Henry Cole's 961 Special ( The Motorcycle Show Channel ITV4)

Do I like it. No, not even a little bit. It seems to be a pointless exercise. The tail section is hideous etc, etc.
 
the fact that it was done for a new TV series means they have to have an ‘angle’, I suspect. So in this case, keeping the bike Euro 4 compliant meant they couldn’t even chop the very rear of the frame off( According to Stuart Garner who was interviewed at start of project), without having to put it through Euro retesting, which was a no-no. I guess they allowed themselves a loud silencer in the sense of an aftermarket change, as many owners of bikes do.
It is all limited by time /money constraints too.....
 
I thought this was a far better finished item
 

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Goblin Works ? I know they did one and visited the Norton works as per Henry Cole but I turned off 1/2 way through the first program I saw and have never watched them again.
 
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Yes Goblin Works didn't say that I necessarily liked it but thought better that Henry Coles version Would like to see it in person
 
Clive said:
Am I the only one who doesn't like it? The rounded tank doesn't flow well into the tail which is more squared off and they couldn't think what to do with the air box so the painted it black and.... If they're changing the exhaust away from Euro4 then lets see some intake stacks or K&Ns. It's kind of like me doing the makeup on a supermodel - it would sort of look ok because the base is so good looking, but is still a world away from the proper thing. I'd rather have seen something less cosmetic and more technical, say, a drag bike build: how about a blown twin 961?

PS look at the work that Allen Millyard has done. He is a fantastic highly skilled engineer.
Click to expand...
I've got to say I agree with you. The bike looks different....but not sure if it looks better!
 
Just to clarify, neither would I!

I think they did a great job, and did well against their brief of creating a flat track theme.

But I prefer the classic lines of the original.

“Different rather than better” is a fair assessment IMHO, and is probably what they were trying to achieve I imagine.
 
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Just watched the motorbike show i was with the do not like guys but went to the factory last Friday to collect my bike and Clem let me have a look. It is 10 times better in the flesh and i am not a fan of American looking bikes but it is good.
 
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Henry Cole's 961 Special ( The Motorcycle Show Channel ITV4)
Henry Cole's 961 Special ( The Motorcycle Show Channel ITV4)
Henry Cole's 961 Special ( The Motorcycle Show Channel ITV4)
Henry Cole's 961 Special ( The Motorcycle Show Channel ITV4)
Henry Cole's 961 Special ( The Motorcycle Show Channel ITV4)
. Well this is the finished result, didn’t think it was going to be painted,& it did get the thumbs up from Norton,so hope to see it on a show stand at some point ,I’m pretty sure that I’ve seen Guy the mechanic before, almost certain it was a Kawasaki Tripples meet around 16 years ago,he had a purple H2 special,polished & chrome etc,but actually called a “Ducasaki” with a front end & an extended single sided swinging arm from a Ducati Monster, was a complete peach.
 
BLIGHTYBRIT/SF said:
View attachment 4978 View attachment 4979 View attachment 4980 View attachment 4981 View attachment 4982. Well this is the finished result, didn’t think it was going to be painted,& it did get the thumbs up from Norton,so hope to see it on a show stand at some point ,I’m pretty sure that I’ve seen Guy the mechanic before, almost certain it was a Kawasaki Tripples meet around 16 years ago,he had a purple H2 special,polished & chrome etc,but actually called a “Ducasaki” with a front end & an extended single sided swinging arm from a Ducati Monster, was a complete peach.
Click to expand...

Now its finished, good effort, not too shabby at all. Like to see it in the flesh and try it for size.
 
The metal work is well done, and it's in the flattracker style.
If they can bang out an aluminum tanks like that, then they can produce one like the standard 961 Commando style.
Anybody know who actually made the tank?
 
No thanks to either of the Goblin or Coles bikes.
To me, Goblin ruined the Dominator. Wtf were they thinking?

And for Coles bike, although it’s better than the Goblins bike, it doesn’t give me any desire. I love the Commando and Dominator the way they are from Norton. That’s why I bought one of each.
 
I like it ! A lot ! It has a muscle bike look that appeals to me. You might even call it Americanized . The solid black air box might need a small emblem but that's it for me. Of course you wouldn't put bags or touring gear on this thing . It would hide too much good looks.
 
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Looks better in black. I still prefer the looks of the stock Norton but aesthetics are a personal taste thing. To me it looks more Japanized than Americanized.
 
Pics of this have appeared on my local Biker FB page where 'litre' bikes rule.... and it's getting some pretty good comments, like 'if Norton made this it would sell like hot cakes'
 
It's official, Norton 961 Street is launching at Donington, limited to 50.... get your cheque books out !
 
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