Mileage

Mr Pot,

even if any 961 owners do manage to get their bikes out of the garage and give you some feedback your going to have to separate the subjective replies, which judging from posts on the NOC forum form the majority, from the objective, the minority. Having said that it appears the objectively minded owners do cover some miles - although unfortunately for them not without problems. Don't hold your breath while waiting for results to come in,

regards, Mr Kettle. Back to the garage.

Fast Eddie said:

However, being quite frank, the lack of answers, so far at least, actually seems to back up your hypothesis that they don't get used!

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I would think it's more likely a lack of 961 owners here, as it seems that only a relatively small percentage of motorcyclists actually use motorcycle forums on a regular basis, and this, compounded by the fact that the vast majority of members registered at Access Norton never actually post anything at all, then the lack of response from 961 owners isn't all that unusual.

I've had mine over 3 years and done 6,000 miles, it's at Donny now for its second service. No problems and its going better with more miles I do, I get 50+mpg and top speed of well over 120mph easily(I have seen 130mph indicated on a couple of occasions) It uses virtually no oil between changes and less than my BMW S1000RR. I would have done lots more miles but I have a few other bikes including an 850 Roadster and two other classics. I have been very impressed with the 961 so far and I will probably put on another 3,000 miles this summer if the weather is good !

JAYMAC said:

I've had mine over 3 years and done 6,000 miles, it's at Donny now for its second service. No problems and its going better with more miles I do, I get 50+mpg and top speed of well over 120mph easily(I have seen 130mph indicated on a couple of occasions) It uses virtually no oil between changes and less than my BMW S1000RR. I would have done lots more miles but I have a few other bikes including an 850 Roadster and two other classics. I have been very impressed with the 961 so far and I will probably put on another 3,000 miles this summer if the weather is good !

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Blimey, that's pretty bloody good feedback Johnny boy! Thanks for posting.

JAYMAC said:

No problem Eddie, I am In Buckingham so not far from you, I attend the Oxford NOC meetings some times(mainly in the summer). I have to say that the 961 in my opinion looks very much like my 1975 850 Roadster in profile. In fact I have had a few people comment on the way I've restored it not realising it is a new bike! It doesn't feel anything like the old Commando to ride, it's more like a Ducati Monster and sounds like it too. I don't really go in for touring so the most I've done in a day is 500 miles, I've also done a couple of track days at Silverstone and it's quick enough to keep up with most in the intermediate group anyway. I wouldn't be able to do that on my old Commando, I don't go much over 80mph on that as it's got around 40,000 miles on the clock but only 4,000 since an engine and gearbox rebuild.

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Well, we're just around the corner from each other! Fancy meeting up at some point for a coffee and some bike talk? I'd love to have a good close look around a nicely used 961.

It'll be a good few weeks before my Commando is back in service, but then again, I could drag the old Vincent out for a canter!

My 961 Sport will be 2 years old end of July, I've done 3,200 miles so far and loved almost every single one of them.
The regulator was replaced at the 1st year service as was the chain guard (snapped rear mount). Still on the original tyres but they are just about done! Mine uses a little oil but nothing drastic enough to take issue over. I love it

^^ where are you located ?? i am going to assume that most new nor tons ar sunday or weekend only bikes, judging from the mileage eon them. I understand the norton uses the same oil filter as a triumph. in case anybody didn’t already know that. judging from the mileage quoted on the above posts. i figure that most are weekend or sunday only bikes... ??

I'm in north Wales and yes it's an evening/weekend play thing as all my bikes have been. I had a Honda Blackbird and a Ducati 1098 in my garage when my Norton finally arrived, but within a year I'd sold them as the Norton was so much more fun to ride. I needed a 2 seater bike tho to take the g/f out so replaced the above 2 with a Ducati Multistrada 1200.
I think of mine as a new Norton and don't give a second thought to whatever someone else calls it. All I know is without Kenny Dreer and Stuart Garner my motorcycle life would be a lot poorer.

Mileage since December 2013

DAY 2 RETURN - HOME by ONE-07, on Flickr

Dear Mr Pot and Mr Kettle
Thank you for your exchange, I haven't had such a good laugh for a long time
yours etc etc
wakeup

wakeup said:

Dear Mr Pot and Mr Kettle
Thank you for your exchange, I haven't had such a good laugh for a long time
yours etc etc
wakeup

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Glad you liked it.
A proper Gentlemanly exchange I say.

The Oberdan Beezi Norton !! now thats more like it.So someone show this to Garner please,I think Garner has done a great job, but Kenny Dreer did a fantasic job also,but if people doo the retro stuff please follow the retro look as closely as possible,If you have not seen the original Kenny Dreer original Norton Commando re-build,wow!! what a beauty,not the same bike that is close to the Garner bike,He should have carried on building these,and not re-designed the whole lot especially the engine,(and why did they both use the pushrod design?)
The new Dommiracer, nice ,but misses the point.Triumph were close but even they have one or two features that misses the point as well.
If a manufacturer is going to trade on the retro look,then follow the lines as close as possible.For me if I was after a new bike I would buy a Norvil Commando.now that is a perfect job,the design is as original but using much more modern build/parts,with all the bugs taken out.and all hand built.

ha - now thats funny!

Al-otment said:

No mileage reports but did take a 961 out for a ride at the weekend. Much has been said about the bike but the thing that amazed me was that the riding position ergonomics are near perfect. I've suffered from a bad back for years which has limited movement, but after a short ride on the bike my back has improved to the extent where I can now get my head completely up my own arse -just like many 961 owners! See the NOC 961 forum for confirmation.

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