Speedo not working and ABS light on

Now you’ve gone and mentioned carbs....

Look at the pics below of an early 961 (actually a 952) by Kenny Dreer, he set them up with 39mm FCR Keihin flat slides.

And I just happen to have purchased a set from him a little while ago.

I’ve got a pair of 35mm FCRs on my ‘old’ Commando and they’re fanbloodytastic!

I think it best to wait until it’s out of warranty before playing around with them on the new ‘un though eh?!



Speedo not working and ABS light on
Speedo not working and ABS light on
 
But can you seriously call it a modern motorcycle? A modern motorcycle is a high volume smooth multi cylinder water cooled device which has been tested and refined extensively. The testing, water cooling, alloy wheels, multi cylinder, high volume mass production is all in the interest of economy and reliability, ie like wot killed off Brit bikes. It's like an old Brit bike with a few issues ironed out like handling and braking.
.

The old ones don't seem to give the amount of grief that I see many of the 961 owners going through.
Over the last 14years my wife and I have covered 55,000 miles in four countries touring on a 47 Vincent. Up to this point we have done bugger all for repairs, just a couple of speedo cables. Just recently I decoked the heads , lapped valves and replaced one loose valve guide.
Everything looks good in there ready for another 50k.

Other than that just consumables, brake shoes, tires, spark plugs and oil.
And this was just the 38th bike of their brand new and highly modified line, the Series B.
I've also done about 15,000 miles on the 850 Commando with just one on road issue, a poor bullet electrical connection.
So like Nigel with his 850 Commando, I'm not having much difficulty keeping the old bikes going.
To be honest, if they were plagued by trouble it wouldn't be worth the effort just to say " I'm riding an old Brit bike" .

Glen
 
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Speedo not working and ABS light on
Speedo not working and ABS light on
Speedo not working and ABS light on



I’ve got a pair of 35mm FCRs on my ‘old’ Commando. Says FastEddie ,& here’s some more on an 880 I came accross
 
I couldn’t give u more than 1 like for that one Nigel , I wonder if there available for a 961 meet ,we could boost attendance
 
Clive...Only three niggles? (scoff, cough cough) Nigel...seeing you don't seem to put up with much bullshyte and were quick to sell your R9T, I'm willing to start taking bets on when you ditch your Norton. But you are correct. I passed on the BMW because it was a dull as dishwater bike. Nothing sexy about it and cheap ass components and tin covers for everything. Too sterile. I keep attracting carbs like the 4 barrels posted above, I'm willing to blow off a few more seasons with my Norton. I've had one good summer and 4 good winters.
 
The old ones don't seem to give the amount of grief that I see many of the 961 owners going through.
Over the last 14years my wife and I have covered 55,000 miles in four countries touring on a 47 Vincent.

Glen

How fantastic that you are using the Vincent rather than it sadly languishing on a display pedestal. If you were to attach all the electronic gubbery my 961 has strapped onto it to conform to modern emission regulations then I suspect you would be experiencing the same reliability issues. A catastrophic failure for you is generally going to be something obvious whereas for me a £10 relay buried under the tank can shut it down and can only be diagnosed by a dealer with a laptop.
 
A lot of truth in that Clive. Hence my FCR purchase, it’s a simple motor underneath all of that modern rubbish, so rip it all off, stick on a decent ign and good carbs and jobs a good ‘un... in theory...!

Of course, we can’t blame relays for cracked exhaust pipes or hard mechanical issues though...
 
Hmmm... talking of ‘dull as dishwater’ super reliable BMWs... I just read this in today’s MCN:


Speedo not working and ABS light on
 
How fantastic that you are using the Vincent rather than it sadly languishing on a display pedestal. If you were to attach all the electronic gubbery my 961 has strapped onto it to conform to modern emission regulations then I suspect you would be experiencing the same reliability issues. A catastrophic failure for you is generally going to be something obvious whereas for me a £10 relay buried under the tank can shut it down and can only be diagnosed by a dealer with a laptop.

That makes sense Clive , there definitely are less go/no go electrical items on the Vincent or 850 than on your 961.
The only thing is, other new machines have the same sort of electronics as the 961, or like the Thruxton R even more electronic junk ( traction control, ride by wire , ride modes etc) and yet somehow they seem to be quite reliable. The manufacturers tell us that all of this electronic hardware actually adds reliability.
For me the jury is still out on that one, 17,000 kms on the Thruxton to date, 1 issue (wire harness too short when fairing added)

Glen
 
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That makes sense Clive , there definitely are less go/no go electrical items on the Vincent or 850 than on your 961.
The only thing is, other new machines have the same sort of electronics as the 961, or like the Thruxton R even more electronic junk ( traction control, ride by wire , ride modes etc) and yet somehow they seem to be quite reliable. The manufacturers tell us that all of this electronic hardware actually adds reliability.
For me the jury is still out on that one, 17,000 kms on the Thruxton to date, 1 issue (wire harness too short when fairing added)

Glen

One whole issue, PAH!

Bin it...!
 
For me the jury is still out on that one, 17,000 kms on the Thruxton to date, 1 issue (wire harness too short when fairing added)

Glen

A good reply with Triumph as an example - you have to respect what they have achieved. I would be interested to compare their product testing with Norton particularly on the 961 but I think I know the answer...
 
Chaps,

I may have fired prematurely...

I’m now wondering if the second ‘unusual engine noise’ that I reported is simply the hydraulic tappets?

Do they sometimes rattle until they’ve ‘primed’?

I only heard the noise last time I went for a very short ride to test the speedo, it was cut even shorter because I heard the noise... and so returned to the shed!

Bad weather prevents a proper road test currently to get it properly up to temp etc.

So, maybe my noise issue is a non issue?

Is there a name for mechanical hypochondriasis ??
 
I may have fired prematurely...
I’m now wondering if the second ‘unusual engine noise’ that I reported is simply the hydraulic tappets?
Do they sometimes rattle until they’ve ‘primed’?

Yes, your valve gear will emit rattling sounds until the hydraulic lifters expanded as full pressure is built up. This shouldn't take long - 3- 5 sec would be normal. If the rattling sound remains for much longer than that, I would say one of the lifters is leaking, or there is a blockage in the oil supply line or bore.

-Knut
 
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