Fast Eddie
VIP MEMBER
The frame is machined frame solid billet Tony... yeah, you read that right !
The engine is a Honda 1200cc V4 complete with shaft drive.
The engine is a Honda 1200cc V4 complete with shaft drive.
I got this confirmation from Norton yesterday.
Quote: "We are going to be producing another 40 961 Motorcycles towards the end of the year beginning of next and then we shall not be producing the 961 any longer, However you will still be able to purchase parts for your motorcycle should you require them"
The 'can purchase' is good but its the how much and for how long and the who do we go to after that that I'm interested in. Are they going to build up a stock of spares or just run down current stock? Sounds like they worked out how many bikes they can build from current spares stock............Now that's encouraging .
Ken
Yup, suspect that is exactly what is going on. Why else build what appears to be a smallish arbitrary number? Unless this is fulfilling existing orders? Deposits taken by your friend and mine. There is money to be made from spares and accessories so maybe we will be ok into the future.The 'can purchase' is good but its the how much and for how long and the who do we go to after that that I'm interested in. Are they going to build up a stock of spares or just run down current stock? Sounds like they worked out how many bikes they can build from current spares stock............
Depends if they bother to listen to current owners about the known faults...........Could these last 961's be the "best ever produced to date" ? It may be possible with TVS in charge with better QA . What you all think about that ?
Someone earlier said 10 years . In this country 10 years of support seems correct.Yup, suspect that is exactly what is going on. Why else build what appears to be a smallish arbitrary number? Unless this is fulfilling existing orders? Deposits taken by your friend and mine. There is money to be made from spares and accessories so maybe we will be ok into the future.
Not that it matters, because I am pretty certain that my bike will never break down again! Wait, except for the spares I’m waiting for now!
Did we ever ascertain how many 961s were produced? 1.5 a week I think was mentioned, say 800 or so over the years? I know CCM managed up to 5 a week, engine bought in though so maybe too ambitious? Would be nice to pin down.12 month gap even with same workers says they will have more faults not less, memory fades especially with multiple tasks to perform. Hopefully and the sensors etc will be 100% genuine and not just blindly take off the shelf but design upgrades will be nil. CAT 5 comes in Jan 2021, CAT 4 bikes already in production get a dispensation until Dec 2021 so another reason for the death of the 961.
I think this was also a major reason for retaining as many of the original staff as possible.Depends if they bother to listen to current owners about the known faults...........
Hello FE , That seems to make sense especially if you consider what was said. " We will build 40 more 961's before the end of the year or early next ." Unless they have been working fast and hard this last 4 months finding solutions. What Problems ? We have not heard of any problems .Guys, sorry to disappoint y’all but there ain’t no way TVS is gonna re engineer anything meaningful for 40 bikes. They’ll be using parts they have, have access to and have type approval for etc... relays and all !!
They will still be worth having in my opinion. After 10 months of riding mine, no problems and some great rides. No. plate falling off being the only fault but I put that down to reliance on double sided tape and no screws, now resolved. Oh and possibly that being caused by being airborne a couple of times on the road to Chop Gate . My dilemma now is whether to leave it as is or carry out some easier breathing and weight reduction mods.Guys, sorry to disappoint y’all but there ain’t no way TVS is gonna re engineer anything meaningful for 40 bikes. They’ll be using parts they have, have access to and have type approval for etc... relays and all !!
My dilemma now is whether to leave it as is or carry out some easier breathing and weight reduction mods.