Something wrong on the new 961...

hee hee

As a green-behind-the-ears kid, working on my very first "real" bike, a Kawasaki 90 Bushmaster, at age 14, I mounted a downswept street bike muffler setup to it, and bolted the mounting strap to the swingarm. I wondered why EVERY TIME I went for a ride, the muffler came loose? I tightened and re-tightened that darned nut a hundred times...

I swapped it back with no further issues.
 
I must admit it is quite funny to see how worked up people get! (do you really think we would turn a bike out with no side stand and 5mm front wheel travel - lol).

Must remember the cafe racer was essentially a high level styling bike and the first one we had made so isnt entirely representative in every way.

The mudguard was the only one we had at the time, so it was that or nothing, the one in the last pic (from the bike show) is the real one, I can assure you no photoshop was involved!

To answer other 'comments':

The fuel cap is not a water trap, in '3D' its clear to see any water would run off the side, plus it has a rubber seal around it anyway.

The exhaust is attached at the head.

Timing cover is not photoshopped, none of the bike is.

There is no sidestand on that bike.

There will be no engine guard but may do a mudguard extension.

Not sure what you mean by exposed promary sprocket spindle and a roller on the gear change spindle?

Anything else? LOL!

Simon
 
Come on guy's, I have seen it in person and can say it is a very well put together bike. I'm sure it is not as easy to get this bike to market as some may think it is, And things like this are not that important as building a great bike. Give the guys some time to get it into production and not just sit behind a computer and play with photoshop. Sorry but it just seems like some of you guys are ganging up on a non issue, Go ahead and blast me now. :roll:
 
Well I actually like it HN, not having a dig at it at all.
I do want to know what sort of stand it comes with - how this might affect the piping and where the catcon lived and how this also might affect the layout.
 
Hortons Norton said:
Come on guy's, I have seen it in person and can say it is a very well put together bike. I'm sure it is not as easy to get this bike to market as some may think it is, And things like this are not that important as building a great bike. Give the guys some time to get it into production and not just sit behind a computer and play with photoshop. Sorry but it just seems like some of you guys are ganging up on a non issue, Go ahead and blast me now. :roll:
Click to expand...
Who's ganging up? My photoshop efforts were in defense of the bike. My take on the issue was when you're faced with deadlines as in big international bike shows, corners are cut and mock ups are used. I accept that and to me that takes nothing away from the real bike. I've openly supported it in other threads as well.

As for Jean's original post it was interesting enough in that it pointed out this design paradox. It's good Simon came on board with the real explanation. Now we all know. (..and I'm wrong again, it wasn't a photoshop blunder) :cry:
 
What is better, let the pictures with an obvious mechanical design fault out and also leave them on the web site for everyone to see OR correct the design in photoshop so people will NOT think that a simple flaw like that could mean an even bigger one somewhere else :?:

Sure Simon, you can laugh it off, bt reputations are made or broken on simple things like that. Personaly I would like Norton to succeed and sell many bikes, but it won't if the response to a problem is a snicker. I would have expected a more serious answer, and some ACTION to correct it. Rotten eggs don't smell like roses however loud the laugh is :!:

Jean
 
Jeandr said:
What is better, let the pictures with an obvious mechanical design fault out and also leave them on the web site for everyone to see OR correct the design in photoshop so people will NOT think that a simple flaw like that could mean an even bigger one somewhere else :?:

Sure Simon, you can laugh it off, bt reputations are made or broken on simple things like that. Personaly I would like Norton to succeed and sell many bikes, but it won't if the response to a problem is a snicker. I would have expected a more serious answer, and some ACTION to correct it. Rotten eggs don't smell like roses however loud the laugh is :!:

Jean
Click to expand...

The only people who are criticizing the bike are one who want it to fail or are jealous they can't have one. It was a mockup, pure and simple. Those show cars that everyone drools over? Just as fake. No one is not going to buy one of those bikes because of some old picture.

:roll:
 
Franky Dave,

I know all that air under the rear fender is stylish these days but it does not do it for me. I'd have to get used to the engine shape on the top also, nothing one can do about that at this late date. It's sort of like being slightly disappointed with the new Bonnie for some of us, I think I got my taste in bike looks back when I had hair.
 
To me, what they are building and marketing is a 21st century inspiration of possibly one one the best production machines the world has ever seen... 40 something years ago.
I'll never be in the market for a 961, but I have to give credit, a ton of it, to those who have put their money, and much more, into this, from Dreer to these UK cats. If I was 25 years younger, and 100% richer, it would be worth considering.
Cheers,
Don
 
I am not laughing it off Jean but everyone else seems to be taking it for what it is, if someone didn't buy this bike because of this I am sure they wouldn't buy it anyway, it doesn't reflect where we as a company in terms of engineering and most people will accept it was a mock up, and we will change the website, I contacted Stuart (Garner) last night and said we should change it, so I do listen, not just laugh it off!

Yes there are cats, just before the silencers, these may have to move slightly to pass Euro 3 and CARB emissions but are fine for the initital UK bikes.

Just for your info too the amount of fresh air between the rear tyre and bodywork is there for a reason, we have to package tyres within an envelope that takes into account them at full fling (ETRTO tyre envelope) and 140mm rear suspension movement (which is needed to give a good handling road bike) so you naturally end up with a big gap, personally I like it but like everything its not to everyones taste!

Cheers

Simon
 
skinthespin said:
I am not laughing it off Jean but everyone else seems to be taking it for what it is, if someone didn't buy this bike because of this I am sure they wouldn't buy it anyway, it doesn't reflect where we as a company in terms of engineering and most people will accept it was a mock up, and we will change the website, I contacted Stuart (Garner) last night and said we should change it, so I do listen, not just laugh it off!
Click to expand...

Good, you have to remember we are talking amongst "family" and I know it wasn't a deliberate mistake, but the neighbors (other bike makers or fans) don't see it that way and use every "mistake" to put down a competitor.

I wish you great success in 2010

Jean
 
Jean,
they would be better off displaying the unit w/o a front fender.
Kinda a work in progress shoot.
What they failed to realize is there are a few Norton enthusiasts who given the time,tooling and $
probably can in this day and age build a better bike than that which left the factory.
Some of you guys have some amazing machining talent.
I'd like to build a cafe bike for me someday. I going to use 2 parts Jean, 1 part Dave 3 parts Jim for the ultimate Norton.
Kinda wish I could make some of the mods shown here by the various riders, no talent in this barn :cry:
Marshal
 
Don,
I'm w/ you spot on. I appreciate their enthusiasm to resurrect the Norton.
My next machine is probably going to be a 70's R90S, or R1000S, just cause I want one.
$4500-6000 range is easier on my wallet than $15-20- grand.
This Norton will be like the Ford GT it is going to appeal to a limited number and wealthy people.
I ride vintage cause vintage is vintage and can't be duplicated ot faked.
That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
Marshal
 
I saw a couple of Ford GTs recently at the Texas Mile land speed meet; awesome cars, but WAY overpriced. I wish I had a bottomless bank account...
 
I can't help thinking something like this will be what I ride as I get down to the years when LJK Setright bought his Honda six.
I used to collect XK Jags and TR3s like I do the bikes now. After many breakdowns I decided to buy a modern car that I thought would become a classic and bought a BMW M Roadster.It has been a very good choice.
You do pay more up front but make up for it in relibility.
I'll probably need to sell my current bikes when I retire to New Zealand and a single modern classic bike is one of my considerations. I'd rather it would be a Norton so I wish them well as I'm sure all of you guys do too.
 
MarshalNorton said:
I ride vintage cause vintage is vintage and can't be duplicated or faked.
That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
Marshal
Click to expand...

I'm on the same wavelength of thinking. Unfortunately these days the term reissue gets thrown about more than it should. Like anything reissued, reproduced or labelled as a tribute, the original will always rise above.
 
Coco said:
MarshalNorton said:
I ride vintage cause vintage is vintage and can't be duplicated or faked.
That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
Marshal
Click to expand...

I'm on the same wavelength of thinking. Unfortunately these days the term reissue gets thrown about more than it should. Like anything reissued, reproduced or labelled as a tribute, the original will always rise above.
Click to expand...

Yes, but at some point the original will be more expensive that the "re-imagination". Plus some folks are getting to old to kick the supply of MkIIIs are not getting any greater.
 
When I look at it realistically that too old to kick stuff is a few years down the road but coming up fast.
The other thing might be if you are in condition to do a lot of maintenence or not. A couple years back I could not bend over well to do that stuff and it made me think a bit.
I'm hoping the new Norton will need about the same work as my Hondas do, or for that matter like most modern bikes demand.
 

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