Let's not say SG Nortons

This is very unlikely.

How many of you are willing to sell your bike for a TVS Norton?

Let’s say you could sell your current Norton 961 for the same price you bought it for. Would you just to buy a TVS Norton?

Not me.

Voodooo said:

This is very unlikely.

How many of you are willing to sell your bike for a TVS Norton?

Let’s say you could sell your current Norton 961 for the same price you bought it for. Would you just to buy a TVS Norton?

Click to expand...

Good question !

Similarly, I was recently asked if I was tempted back into the fold by the new improved TVS 961. I hadn’t thought about it until asked, so I had to pause before answering, but the answer (to myself as much as my friend) was a definite no.

I guess one reason is that TVS have been so secretive. If they had come out with videos / pictures and explanations of their improvements then I’d have more confidence, but currently we have to simply take their word for it. And there are way too many serious design flaws for such ‘blind faith’ IMHO.

Secondly, the world is constantly moving on. Performance and handling of the 961 hasn’t improved since it was launched. I can‘t think of another (current) bike that hasn’t been improved in 12 years! It’s a real shame the ‘new’ one isn’t 10-20kg less and 10-20BHP more, especially given the investment. I honestly believe that’s easily possible.

That said, I’m glad they’ve done this and do wish them well.

Voodooo said:

This is very unlikely.

How many of you are willing to sell your bike for a TVS Norton?

Let’s say you could sell your current Norton 961 for the same price you bought it for. Would you just to buy a TVS Norton?

Not me.

Click to expand...

Yes, I’m pretty certain I’d buy one if they were available in Australia. But I’d get a Silver CR to compliment the bike I have and keep it - I wouldn’t sell.

Of note - a new Dominator and I’d be all over it.

Voodooo said:

This is very unlikely.

How many of you are willing to sell your bike for a TVS Norton?

Let’s say you could sell your current Norton 961 for the same price you bought it for. Would you just to buy a TVS Norton?

Not me.

Click to expand...

That's a good question.
I stated previously that if the bike is properly tested by the MC media publications, and the NEW 961 has clearly been "fixed", then if I were able to buy one in the US, and had a warranty, and parts availability, I probably would buy one.
For sure, I would take a hit on the sale price of my Donnington 961 CR, but such is life.
But the NEW 961 would be the bike I thought I was buying back in 2013, and I would be selling off a failed dream.

The fact that the NEW 961 would have no performance improvements since its original introduction would have no effect on my decision. The 961 was never intended to compete in the world of mainstream parameter framed, mono-shocked, liquid cooled, DOHC motorcycles.
Love it, or hate it, it is nothing more than a modern interruption of a classic design.

Let's see how the motorcycle press evaluate the NEW 961 on a long-term test, say 2000-3000 mile test.
Completing such a test successfully, should be a piece of cake for any modern EFI motorcycle.
That will establish whether the NEW 961 is actually fixed.

Personally
I would not. Reason being, I already have one and buying another of the same thing just doesn’t do it for me.

I hope the new ones are flawless but that’s impossible. I’ve been pretty fortunate to not of had to many issues with either of mine, I just wish that more parts were available and that TVS would just come forward and stop being tight lipped and just tell us what is available to fit the mk2 bikes.

My main complaint on my bikes were assembly issues.

On my commando:
I’ve had the same neutral light flicker on my commando when I bought it. Easy fix.

It never gets oil in the bottle.

And other than a loose screw that holds the crank sensor on, it’s been pretty good.

I will say when I first took delivery of my commando I tore it apart and changed some things and checked everything over.


On my Domi Naked:
The starter gasket leaks oil like a “Hog” and when on the side stand will leave its marking.
(I will replace the gasket this winter)

The oil bottle get about 1/4 of the way full after about 200 miles of riding.

The rear axle alignment was off by 6mm and the chain nearly made contact with the frame. Thank God it didn’t.

I had a low oil pressure light once and did an oil pressure test. I had less than 2 psi.
I found that the cam cover gasket was somehow torn and oil was blowing past the filter housing gasket into the cam area.

Replaced the gasket and wall was good.
Still don’t know how I rode it for 400 miles and all of a sudden a gasket failure.

On both bikes I replaced all relays and sensors per this forums research. Along with plugs and coil and spark plug wires.

How about we call it the Kenny Dreer 961? I was just reading some articles from 2006 thru 2009 and have come to fully appreciate the amount of research, development, investment capital and time (and love of the brand) he (and his main investor) put into his venture. The 961 has Dreer all over it. SG carried it into production but clearly did not contribute as much to it as he'd like us to believe in modifying and completing the machine. TVS has contributed even less than SG other than money and fixing faults. None of them love this bike like Dreer does and he has been very gracious in thanking SG for completing the project. For anyone who hasn't read these articles on Dreer it makes for interesting reading. Very impressive fellow.

Boss302 said:

How about we call it the Kenny Dreer 961? I was just reading some articles from 2006 thru 2009 and have come to fully appreciate the amount of research, development, investment capital and time (and love of the brand) he (and his main investor) put into his venture. The 961 has Dreer all over it. SG carried it into production but clearly did not contribute as much to it as he'd like us to believe in modifying and completing the machine. TVS has contributed even less than SG other than money and fixing faults. None of them love this bike like Dreer does and he has been very gracious in thanking SG for completing the project. For anyone who hasn't read these articles on Dreer it makes for interesting reading. Very impressive fellow.

Click to expand...

If you read through the voluminous threads concerning the 961 on this site you will find many, many references to Dreer and his contribution in making the 961 a reality. SG and his team basically took the Dreer prototypes and "refined" the design to make it easier to manufacture, and conform with Euro emissions requirements. These are what we now refer to as Donnington 961s. The Dreer units never advanced past the prototype phase, they were never sold to the public.

Now that we are beyond the SG era of the 961, many just want to put that unfortunate era behind them and focus on the future and the NEW 961 produced in Solihull, UK.

BritTwit said:

If you read through the voluminous threads concerning the 961 on this site you will find many, many references to Dreer and his contribution in making the 961 a reality. SG and his team basically took the Dreer prototypes and "refined" the design to make it easier to manufacture, and conform with Euro emissions requirements. These are what we now refer to as Donnington 961s. The Dreer units never advanced past the prototype phase, they were never sold to the public.

Now that we are beyond the SG era of the 961, many just want to put that unfortunate era behind them and focus on the future and the NEW 961 produced in Solihull, UK.

Click to expand...

Many of us still own our Dreer designed, Donnington produced 961s. The future of Norton is similar to the future of most motorcycle brands and does not resemble the days of Manx, Dominator or even Commando. Electric and high tech multi cylinder bikes are replacing them and that's as it should be. The 961 is only a space in time for brand recognition sake as even the most change resistant brands struggle to modernize and remain relevant. Younger riders will gravitate to the new bikes and they will become part of their motorcycling life experience just as the great motorcycles of the past are to older enthusiasts , like me. My Hope is that TVS will provide parts that are interchangeable with the Dreer designed, Donnington produced 961s. As to how we should refer to the 961s I give preference to the man responsible for the dream and design over the location of production. Meanwhile my 961 Sport sits waiting for seat upholstery so my boney ol arse will not get so sore, then back up and running hopefully tomorrow.

Stephen_Spencer said:

Hey BB,

It would appear that others agree!

Click to expand...

Boss302 said:

Many of us still own our Dreer designed, Donnington produced 961s. The future of Norton is similar to the future of most motorcycle brands and does not resemble the days of Manx, Dominator or even Commando. Electric and high tech multi cylinder bikes are replacing them and that's as it should be. The 961 is only a space in time for brand recognition sake as even the most change resistant brands struggle to modernize and remain relevant. Younger riders will gravitate to the new bikes and they will become part of their motorcycling life experience just as the great motorcycles of the past are to older enthusiasts , like me. My Hope is that TVS will provide parts that are interchangeable with the Dreer designed, Donnington produced 961s. As to how we should refer to the 961s I give preference to the man responsible for the dream and design over the location of production. Meanwhile my 961 Sport sits waiting for seat upholstery so my boney ol arse will not get so sore, then back up and running hopefully tomorrow.

Click to expand...

Why don’t we just call them what they are- Mk1, Mk 2, Mk 3 etc??

Lincolnshire Poacher said:

Why don’t we just call them what they are- Mk1, Mk 2, Mk 3 etc??

Click to expand...

Or SE, CR, SP etc…..My 1970 750 Commando had an engine built in Wolverhampton, but was assembled in Andover. The bike was a Roadster - not a Norton Andover….

Lincolnshire Poacher said:

Or SE, CR, SP etc…..My 1970 750 Commando had an engine built in Wolverhampton, but was assembled in Andover. The bike was a Roadster - not a Norton Andover….

Click to expand...

Far too specific.
The "Donington Norton's" defines an era of the Norton name on a tank...end of.

They should be called Nortchi or Nortindia

Voodooo said:

They should be called Nortchi or Nortindia

Click to expand...

NortIndia with the new Brahmin caste engine.

Has to be ‘Donington Norton’ for me, although I keep catching myself referring to SG Norton! Doh!

We have the same problem with the new company/location don’t we? I’ve heard (and used) everything from TVS Norton to Solihull Norton. I think in their own communications they refer to themselves colloquially as ‘Birmingham Norton’; a nod to where it all began no doubt and to the close proximity of Solihull to Birmingham.

I’m gonna see if I can get some discreet ‘Donington Norton’ decals made up, in gold of course and we’ll see how it looks.

I like the location within the name.
It's not unlike Coventry, Meriden, or Hinckley Triumphs.
That way, when someone buys a new Solihull, or Birmingham Norton we can all act like nasty curmudgeons and say:
Ugh, that's shit, it's not a real Donington Norton.

Why should only the Triumph have the fun?

BritTwit said:

I like the location within the name.
It's not unlike Coventry, Meriden, or Hinckley Triumphs.
That way, when someone buys a new Solihull, or Birmingham Norton we can all act like nasty curmudgeons and say:
Ugh, that's shit, it's not a real Donington Norton.

Why should only the Triumph have the fun?

Click to expand...

If this is the case, I’m going with Portland Norton.
Dreer deserves credit.

Voodooo said:

If this is the case, I’m going with Portland Norton.
Dreer deserves credit.

Click to expand...

That’s a Dreery proposal!

Voodooo said:

If this is the case, I’m going with Portland Norton.
Dreer deserves credit.

Click to expand...

I think that's appropriate, Kenny certainly does deserve credit.
Portland Norton would apply to the 961 prototypes that SG bought from Kenny, that started the whole thing.
And an early 952 prototype that one of the forum members also bought from Kenny.

BritTwit said:

I think that's appropriate, Kenny certainly does deserve credit.
Portland Norton would apply to the 961 prototypes that SG bought from Kenny, that started the whole thing.
And an early 952 prototype that one of the forum members also bought from Kenny.

Click to expand...

TVS bought prototypes from Garner, and we were all the guinea pigs.