Solihull is back in business?

BritTwit said:
It's a whole-lot-a fun.
Handling is nimble, and turn-in is quick.
Low bars, 17 inch wheels, and better frame geometry make city riding much more fun.
Engine torque is very nice too.
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I think I said before I didn't buy one because of the conflict of interest with the 961 . They are nice no doubt about it. I am playing around with the Z900RS and with AKRA pipe and retune getting close to 120HP at the rear wheel. That's nothing for a 4 cyl machine , and it was so easy to get with pipe / tune and K&N panel air filter. Good gas mileage too. The Harley XR1200 is making 85HP at the rear wheel by the way. Just had that in to the dyno too. So Norton's at the bottom of the pile HP wise , but surprisingly feels just as fast as the XR . I attribute that to the extra XR weight I suppose. I am pretty sure if Dreer would have made it 1200cc instead of 961cc it would probably be making 85HP as well. With the cylinders as close together as they are , stroking it would get the extra CC's , won't be doing that just thinking out loud. Bore 88mm x stroke 98mm would do it. And now thinking about that , there is probably not enough room for that either !
 
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TonyA said:
I think I said before I didn't buy one because of the conflict of interest with the 961 . They are nice no doubt about it. I am playing around with the Z900RS and with AKRA pipe and retune getting close to 120HP at the rear wheel. That's nothing for a 4 cyl machine , and it was so easy to get with pipe / tune and K&N panel air filter. Good gas mileage too. The Harley XR1200 is making 85HP at the rear wheel by the way. Just had that in to the dyno too. So Norton's at the bottom of the pile HP wise , but surprisingly feels just as fast as the XR . I attribute that to the extra XR weight I suppose. I am pretty sure if Dreer would have made it 1200cc instead of 961cc it would probably be making 85HP as well. With the cylinders as close together as they are , stroking it would get the extra CC's , won't be doing that just thinking out loud. Bore 88mm x stroke 98mm would do it. And now thinking about that , there is probably not enough room for that either !
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Actually the Z900 was on my short list too. I had a Z1 903 back in the day, and at the bike show a few years ago I checked out the new Z900.
Kawasaki did a really good job on the styling, and the power was better than the Speed Twin too. I decided on the SpdTwn because it's a twin, and I just preferred the aesthetics.

Dreer's original intent was to rollout the 961 with 80 ponies, then develop performance parts for it like pipes, cams, 6 spd gearbox, big valves. Of course his 961 had FCR carbs not EFI. If you remember Matt Capri, back in 2014 he was developing cams, and lightweight lifters, a big valve kit, 1005cc big bore kit, and 1100cc kit with replacement billet cylinders. Matt went out of business and nothing materialize.

I think a supercharger is all we need to wake up the 961. :p
 
So, I wonder if they’ll spill the beans on exactly what they’ve re developed on the 961, assuming they do go ahead and re market them?

Quieter primary (that’s a must do surely)? Sort the crank centre web bolt issue? Sort the clutch? Sort the rocker seizing issue? Sort the f*cking breathing and oil in the air box once and for all? Maybe just employ Ollie Theil ??


And what do we all think this 1200 V4 derivative might be?

Will it be the naked version? Will it be called the Combat? Will it be a LOT cheaper than the 1200SV…??

I’m excited about the NEC show for the first time in years !!
 
EstuaryBoy said:
Does the team think: That ALL future Norton's will be built at Solihull?
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No, they will do a Triumph and Solihull be be design and hi spec derivatives only, all the rest made in India including the base shell for the high spec derivatives. The UK costs and market margins will drive them that way or they will never make a profit.
 
kommando said:
No, they will do a Triumph and Solihull be be design and hi spec derivatives only, all the rest made in India including the base shell for the high spec derivatives. The UK costs and market margins will drive them that way or they will never make a profit.
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Sadly, I agree.
 
Fast Eddie said:
So, I wonder if they’ll spill the beans on exactly what they’ve re developed on the 961, assuming they do go ahead and re market them?

Quieter primary (that’s a must do surely)? Sort the crank centre web bolt issue? Sort the clutch? Sort the rocker seizing issue? Sort the f*cking breathing and oil in the air box once and for all? Maybe just employ Ollie Theil ??
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Sort the clutch: Yes
Quieter primary: New cases that drive balancer off the timing side: Hell yeah!
Crank centre web bolt issue: Yes
Sort the rocker seizing issue: Yes
Oil in the air box: Yes

And a supercharger, don't forget the supercharger!
 
kommando said:
No, they will do a Triumph and Solihull be be design and hi spec derivatives only, all the rest made in India including the base shell for the high spec derivatives. The UK costs and market margins will drive them that way or they will never make a profit.
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I hope they don't do what triumph did
I was truly gutted when they moved all production out of the UK
 
BritTwit said:
Sort the clutch: Yes
Quieter primary: New cases that drive balancer off the timing side: Hell yeah!
Crank centre web bolt issue: Yes
Sort the rocker seizing issue: Yes
Oil in the air box: Yes

And a supercharger, don't forget the supercharger!
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You’re worse than me.…
 
Fast Eddie said:
You’re worse than me.…
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Can't see fixin' all those problems, then producing same 80-ish HP.
With 8lbs boost 120-130HP should be within range.
Norton could call it the SuperCommando, or SupraCommando.
Create adverts with some scantily clad babes on the bikes - viola! Norton best seller.
Norton are free to use my idea, royalty free.
 
BritTwit said:
Can't see fixin' all those problems, then producing same 80-ish HP.
With 8lbs boost 120-130HP should be within range.
Norton could call it the SuperCommando, or SupraCommando.
Create adverts with some scantily clad babes on the bikes - viola! Norton best seller.
Norton are free to use my idea, royalty free.
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They could call it the "compressorbat" that'd sell well
 
Plus the gearbox and electrical issues.

As for future production, does it matter, as one manufacturer charged more for their home made models, it soon became apparent that the quality of their models made in the east were of better quality and cost less.

As long as has the reliability of a jap model, and character deserving the Norton name I would not care where it is made.
 
Madnorton said:
Plus the gearbox and electrical issues.

As for future production, does it matter, as one manufacturer charged more for their home made models, it soon became apparent that the quality of their models made in the east were of better quality and cost less.

As long as has the reliability of a jap model, and character deserving the Norton name I would not care where it is made.
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I guess it's a personal thing
I'd consider buying one if it were made in England
But made abroad with Norton on the tank I would not
Similarly I would not buy a triumph for the same reason
It makes me sick to see it adorned with our Union flag
They are great bikes btw but certainly not British
Just my opinion
 

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