Solihull is back in business?

I think the front 961 might have a bit of a leak. The rocker gasket doesn't seem to be in the right place. Easy to change though! :D

Good to see engines being built and potentially positive noises about the 961 coming from the Dr.

Solihull is back in business?
 

Solihull is back in business? - well I think the answer is YES !!​


And very encouraging to see.
 
Fabulous facility. Nice to see lots of 961's lined up. The boss also said his 961 will be serviced there in the future. 220 suppliers but being slimmed down to 30 or so. Once they sort that out, my guess is they will support us with parts in the future otherwise they wouldn't be selling the 961's now. It wouldn't have made sense for them to make them just to use up the parts they had in stock to make 40 bikes. 40 x £14K (guess of a dealer price) = £0.56M = peanuts to the like of TVS. If they didn't intend to support existing 961 owners or the 40 new ones, they could have just sold the parts for spares.
 
Five minute segment on BBC Radio 4 You And Yours about 12.35. Probably catch it on BBC sounds. Bit with the factory and James Hewing.
 
Based on what I've seen there if they did manufacture the 961 again I think would buy one. I did ask via email if they would be, and the answer was not a no.
 
Welshrugby said:
Fabulous facility. Nice to see lots of 961's lined up. The boss also said his 961 will be serviced there in the future. 220 suppliers but being slimmed down to 30 or so. Once they sort that out, my guess is they will support us with parts in the future otherwise they wouldn't be selling the 961's now. It wouldn't have made sense for them to make them just to use up the parts they had in stock to make 40 bikes. 40 x £14K (guess of a dealer price) = £0.56M = peanuts to the like of TVS. If they didn't intend to support existing 961 owners or the 40 new ones, they could have just sold the parts for spares.
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From the various interviews, it looks like a dealer network is some way off, and if there is one, it could be kinda like the HD model, but agree, positive noises about the 961. In one video, they mentioned they had a lot of inventory from the SG era, so maybe they can start supplying parts soon? Lets see, but exciting stuff!
 
cliffa said:
o_O Took me a while to see what you meant. :D

Are they Spondon trolleys I wonder?
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I thought maybe it was new oil lines or something..then on closer inspection, the penny dropped!

No idea on the trolleys, but Spondon were frame manufacturers, so I'd guess not, but who knows. It all looks sparkly and new!
 
Vernon240 said:


Another one...interesting interview with the Dr.
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Nice to see some activity at the factory.
But, good grief, can't Dr Hentschel, from now on "Bobby", smile and make like he actually likes his new job?
He looks like he's being interrogated by the police.
Loosen up, smile, make a few jokes.
Someone at the factory needs to take him out to a club, and get him loaded.:p
 
BritTwit said:
But, good grief, can't Dr Hentschel, from now on "Bobby", smile and make like he actually likes his new job?
He looks like he's being interrogated by the police.
Loosen up, smile, make a few jokes.
Someone at the factory needs to take him out to a club, and get him loaded.:p
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I worked in Germany for a while, in Swabia (historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany) and said something similar to a senior guy once.

His response was priceless:

“But I am Swabish” he said, and pointed at his rather grumpy looking face with both hands and said “this is laughter“ !!
 
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So, the 961 is not yet dead!

There we’re mentions of the the 650s.

And there will be “a derivative” of the V4 launched at the upcoming NEC show.

Good interesting stuff !!
 
Fast Eddie said:
I worked in Germany for a while, in Swabia (historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany) and said something similar to a senior guy once.

His response was priceless:

“But I am Swabish” he said, and pointed at his rather grummpymlooking face with both nads and said “this is laughter“ !!
Click to expand...
Wow, he must have a sizeable pair of nads !!
 
Fast Eddie said:
So, the 961 is not yet dead!
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Yeah, Bobby mentioned that since it takes 2 to 3 and half years to introduce a new bike, Norton will be offing it's existing products - the 961 and V4.
Does he mean just the 40 961's that the factory promised to customers with previously unfulfilled orders, or will they take new orders for the 961?
That was a very interesting interview, but I think it leads to new questions.
After the 40 961's are built, does Norton put the 961 out to pasture?
If not, do they produce the 961 motor, or source it elsewhere? (Jinlang?)
Will the motor be refined/re-engineered like the V4 to correct deficiencies?
Tune in next week for the next installment of the Norton Chronicles.
 
NEC motorcycle live next month so should be able to grill them a bit more. It's a shame MCN, Bennets et al don't press them a bit on this issue. But the fact that they are at least making these 40 961's surely tells us that it will be supported for parts in the future. I reckon a new water cooled 961 replacement commando won't be too far away
 

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