caught hitting that throttle even momentarily in a straight line, to get that adrenalin rush we all love from accelerating a motorcycle. 40km over (of course nobody has done that:rolleyes:!) and you are $1650 in the hole, 8 demerit points and a 6 month ban (go further than that and there is talk of bike seizure and jail time, although I’ve never seen this written down). Not to mention a guest appearance in the local paper. No point in owning a Hayabusa around here!

Fixed but shaken!


It’s ok to compare the 961 to the Thruxton R but it’s really an apples and oranges situation for reasons discussed. Would like a Thruxton TFC in my garage though, but there’s only one for sale in Aus that I can find and the wife would castrate me with a rusty spoon if I were to spent 55k:oops:

Fixed but shaken!
 
I had a ride out last weekend. I visited Wheels at Peterborough for a general look around. I couple of guys were looking at my 961 and had lots of compliments but asked if anyone comes up and spits on the bike because of what's gone on. I said I would hope not as I hadn't done anything wrong.

Anyway, I digress. I then headed to Webbs a Triumph dealer in the same city. I wanted to have a look at the new Rally Pro 1200 but none in yet. Glanced at the speed twins and thruxton and I don't think they look a patch on my 961. So I remain in love with it, especially after Stu Bodycote sorted it
 
As I said before it's whatever makes you happy; be it numbers on paper or riding experience it is a personal thing. I mean - some people actually bought Nikens out of choice! I went and looked at a Thruxton R faired last weekend as a potential track bike and stood and looked at it. Still leaves me a bit non-plussed. If that matt and brushed finish was polished up then might be different. And the black plastic clock surround sorted. And the levers improved. The 961 just has that wow factor out of the box and I get comments from bikes and non-bikers alike. And who is to say what the correct power for it is? I think the only thing we can agree on is reliability and New New Norton/ Ollie/ Stu seem to be working on that one.
 
Clive said:
As I said before it's whatever makes you happy; be it numbers on paper or riding experience it is a personal thing. I mean - some people actually bought Nikens out of choice! I went and looked at a Thruxton R faired last weekend as a potential track bike and stood and looked at it. Still leaves me a bit non-plussed. If that matt and brushed finish was polished up then might be different. And the black plastic clock surround sorted. And the levers improved. The 961 just has that wow factor out of the box and I get comments from bikes and non-bikers alike. And who is to say what the correct power for it is? I think the only thing we can agree on is reliability and New New Norton/ Ollie/ Stu seem to be working on that one.
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A good ride out to our Cabin for the the weekend, bikes running great. Road to myself over the Moors back, fantastic! While near Pickering dropped into a cafe popular with bikers and car enthusiasts, only 2 Brit bikes noticed, my 961 and a Thruxton. Not there long but the 961 seemed to attract more attention than the Thrux!
 
Al's#5 said:
A good ride out to our Cabin for the the weekend, bikes running great. Road to myself over the Moors back, fantastic! While near Pickering dropped into a cafe popular with bikers and car enthusiasts, only 2 Brit bikes noticed, my 961 and a Thruxton. Not there long but the 961 seemed to attract more attention than the Thrux!
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Morning,
What is the cafe called near Pickering.
 
TonyA said:
Heck , If you want a stonking Air cooled 1200 twin get a BMW R9T for that matter ! And no chain to fuss with !
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I can't get worked up over tiny cosmetic details the way some do, but the Beemer is just plain ugly all over! That just seems to be the way BMWs are, designed purely for function with no concern for styling and shape, or perhaps no idea of how to do that.
I have two BMW riding friends, they readily accept that the bikes are ugly but they don't care much about that. Their bikes (rt1200r and GS1150) work properly , have been reliable and handle really well for their size. I enjoy riding them other than the vibration, worse on the 1200 than the 1150 but both are quite vibratory for modern bikes.




Glen
 
worntorn said:
I can't get worked up over tiny cosmetic details the way some do, but the Beemer is just plain ugly all over! That just seems to be the way BMWs are, designed purely for function with no concern for styling and shape, or perhaps no idea of how to do that.
I have two BMW riding friends, they readily accept that the bikes are ugly but they don't care much about that. Their bikes (rt1200r and GS1150) work properly , have been reliable and handle really well for their size. I enjoy riding them other than the vibration, worse on the 1200 than the 1150 but both are quite vibratory for modern bikes.




Glen
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Gotta agree.
Great bikes, but aesthetically - completely uninspiring.
Not much you can really do for the appearence with the cylinders sticking out sideways.
 
I had an R9T and liked it. Sold it to get the 961. Make of that what you will !
 
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Fast Eddie said:
I had an R9T and liked it. Sold it to get the 961. Make of that what you will !
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Very confusing is what I make of it . I have ridden a R9T at a dealer and it was surprisingly powerful . The short time I rode it I was very impressed with the handling especially the front end. When done right the look grows on me , and I love the shaft drive low maintenance . FE , Your R9T I seemed to remember looked great . Can you post a link to that picture of it again ?
All I am saying is that the R9T is a very good option - Air cooled , long history/heritage , good reliability , good sound with pipes , engine has character , great handling , can be used for long trips when set up , A large enough fuel tank , etc. etc. Rear suspension on my example needed work (too harsh) and was the only let down in my view .
 
The suspension and forks are crap on the R9, I upgraded both ends.

It was a good bike, far more characterful than any modern Japanese offering yet thoroughly practical and surprisingly good performance.

I sold it to get the 961. I think my take on it is that I shouldn’t have done !

Mine didn’t look very standard by the time I’d done with it Tony…

Fixed but shaken!
Fixed but shaken!
 
Fast Eddie said:
The suspension and forks are crap on the R9, I upgraded both ends.

It was a good bike, far more characterful than any modern Japanese offering yet thoroughly practical and surprisingly good performance.

I sold it to get the 961. I think my take on it is that I shouldn’t have done !

Mine didn’t look very standard by the time I’d done with it Tony…

View attachment 94562View attachment 94563
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I like it !
 
Fast Eddie said:
The suspension and forks are crap on the R9, I upgraded both ends.

It was a good bike, far more characterful than any modern Japanese offering yet thoroughly practical and surprisingly good performance.

I sold it to get the 961. I think my take on it is that I shouldn’t have done !

Mine didn’t look very standard by the time I’d done with it Tony…

View attachment 94562View attachment 94563
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My cousin had a 2020 R9T. I would of bought one too, except he had one. Then when I bought my Ducati he sold it for a Harley. What timing. Wish I got one now.
Like you said with some suspension upgrades and an exhaust and a different seat / tail their pretty cool bikes
 
TonyA said:
I like it !
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I have mixed views about the looks - from certain angles it looks like an attractive and quirky cafe racer, from others a little clumsy. I got one as a courtesy bike whilst my Norton was being serviced. Very capable, quite smooth and powerful. I was taking it back and cruising along in no particular hurry to get it back, pulled into the fast lane to overtake and then back in. Was pulled by a traffic copper and given three points and a fine. The Beemer is deceptively quick.
 
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