Latest email from Factory !!!!

Why take a perfectly good Triumph bike/frame and muck it up ?
Well....
As attractive as the Thaiumph 1200 Thrux is as a modern classic cafe, the 961 Commando is certainly the belle of the ball. Melding the
Commando's rolling chassis and body work with the Thaiumph lump would produce a very fetching, RELIABLE, and more powerful modern classic.
Not to mention a motor with readily available parts and support. Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's been done for 900cc Thaiumph lump, now someone should repeat with the 1200 mill.
 
Thanks for clarifying that James - sorry about the confusion over the 'other' 961 raffle prize picture - now corrected. I hope he is able to take ownership of his 961 soon and enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine. As I have mentioned in previous posts this was a very generous donation from our local SOLIHULL motorcycle manufacturer and I hope the support will continue. I visit the National Motorcycle Museum (on my bike commute route) at least one a week and highly recommend anyone to visit or become a Friend of the museum - it is fantastic value and a great place for a breakfast panini, cake and a coffee! The 'ride a classic' day is a great experience.
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Clive - do you have a thread detailing how you removed your airbox and added the K&N’s.?
 
Well....
As attractive as the Thaiumph 1200 Thrux is as a modern classic cafe, the 961 Commando is certainly the belle of the ball. Melding the
Commando's rolling chassis and body work with the Thaiumph lump would produce a very fetching, RELIABLE, and more powerful modern classic.
Not to mention a motor with readily available parts and support. Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's been done for 900cc Thaiumph lump, now someone should repeat with the 1200 mill.
But Brit , Would it in fact be better ? What I mean is the Brital Moto bike looks and performs better than the original Air Cooled Hinckley Triumph . It certainly looks better ! This Bitalmoto bike really does look great and may out handle the original Triumph chassis. But can it be repeated again with the water cooled version Triumph ? I had a 2004 Triumph Thruxton (stock), and the Norton 961 is faster and handles better . This I know from experience obviously !
 
But Brit , Would it in fact be better ?

Tony this is subjective, I know.
A true classic obviously, does not have a coolant radiator. The old first gen Hinckley twin was air cooled so it did look true to classic design. But here I'm dealing with a modern classic. This concept is a modern engine and systems, aesthetically configured to pay homage to past classic design cues. That is really what the Thaiumph 1200 is. A new Triton would have to carefully incorporate the radiator into the overall design to limit it's visibility. But, would it be worth while? I think so. The beautiful flowing appearance of the 961 chassis and body work, with the power of the 1200 motor would be a winner in my opinion.

I previously explained how Norton could build a 1200 Commando by adapting the Thaiumph motor, thereby drastically reducing their engineering costs, and at the same time producing a kickass 1200 parallel twin, with modern, reliable engineering.
The engine cases just require a little redesign to allow "Norton-ized" primary and timing covers.
Norton could also, build the motors in the UK, instead of Thailand, further increasing the British content of the bike.
The motor is the message - Modern reliable power.

P.S. - some say the 1200 motor is too smooth, like a jap 4 banger. Simple solution, just modify the balancers to make it feel (vibrate) more like an agricultural classic motor.
 
BritTwit, do you realise that you can buy a supercharger kit for the Thaiumph 1200 motor?

Modern supercharged 1200cc Triton anyone …?
 
BritTwit, do you realise that you can buy a supercharger kit for the Thaiumph 1200 motor?

Modern supercharged 1200cc Triton anyone …?
Yes, I know about the 1200 supercharger kits.
But then you are throwing out much of the "classic" in the modern classic concept.
The belts, tubing, inter-cooler piping and associated hardware for the supercharger turn the 1200's aesthetics into a "science experiment."
 
Yes, I know about the 1200 supercharger kits.
But then you are throwing out much of the "classic" in the modern classic concept.
The belts, tubing, inter-cooler piping and associated hardware for the supercharger turn the 1200's aesthetics into a "science experiment."
Well, there’s no pleasing some folk !
 
Clive - do you have a thread detailing how you removed your airbox and added the K&N’s.?
Can't claim the glory - TonyA started the ball rolling and I just followed on like a Johnny-come-lately. There is a thread somewhere - basically bought silicon elbows, K&Ns, a bit of plumbing to attach little filter to idle valve and oil catch tank to case vent. Found bike was running too lean so fitted bigger injectors as could not reprogram Omex and not want Power Commander. There are dyno runs after which show extra midrange grunt.
 
Not to mention a motor with readily available parts and support. Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's been done for 900cc Thaiumph lump, now someone should repeat with the 1200 mill.
Seem to remember there was a lot of cutting to fit it in. We need Mr. Millyard to create us something special!!!
 
Can't claim the glory - TonyA started the ball rolling and I just followed on like a Johnny-come-lately. There is a thread somewhere - basically bought silicon elbows, K&Ns, a bit of plumbing to attach little filter to idle valve and oil catch tank to case vent. Found bike was running too lean so fitted bigger injectors as could not reprogram Omex and not want Power Commander. There are dyno runs after which show extra midrange grunt.
Read the Thread Inlet upgrade :

 
Can't claim the glory - TonyA started the ball rolling and I just followed on like a Johnny-come-lately. There is a thread somewhere - basically bought silicon elbows, K&Ns, a bit of plumbing to attach little filter to idle valve and oil catch tank to case vent. Found bike was running too lean so fitted bigger injectors as could not reprogram Omex and not want Power Commander. There are dyno runs after which show extra midrange grunt.
Clive , Don't cut yourself short ! I seem to remember 5HP in the middle and 3HP on top . Those are good solid gains !
 
Seem to remember there was a lot of cutting to fit it in.
Yes.
The Hinckley gen 1 865 (900) engine had the swingarm pivot through the rear of the engine casting.
So fitting that motor to the Norton frame which has the pivot in the frame would require some cutting/re-engineering.
The new gen Thaiumph 1200 motor has the pivot in the frame, not the engine casting.
Still, fitting the 1200 would require some fancy redesign work as well.
 
Yer pipes are blocking the view of the museum Clive…
The NMM is a Safe Place where like-minded exponents of the ancient practice of the proudly extended exhaust can meet among examples of the craft without fear of persecution and ridicule. A time when right legs were strong (and often bruised) and headlights were round as nature intended.
 
Well, small update, I did email scott and i 'Think' the position is clear.

I said:

"Hi Scott, thanks for letting us know. I know the 961 community has been awaiting an update for some time.


It is disappointing news, but not unexpected.


Can you possibly clarify your position?


Will you sell parts to owners of bikes you did not build on the basis that you cannot guarantee compatibility?


How would an owner specify which parts they would like to buy? For example, will you be publishing a parts/price list?


Will there be any details published detailing differences between the 961 sold by NMUL and the Classic 961 that you have manufactured?


Thanks and best regards


Vernon"

To which he responded:

"Good Morning,



Thank you for your email.

Please rest assured that we arrived at the decision stated in my previous email after much deliberation. Given the state of the parts that we inherited, it simply was not possible to reconcile the standards we observed with the quality we must adhere to.

When our parts department is open, we will support the Commando Classic 961 we build through Norton Birmingham and all future Customer Centres.

For the reasons stated above, and in previous communication, we cannot guarantee that the parts designed for our Commando Classic 961 will fit any other motorcycles. If you wish, we will inform you when we are open for business and fully operational.



Best Regards,



Scott Gibson
Aftersales Administrator"

So I think that parts will be sold, but simply no guarantee they will fit non 961 classics. I wonder what that mans for the future of the 961? Seems a little OTT for just 20 odd bikes, so perhaps this is good news? My glass will remain at half full for now!
 
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But did they not say they weren't having dealers??

Mind you, re-reading first post here, reference is to 'Global network of customer centres..', so perhaps that's the answer: Solihull being UK customer centre ??
 
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I received the same email. This pussy footing of words is annoying. I too emailed Scott back asking for more clarity.
 
'Customer centres?'

Is that like a dealer who doesn't sell bikes?
Its like Tesla . You are buying from TESLA directly so to speak. They will deliver your car to you and all service is done at the customer center in your region. I said earlier that the USA would need 4 centers Chicago , LA , Dallas , Newark for example. A 500 mile radius circle will touch or overlap in many areas. Or in the case of Norton their large panel trucks will be a rolling service and delivery center which will report to their region .
 
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