Norton 961 Alloy Tank

Jon · Apr 9, 2022

Stephen_Spencer said:
C’mon you Norton nuts, I refuse to believe that no one has an opinion on a prospective colour scheme for the new ally tank. Is this because most believe that it should just be left as is, less logo and pinstripe? Does the reverse Breitling idea not work for you? If you think that it’s crap idea please feel free to say “Steve, that’s a really crap idea!”

Appreciate your feedback, noting that a few on the site have purchased this tank from TAB Classics.

Hey Steve, don't want you to think no ones listening! I'd prefer a paint finish but it looks great in the bare alloy - and I don't wanna offend TAB by suggesting I wanna cover up their fabulous work!

However, my choice would be the factory black and gold. Boring, but I luv it.
Yep, I got mine back though I had to delay fitting it due to other stuff using up my time.
However, I'm awaiting advice from Richard about the decals. He says they're coming soon and I've asked for a gold colour set.
In the meantime, feast yer eyes ...

Stephen_Spencer · Apr 9, 2022

Nice Jon, very nice indeed! I love it left naked too - looks very period. I’m waiting for TAB to come back also and will order black and gold sets of decals so I can see both options before painting. The logo will need to be painted on properly at some stage for me though.

The black/gold looks awesome however I won’t be painting the entirety of the tank, which would remove one of the principle reasons for fitting it in the first place being that ally tank look reminiscent of so many vintage Norton cafe racers. Gonna leave it naked for a while until I can decide.

Not sure if there is some reflection going on but that Monza cap looks like it has quite a high profile. Were you offered a screw cap as an alternative?

Thanks Jon.

Steve

TonyA · Apr 9, 2022

Fast Eddie said:
That looks nice, you won’t bore us and we DO want to hear your impressions !

I also had another look in my local BMW dealer recently but they just didn’t quite tempt me.

My Africa twin, great bikes though they are, just wasn’t floatin’ my boat.

Ended up with this instead, 2018 Multistrada 1260 ‘Pikes Peak’ (that’s now 2 Italians in my shed).

Here it is, from naked to fully dressed…

View attachment 86386 View attachment 86387

Holy Crap ! You really don't mess around do you ? Comparing a true modern bike to a Norton 961 is amusing . How long will this one last in the shed FE ? Enjoy while it lasts !

Fast Eddie · Apr 9, 2022

TonyA said:
How long will this one last in the shed FE ? Enjoy while it lasts !

Thats very straightforward Tony… for as long as I’m enjoying it, and not a moment longer… Lifes to short for any other way !

TonyA · Apr 9, 2022

Same here and I agree , My turnover time is slower though !

The good part for you is that you are re-couping a good portion of your investment , the bikes being so new with low miles.

Voodooo · Apr 9, 2022

Stephen_Spencer said:
Nice Jon, very nice indeed! I love it left naked too - looks very period. I’m waiting for TAB to come back also and will order black and gold sets of decals so I can see both options before painting. The logo will need to be painted on properly at some stage for me though.

The black/gold looks awesome however I won’t be painting the entirety of the tank, which would remove one of the principle reasons for fitting it in the first place being that ally tank look reminiscent of so many vintage Norton cafe racers. Gonna leave it naked for a while until I can decide.

Not sure if there is some reflection going on but that Monza cap looks like it has quite a high profile. Were you offered a screw cap as an alternative?

Thanks Jon.

Steve

View attachment 86395

I went with gold stripe and logo on my commando tank. I was considering painting my aluminum tank when I bought it but why? If it’s gonna be black I may of well just kept the plastic tank. But I was considering aluminum center and painted sides.

Fast Eddie · Apr 9, 2022

TonyA said:
Same here and I agree , My turnover time is slower though ! The good part for you is that you are re-couping a good portion of your investment , the bikes being so new with low miles.

I’ve turned over more than I’m happy with relatively recently, but luckily I’ve done quite well and lost very little when trading in.

Actually, the last big hit I took was when I sold the 961. I did what most folk did, convinced myself I couldn’t lose much because the Anniversary bikes had £4k of ‘free extras’. But when it came to sell, the market wasn’t interested in that! Actaully, most dealers just didn’t want it. Period. No negotiation or low ball offers. Just did not want it …

Stephen_Spencer · Apr 9, 2022

Voodooo said:
I went with gold stripe and logo on my commando tank. I was considering painting my aluminum tank when I bought it but why? If it’s gonna be black I may of well just kept the plastic tank. But I was considering aluminum center and painted sides.

Agreed - to paint it completely would be a sin, but it’s a personal preference thing of course. Really like the gold detail on your tank V2D3. Also a little undecided about the Monza or fuel cap. Need to get my shit together as mine is likely in production shortly, if not already.

Voodooo · Apr 9, 2022

Stephen_Spencer said:
Agreed - to paint it completely would be a sin, but it’s a personal preference thing of course. Really like the gold detail on your tank V2D3. Also a little undecided about the Monza or fuel cap. Need to get my shit together as mine is likely in production shortly, if not already.

Why not use a color of choice vinyl decal instead of paint? Just to either see if you like it before painting or keep it, if you change your mind in the future it’s easy to remove.

I prefer the monza caps on mine.

Stephen_Spencer · Apr 10, 2022

Good idea - several local firms will be more than capable of producing the tank inset in black and gold. Personally I think it will look the ‘dogs bollox’ but we shall see.

Thanks for the Monza Cap detail - it does look a lower profile. I’ll contact TAB tomorrow and sound them out.

Difficult making this baby look any sweeter though!!!

Fast Eddie · Apr 10, 2022

Stephen_Spencer said:
Good idea - several local firms will be more than capable of producing the tank inset in black and gold. Personally I think it will look the ‘dogs bollox’ but we shall see.

Thanks for the Monza Cap detail - it does look a lower profile. I’ll contact TAB tomorrow and sound them out.

Difficult making this baby look any sweeter though!!!

View attachment 86453

I agree. It looks stunning!

IMHO your priority 1 is some decent (ie Rizoma / Motogadget) mini turn signals !

I’d urge you to tread carefully in the quest for increased bling.

In your quest for improvements, you may well spoil it…

Stephen_Spencer · Apr 10, 2022

Fast Eddie said:
I agree. It looks stunning!

IMHO your priority 1 is some decent (ie Rizoma / Motogadget) mini turn signals !

I’d urge you to tread carefully in the quest for increased bling.

In your quest for improvements, you may well spoil it…

Get your point FE and I had discounted the Norton ally tank originally for that reason and because it was so bloody expensive. As with most things involving human nature and our wants and needs, when I could no longer get one I wished I’d pulled the trigger

! So when TAB popped up with a great looking tank at a much better price I could not resist.

I also love the Cafe Racer history and the ally tank was pretty iconic in the day. Do a bit of reading into the Cafe Racer scene of today - it is incredibly popular and growing fast. Not my scene but where, when and how it all started, the history element, ads another layer to ownership of this bike for me.

Rizoma indicators next (although ridiculously expensive) and a Rizoma rear brake master cylinder to match clutch/front brake. It’s a keeper, so I don’t mind spending the wonga! We’ve worked hard all of our lives - what for if we can’t enjoy it? Wish the wife was of like mind!

Fast Eddie · Apr 10, 2022

You don’t have to convince me about the appeal of cafe racers!

But to my eye some get it wrong. More so with cafe racers than any other genre ‘less is more’.

The closest they get to looking like they’ve ‘just come off the track’ the better !

Stu Bodycote · Apr 10, 2022

To me, the nearest out the 961 range to being a cafe racer, is the cafe racer....over the Dominators etc. Original cafe racers of the 60s were pretty much just standard bikes with the bars upside down. I always wondered how a Commando would look with some Ace Bars fitted.

The Tab tank has had a lot of thought gone into it, and has addressed the concerns that came with the Norton aluminium tank.

TonyA · Apr 10, 2022

Fast Eddie said:
I’ve turned over more than I’m happy with relatively recently, but luckily I’ve done quite well and lost very little when trading in.

Actually, the last big hit I took was when I sold the 961. I did what most folk did, convinced myself I couldn’t lose much because the Anniversary bikes had £4k of ‘free extras’. But when it came to sell, the market wasn’t interested in that! Actaully, most dealers just didn’t want it. Period. No negotiation or low ball offers. Just did not want it …

OH Man ! This deserves a thread of its own. That's gotta be painful . Look at it this way , at least you are out from under the 961. What happens now with these 961's is anyone's guess ?

BritTwit · Apr 10, 2022

Voodooo said:
Why not use a color of choice vinyl decal instead of paint?

I was thinking the same thing.
If I got the alloy tank, I would leave it polished and find two Norton vinyl transfers for the sides of the tank.
This way, if in the future I want to do a complete re-polish of the tank I don't have to worry about scratching decals or paint. Just peel of the transfers, polish the entire tank, and then install new transfers.

Stephen_Spencer · Apr 10, 2022

Fast Eddie said:
You don’t have to convince me about the appeal of cafe racers!

But to my eye some get it wrong. More so with cafe racers than any other genre ‘less is more’.

The closest they get to looking like they’ve ‘just come off the track’ the better !

GP racer from the year of my birth, with a couple of likely lads trying to emulate their GP heroes. Less is more was definitely the order of the day

Difficult to know what year this image was taken. The eagle eyed may spot something?

Fast Eddie · Apr 10, 2022

You simply cannot beat the functional simplistic beauty of a good Manx Norton.

As to the second shot, modern headlamp brackets and bars, Bob Newby belt drive, a modern lock around the down tubes, modern ish leathers, Davida helmet, all means prob taken this century.

Jon · Apr 12, 2022

Stephen_Spencer said:
Nice Jon, very nice indeed! I love it left naked too - looks very period. I’m waiting for TAB to come back also and will order black and gold sets of decals so I can see both options before painting. The logo will need to be painted on properly at some stage for me though.

The black/gold looks awesome however I won’t be painting the entirety of the tank, which would remove one of the principle reasons for fitting it in the first place being that ally tank look reminiscent of so many vintage Norton cafe racers. Gonna leave it naked for a while until I can decide.

Not sure if there is some reflection going on but that Monza cap looks like it has quite a high profile. Were you offered a screw cap as an alternative?

Thanks Jon.

Steve

View attachment 86395

Thanks Steve. I agree with BriTwit ref the decals. I asked Richard at TAB about looking after the alloy - I've never had one before. He advised Autosol Aluminium paste and it got me thinking that polishing would likely lift paint away but a vinyl decal may degrade more slowly?
Its already clear to me that the alloy shows up every 'touch' so maintaining that brand new look just ain't on the cards! And I won't be lacquering it - err, forget I even mentioned that!

And, the Monza cap is big fella and the reflection isn't helping to minimise it!
Obviously TAB weld a cap ring onto the tank and the Monza screws onto that - and is held in place using epoxy as a threadlock.
Richard said it has a breather built in so the rubber vent tube is redundant.
I see TAB offer a flush fitting Aero cap on the website - like the standard 961 cap - and may be an option?
My preference would always be the good ol' fat thread screw-in, of the low profile 'pop-up' variety. However, that doesn't appear to be on the menu.
Now the next question, to fit or not to fit a Tank Protector (against buckle rash) and if so... what colour? ..!

Stephen_Spencer · Apr 14, 2022

Hey Jon, yeh the stick on decal approach to start with (and to confirm paint scheme) is definitely a good one. I will be having it painted eventually though for that professionally finished appearance. Will just have to be careful when cleaning/polishing at the junction between paint and polished surface. May just take another beer or so - damn it!

Not interested in the TAB Aero cap - not period enough on the ally tank. Have’nt got around to it yet but I will provide TAB with the part number of the lower profile Monza Cap we got from V2D3, and images of the screw cap from the Norton original and we’ll see how they respond. I’m guessing if they have used epoxy to secure the cap on yours it ain’t going anywhere? Should you want to change in down the track that is.

Not sure about tank protection yet, probably a section of clearguard until I work out if anything is needed. Don’t want to ‘over-bling’ but what about a metal tank strap?

Talking bling, take a look at the goodies available to our vintage riding cousins.

Norton alloy fuel tanks, Norton alloy oil tanks, Norton alloy seat units

Manufacturers of high quality hand made Norton alloy fuel tanks, oil tanks, and seat units. We make a comprehensive range of parts to build a Norton cafe racer motorcycle.

www.nortonraceparts.com

Norton 961 Alloy Tank

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