Which would YOU have......?

Lincolnshire Poacher · Aug 3, 2023

VMI said:
And don’t forget to use old fuel and old engine oil has well on the classic

High octane, 5 Star leaded might just help!!!

worntorn · Aug 3, 2023

Going to test some of that in the old bike shortly.
Aviation Low Lead 100 is now our only source of ethanol free fuel.
The high octane is slightly detrimental however. Lower octane fuels hold a bit more energy per volume than high octane fuels .
The lead could help though!

Glen

MAK · Aug 3, 2023

baz said:
A few years ago a 961 rider was leaving the pub the same time as me on my 750
He asked what road I was going on and when I replied he said he'd be using the same road
And quipped he'd be passing me at some stage along it !
This was a red rag to a bull ,needless to say he never did get past me and his headlight gradually disappeared after each bend
I'm the first to admit I was being silly especially as it was pitch black
And my bike is highly modified in the handling department
So not really a fair comparison

You must be so proud!

baz · Aug 3, 2023

MAK said:
You must be so proud!

Yep I am
And stupid to take the bait
But there you go

Gojuu · Aug 3, 2023

worntorn said:
Going to test some of that in the old bike shortly.
Aviation Low Lead 100 is now our only source of ethanol free fuel.
The high octane is slightly detrimental however. Lower octane fuels hold a bit more energy per volume than high octane fuels .
The lead could help though!

Glen

Hopefully you can track down some unsuspecting SV650 riders.

Fast Eddie · Aug 3, 2023

baz said:
Yep I am
And stupid to take the bait
But there you go

It’s called being a red blooded biker Baz !

baz · Aug 3, 2023

Fast Eddie said:
It’s called being a red blooded biker Baz !

Yep
And to be honest
It could have been done to me by a kid on a 125 with enough bottle
I've never known what the 961 rider meant when he said "he'd be passing me at some point along that road"
Whether he meant I'd be broken down? Or too slow I'll never know

worntorn · Aug 3, 2023

baz said:
Yep I am
And stupid to take the bait
But there you go

I did much the same although it was nothing spoken. I was riding with the fellow and was taking him to see some new roads. I was rolling along at speed limit + 10 or so when he decided to blow my old bike so that he could properly ride a slightly twisty section ahead without me impeding him. Of course he disappeared from view, no way I could keep up even if I tried. This is something that the regulars I ride with do not do. If it's agreed , or in this case requested, that someone leads to a place, you dont pass that rider unless there is something wrong. It's just bad form.

Eventually he stopped and waited . I thought " OK, I know where to take this guy!" A bit unfair I suppose but it was great fun.

Glen

baz · Aug 3, 2023

worntorn said:
I did much the same although it was nothing spoken. I was riding with the fellow and was taking him to see some new roads. I was rolling along at speed limit + 10 or so when he decided to blow my old bike so that he could properly ride a slightly twisty section ahead without me impeding him. Of course he disappeared from view, no way I could keep up even if I tried.
Eventually he stopped and waited . I thought " OK, I know where to take this guy!" A bit unfair I suppose but it was great fun.

Glen

when you are on an old bike you are expected to lose
So if you can stay with them that's enough
As you say it should always remain just a bit of fun

961al · Aug 4, 2023

From a post on facebook from my dealer Oakmere Cheshire.... '' Another delivery of beautiful @norton.motorcycles Commando 961 SP’s has just landed with us.
Norton incentives continue throughout the month of August so contact our team to arrange your test ride or place your reservation.''

Voodooo · Aug 9, 2023

If you could only own one motorcycle now and for the rest of your life, what would it be? Can be brand new or antique.

Fast Eddie · Aug 10, 2023

That’s a tough question !

I’m gonna have to bend the rules and interpret it as ‘if you can only have one ROAD motorcycle’. That way I can keep track use out of the equation!

I tend to use one bike in the stable as a main ‘go to’ at a time, not by conscious choice, it’s just what happens. In covid it was my humble T140 for ‘shopping‘. A while before that it was my Commando. This year it’s been the Harley. Etc. So my answer would be biased at any point in time by what was my ‘go to’ at that time. Currently I’d be tempted to say my Harley, but in reality I know that’s not really true.

I‘ve been through 3 adventure bikes in recent years and would have to say that a decent adventure bike is a very strong candidate as a ‘1 bike’ all rounder (for tall riders at least). Especially with the state of our freakin’ roads!

The top two ‘best bikes’ I’ve ever owned are 1. Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak and 2, Ducati Monster 1200S. As a proper all rounder, the Multistrada takes it, kinda obvious really. The main problem with the Multi being that it was just too easy to go too fast on without realising, that’s the reason I sold it. Someone with more self discipline wouldn’t have this trouble I guess.

As this is the 961 forum we should mention the 961… I think the 961 is theoretically close to being a good ‘1 bike’ for someone with a classic bike bias. But the reality for most is that a 961 is only suitable as an ‘additional’ bike in the stable.

When I really think about it hard, for someone with a classic bike bias, who wants modern performance and all round usability, I think a modern Triumph twin is probably what it boils down to for me, a Thruxton (ideally a 1200 TFC), 1200 Scrambler or Speed Twin.

But then again…

baz · Aug 10, 2023

Voodooo said:
If you could only own one motorcycle now and for the rest of your life, what would it be? Can be brand new or antique.

Extremely difficult to answer
I do know a bloke that has only ever owned one motorcycle since 1954
It's a triumph 3t deluxe
He borrowed a bike to take his test then bought this one,he still rides it
I've asked him why he's never owned another bike
He said "well this one will do whatever I need it to do so why change"Thread 'Old triumph old rider' https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/old-triumph-old-rider.33340/

Fast Eddie · Aug 10, 2023

baz said:
Extremely difficult to answer
I do know a bloke that has only ever owned one motorcycle since 1954
It's a triumph 3t deluxe
He borrowed a bike to take his test then bought this one,he still rides it
I've asked him why he's never owned another bike
He said "well this one will do whatever I need it to do so why change"Thread 'Old triumph old rider' https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/old-triumph-old-rider.33340/

Part of me admires blokes like that.

Part of me thinks ‘life’s too short mate‘ !

961al · Aug 10, 2023

I've been lucky enough over the years to own numerous bikes at the same time, on more than one occasion.... many a top sports bike in the past , but they don't interest me now, mainly due to the amount of speed cameras/vans/average speed cameras etc swamping the area i live... never been interested in touring or owning an adventure bike, as they are now called... in my day you didn't need a touring bike- you just strapped everything on the back of a 'normal' bike and off you went... nowadays i stick with the classic/ retro regime... fast enough to enjoy yourself, without getting yourself in lumber... with the bikes i have at the moment, ( including the 961 i have coming) i am probably as close as i have ever been to being ''satisfied''...BUT- i always said that if i was pennyless and living on a park bench, there would be ONE bike at the side of me that would be my last possession.... my purple 750 H2....

peebee · Aug 10, 2023

Ahhhh 'the widow maker' very anti social but really what brave biker wouldn't like to go for a blast on this uncivilised rock hard bastard of a machine if only for a short while, I know I would. Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha could all build sensible bikes but it's just not in Kawasaki's DNA, god bless em for that , the ultimate loony tunes bike. P.S. what a gorgeous looking machine.

Voodooo · Aug 10, 2023

Fast Eddie said:
That’s a tough question !

I’m gonna have to bend the rules and interpret it as ‘if you can only have one ROAD motorcycle’. That way I can keep track use out of the equation!

I tend to use one bike in the stable as a main ‘go to’ at a time, not by conscious choice, it’s just what happens. In covid it was my humble T140 for ‘shopping‘. A while before that it was my Commando. This year it’s been the Harley. Etc. So my answer would be biased at any point in time by what was my ‘go to’ at that time. Currently I’d be tempted to say my Harley, but in reality I know that’s not really true.

I‘ve been through 3 adventure bikes in recent years and would have to say that a decent adventure bike is a very strong candidate as a ‘1 bike’ all rounder (for tall riders at least). Especially with the state of our freakin’ roads!

The top two ‘best bikes’ I’ve ever owned are 1. Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak and 2, Ducati Monster 1200S. As a proper all rounder, the Multistrada takes it, kinda obvious really. The main problem with the Multi being that it was just too easy to go too fast on without realising, that’s the reason I sold it. Someone with more self discipline wouldn’t have this trouble I guess.

As this is the 961 forum we should mention the 961… I think the 961 is theoretically close to being a good ‘1 bike’ for someone with a classic bike bias. But the reality for most is that a 961 is only suitable as an ‘additional’ bike in the stable.

When I really think about it hard, for someone with a classic bike bias, who wants modern performance and all round usability, I think a modern Triumph twin is probably what it boils down to for me, a Thruxton (ideally a 1200 TFC), 1200 Scrambler or Speed Twin.

But then again…

I agree on the subject of road bike. I haven’t ridden a 1200 monster or multi, but I have ridden the new Monster. I liked it, but I preferred the trellis frame look.

I like the Triumph Scrambler XE

Fast Eddie · Aug 10, 2023

Voodooo said:
I agree on the subject of road bike. I haven’t ridden a 1200 monster or multi, but I have ridden the new Monster. I liked it, but I preferred the trellis frame look.

I like the Triumph Scrambler XE

If you like the Scrambler, and as you also like things that are a bit ‘special’… check out the James Bond edition scrambler…

Voodooo · Aug 10, 2023

Fast Eddie said:
If you like the Scrambler, and as you also like things that are a bit ‘special’… check out the James Bond edition scrambler…

I seen that one before. They sold out quickly.
I ended up getting the ducati desert sled as 2023 is the last year for them to be made.

Stephen_Spencer · Aug 11, 2023

961al said:
I've been lucky enough over the years to own numerous bikes at the same time, on more than one occasion.... many a top sports bike in the past , but they don't interest me now, mainly due to the amount of speed cameras/vans/average speed cameras etc swamping the area i live... never been interested in touring or owning an adventure bike, as they are now called... in my day you didn't need a touring bike- you just strapped everything on the back of a 'normal' bike and off you went... nowadays i stick with the classic/ retro regime... fast enough to enjoy yourself, without getting yourself in lumber... with the bikes i have at the moment, ( including the 961 i have coming) i am probably as close as i have ever been to being ''satisfied''...BUT- i always said that if i was pennyless and living on a park bench, there would be ONE bike at the side of me that would be my last possession.... my purple 750 H2....

Without getting yourself in trouble!? Mate, those things were built to get ya in trouble! Great machine - had many a Kwacka in my day and would love one of those in my collection. A keeper for sure.