Low price 961

You will be able to ride it for many miles

Ken,

One thing you may want to check on your 961 right off is the dipstick.
The old (short) dipstick had the High and Low oil marks set too high for proper checking of the oil tank oil level.
filling to the midpoint on this old dipstick will overfill the oil level, possibly causing the engine to blow oil through the breather into the airbox.
I used to keep the level just below the low mark to avoid pushing oil to the airbox.
The new (longer) dipstick has a knurled measurement area between the high and low marks.
If you have the new stick, the midpoint of the knurled is the correct fill level.

Cheers

BritTwit said:

Ken,

One thing you may want to check on your 961 right off is the dipstick.
The old (short) dipstick had the High and Low oil marks set too high for proper checking of the oil tank oil level.
filling to the midpoint on this old dipstick will overfill the oil level, possibly causing the engine to blow oil through the breather into the airbox.
I used to keep the level just below the low mark to avoid pushing oil to the airbox.
The new (longer) dipstick has a knurled measurement area between the high and low marks.
If you have the new stick, the midpoint of the knurled is the correct fill level.

Cheers

Click to expand...

Thanks for the warning. I've been browsing past threads on 961 problems and fixes, trying to benefit from others' experiences, and making a list of things to check as soon as I get the bike. The owner said he has had no issues with oil in the airbox, but also said that he had only ridden it for fairly short distances, and had never checked the airbox. Plenty of things to keep me occupied, but nothing that sounds too difficult or expensive. I still need to pick up an owner's manual, and plan to ask Richard to send his service files as soon as I actually have possession of the bike. The only complaint the owner had was that the bike didn't run well when cold, and took a while to warm up, but ran fine when up to temp.

Ken

lcrken said:

The only complaint the owner had was that the bike didn't run well when cold, and took a while to warm up, but ran fine when up to temp.

Ken

Click to expand...

Not surprised considering the SBN slipons, and no remap.
Cold starting/running can be vastly improved with the 090 efi map.
Since the photos you posted show that the cats are still fitted, it's possible the 077 map could work well too.

The new maps were really developed by Norton for their factory manufactured free flowing exhausts.

I have the full decatted first gen SBN exhaust. The 077 map was better then the stock map, but still had cold start/running issues.
The 090 map worked much better, but to really sort this bike and SBN exhaust I will need to get a Power Commander installed.

Thanks for the map info. The ecu did get a remap when the exhausts were installed. I'll find out which one it was when I pick it up.

I've read the Power Commander threads. It does sound like the only practical solution for owners wanting to make any serious mods. Not sure if I'll ever go there.

Ken

lcrken said:

Thanks for the warning. I've been browsing past threads on 961 problems and fixes, trying to benefit from others' experiences, and making a list of things to check as soon as I get the bike. The owner said he has had no issues with oil in the airbox, but also said that he had only ridden it for fairly short distances, and had never checked the airbox. Plenty of things to keep me occupied, but nothing that sounds too difficult or expensive. I still need to pick up an owner's manual, and plan to ask Richard to send his service files as soon as I actually have possession of the bike. The only complaint the owner had was that the bike didn't run well when cold, and took a while to warm up, but ran fine when up to temp.

Ken

Click to expand...

I will send them now if you get me your email address. *cheers*

You got the bike yet Ken??

BritTwit said:

Damn, that's a nice red.
400 miles - not even broken in yet.
The silencers look like SBN slipons, the gen2 version with steeper upward angle.
The standard EFI map will be lean, so you'll need a remap.
If that's the only issue then you just got yourself a great f**king deal.

Cheers.

Click to expand...

Do those pipes come with the bike from Norton? I have the same pipes and hard cold start.. (I have 400+ miles also on a 2015 SF) Nice Bike!

Picked the bike up yesterday, but had to wait till this afternoon to get some friends over to help me unload it from the van. Really didn't want to drop it trying to do it alone. I took it for a brief ride around the neighborhood before dark. Runs great, and sounds like a Norton should. It is a bit cold blooded when first started from cold, but seems to run fine once it's got some heat into it. I'll get a bit more mileage on it tomorrow. This is a picture of it in front of my shop.



The mufflers did not come on the bike. They were installed by GP Cycles in San Diego, who also updated the map to accommodate them. I still don't know which map they used, but will eventually find out from GP Cycles.

Ken

The color really pops in the sunlight.

You'll probably need the 090 map to help with the cold starting/running.
Even with that map there is still a lean condition during warm up, but it will be much improved.
The final fix is to install a PC as forum member pingu-nz has done.
Your dual seat 961 has a perfect under seat space to tuck one away in.

Cheers

BritTwit said:

The color really pops in the sunlight.

You'll probably need the 090 map to help with the cold starting/running.
Even with that map there is still a lean condition during warm up, but it will be much improved.
The final fix is to install a PC as forum member pingu-nz has done.
Your dual seat 961 has a perfect under seat space to tuck one away in.

Cheers

Click to expand...

I suspect I will end up with the PC eventually. I've never taken any of my bikes to dealers for service, and I don't really want to start now.

Ken

lcrken said:

I've never taken any of my bikes to dealers for service, and I don't really want to start now.

Click to expand...

Well, after seeing the photo of your shop, I doubt that you will ever have to.

it looks like i goofed not buying it

Not to worry.
Been there, done that too.
I'm sure there will be others up for sale soon, just not at that price point.

Oranges3 said:

it looks like i goofed not buying it

Click to expand...

Yup.

Those slip ons are not as upswept as my gen 2 SBNs although they have the same SBN logo on them. Are they direct bolt on or is there a triangular hanger that I cannot see in the photo.

Britfan60 said:

Those slip ons are not as upswept as my gen 2 SBNs although they have the same SBN logo on them. Are they direct bolt on or is there a triangular hanger that I cannot see in the photo.

Click to expand...

There is a triangular hanger.

Ken

lcrken said:

There is a triangular hanger.

Ken

Click to expand...

Safe to assume they are gen. 2 then. Still in the photo they don't looks as upswept. Thanks. Sound cool, no?

Britfan60 said:

Safe to assume they are gen. 2 then. Still in the photo they don't looks as upswept. Thanks. Sound cool, no?

Click to expand...

Sound cool, yes! Seems to run well too, once it's warmed up. I haven't encountered any of the surging or poor idle conditions yet that I've seen reported here, but I need to get some more miles on it first. I really haven't run it hard yet at all. I did check the oil level, and it is well above the full line, and that's with the old dip stick, so I'm thinking I should suction out some of the oil. The drain tube from the air box is not plugged, so don't know yet if it is pumping much out the breather. I'm planning to plug it so I can periodically drain it and see what is happening there. Also looking at transmission vent, breather fix, Bosch sensors, coil, wires, and plugs, as possible upgrades. Just need some time to sort it all out. I'm also going to have to raise the bars and pull them back a little to get the right ergonomics for me. I really have to have an upright riding position now. It looks like I'll probably have to extend almost everything at the bars, brake lines, clutch line, throttle cables, and wiring harness. Not a simple matter of just making some new bar mounts.

On another note, I do like the way it handles, and don't expect to have to do any changes there in the near future. I do have to admit that I'm still trying to get used to the look for that wide rear tire. I'm pretty sure that's more for styling than function. No way it needs a 180 rear tire. I suspect it would handle better with something like a 140 or 150, certainly no more tha a 165. Future project, maybe.

Ken

Why not get some California bars from Norton Ken? I thought they looked crazy in the pictures, but when I sat on one at the bike show last November I was really surprised how ‘right’ they felt.

I still opted for a Cafe Racer though !

And I agree about the rear tyre.