grandpaul
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New Norton Commando 961 SP and CR The Norton Commando is loved the world over by people from all walks of life (people like Keanu Reeves, for example). It’s one of the most iconic British motorcycles ever produced—but the Norton name has taken a beating over the last decade.
Smothering the blazing dumpster fire left by Stuart Garner is Norton’s new owner, TVS Motor Company. Their plan to revive the brand includes a £100-million investment, and a new, state-of-the-art production facility at Solihull, England.
Yes, even though TVS is the third-largest motorcycle producer in India, Norton’s production is staying in Ol’ Blighty. And they’ve just thrown the wraps off their first new bike—the redesigned Norton Commando 961 SP and CR.
Under TVS management, Norton is turning over a new leaf concerning its build quality. The previous generation Commando was plagued with problems that TVS has addressed head-on by re-engineering more than a third of the bike, including its frame, gearbox and cam-train. We can only go by the photos provided, but the fit and finish seem to have been stepped up.
The Commando 961 SP and CR are essentially the same bike, but with two different riding positions. The SP continues the traditional Commando setup with a more upright handlebar system, while the CR features clip-on handlebars. There is a full suite of adjustable Öhlins suspension, while the braking system is courtesy of Brembo.
The new bikes are available in two color options—Matrix Black and Manx Platinum, which are both traditional Norton colors. The air- and oil-cooled 961 cc parallel twin produces 76.8 hp at 7,250 rpm and 81 Nm of torque at 6,300 rpm. That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s classic Commando, even if the re-phased crank now fires at 270 degrees instead of the traditional Norton 360.
The top-shelf components, the company’s ‘prestige’ and the hand-built construction does mean that the price is high. At £16,499 [about $18,432] for the SP, and £16,999 [about $18,990] for the CR, the new Commando doesn’t seem to have a good bang-to-buck ratio—on paper, at least.
But this bike is not built for spec sheet scientists. It’s built for those who want the feel of a classic Commando, but without the headaches often associated with vintage motorcycles.
https://www.bikeexif.com/motorcycle-news-october-16-2022
Smothering the blazing dumpster fire left by Stuart Garner is Norton’s new owner, TVS Motor Company. Their plan to revive the brand includes a £100-million investment, and a new, state-of-the-art production facility at Solihull, England.
Yes, even though TVS is the third-largest motorcycle producer in India, Norton’s production is staying in Ol’ Blighty. And they’ve just thrown the wraps off their first new bike—the redesigned Norton Commando 961 SP and CR.
Under TVS management, Norton is turning over a new leaf concerning its build quality. The previous generation Commando was plagued with problems that TVS has addressed head-on by re-engineering more than a third of the bike, including its frame, gearbox and cam-train. We can only go by the photos provided, but the fit and finish seem to have been stepped up.
The Commando 961 SP and CR are essentially the same bike, but with two different riding positions. The SP continues the traditional Commando setup with a more upright handlebar system, while the CR features clip-on handlebars. There is a full suite of adjustable Öhlins suspension, while the braking system is courtesy of Brembo.
The new bikes are available in two color options—Matrix Black and Manx Platinum, which are both traditional Norton colors. The air- and oil-cooled 961 cc parallel twin produces 76.8 hp at 7,250 rpm and 81 Nm of torque at 6,300 rpm. That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s classic Commando, even if the re-phased crank now fires at 270 degrees instead of the traditional Norton 360.
The top-shelf components, the company’s ‘prestige’ and the hand-built construction does mean that the price is high. At £16,499 [about $18,432] for the SP, and £16,999 [about $18,990] for the CR, the new Commando doesn’t seem to have a good bang-to-buck ratio—on paper, at least.
But this bike is not built for spec sheet scientists. It’s built for those who want the feel of a classic Commando, but without the headaches often associated with vintage motorcycles.
https://www.bikeexif.com/motorcycle-news-october-16-2022
