2014 961 - First (and Occasional Ongoing) Open Road Impressions

Finally had my 961 beyond the end of our street today, only 20km or so but a nice little taster. Bosch coils, cNw plug leads, platinum plugs, cNw breather kit all fitted.
I am just a couple of days back from 4000km of tripping about on a Yamaha Tenere so the riding position feels positively sporty in comparison. Glad i didn't get a cafe racer, that would have been step (or is that stoop) too far.
The bike has the factory shorty mufflers and was remapped for those by the then NZ dealer, for the previous owner. Seems to be very rich though, often get a pop out of the exhaust on over-run.
80 kph in top gear is 3000rpm, same as my 850 Commando conveniently. The engine seems to get confused running in top gear at that speed (which is the limit on some local roads), run it up to 100kph and it seems to clear its throat and feel more free. To do with the richness again presumably, wont be using top gear at 80 kph for the moment.
Idle is 1700 - 2000 range, nothing unusual it seems but does sound rather fast for an idle speed.
Left hand switch gear, indicator below the horn. What's that about, every other modernish switchgear i have used (not that many i admit) has the indicator switch above the horn button.
I'm 6" 2", the previous owner wasn't. Have adjusted the brake pedal but need to have a play with the gear lever position as yet - i see the other current thread on this.
The text on the speedo/tacho dial is quite small for a gentleman of a certain age.
Acceleration isn't quite what i had expected, although i am being cautious at the moment. The front brake has more potential than the rider has skill hence some restraint.
The ride is very nice, lovely feel in the corners.
Shorty's certainly have a nice sound to them but will need earplugs for any decent ride.
The plan is to ride to Wanganui to watch the Boxing Day Cemetery Circuit races - around 4 hours plus a breakfast stop, and return the next day. Here's hoping. : )

Here's to Good Luck with your bike .

Lovely write up except for the idle. Should be 12-1400. Best of luck. The ride on those Ohlins is superb. And if you get the chance....sweet spot is 4800 @ about 125kph

Yeah. Shift lever height can be a problem. Working on that.

550 miles over the last 3 days,
Riding position - was expecting it to be too low/cramped but surprised to say i like. Bars are a nice width, still struggling with the indicator button location and the seat will get more padding.
Gear lever position sorted - see separate thread.
Shorty mufflers - love/hate. The sound is awesome but can't ride any distance without well fitting earplugs. I prefer the shorty look so will give it while.
Suspension - set up needs work. Rode some rough roads, but even main roads were at times bone jarring!!
General impression - i may have a new favourite bike.

Funny you should mention the horn button. My 961 is my only bike with indicators and I’ve pressed the horn button instead of the indicators more than once! Thought it was just me...

I’ve pressed the horn button instead of the indicators more than once! Thought it was just me...[/QUOTE]



& me

Good to know i am in good company with the switch challenges.
Can't help dribbling on so a few more thoughts
- following the clutch judder thread with interest, only happens sometimes, in my case cush rubbers are new.
- gear changes, 2nd to 3rd sometimes takes two lifts of the lever.
- oil in airbox - 250mls in 500 miles, and still dripping slowly.
- speedo bezels - large and shiny, dazzling to the point that i couldn't read the dials at times in the sun today. A nice problem.
- the sensor in the front of the crankcases seems horribly exposed, especially with the short front guard. It was caked in muck today after riding through the leftovers of an overnight storm.
- idle speed definitely needs work, up to 2500 when hot. A blip of the throttle and it drops to 1500 then quietly rises, repeat etc.

ntst8 said:

Good to know i am in good company with the switch challenges.
Can't help dribbling on so a few more thoughts
- following the clutch judder thread with interest, only happens sometimes, in my case cush rubbers are new.
- gear changes, 2nd to 3rd sometimes takes two lifts of the lever.
- oil in airbox - 250mls in 500 miles, and still dripping slowly.
- speedo bezels - large and shiny, dazzling to the point that i couldn't read the dials at times in the sun today. A nice problem.
- the sensor in the front of the crankcases seems horribly exposed, especially with the short front guard. It was caked in muck today after riding through the leftovers of an overnight storm.
- idle speed definitely needs work, up to 2500 when hot. A blip of the throttle and it drops to 1500 then quietly rises, repeat etc.

Click to expand...

Careful with that upshift from 2 to 3. In my case, the tranny was practically empty without my knowing it. Dealership said they changed the fluid. Yea....engine only. Also, the clutch basket nut backed out. All in all, did a little damage to third gear and it's now a little notchy. Glad I caught it before more damage was done.

Check the flange bolts on your Idle Air Motor. My idle was shooting up like that too and I found the faces of the flanges were ever so slightly misaligned. I mean REALLY slightly. Realigned, tightened the bolts, problem solved. That actually happened twice in 4 years, so I have confidence that it was the source of my problem, not a stroke of luck.

Fast Eddie said:

Funny you should mention the horn button. My 961 is my only bike with indicators and I’ve pressed the horn button instead of the indicators more than once! Thought it was just me...

Click to expand...

Yep done that plenty of times.

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF said:

I’ve pressed the horn button instead of the indicators more than once! Thought it was just me...

Click to expand...

& me[/QUOTE]

Due to the position of the indicator and horn buttons I suspect this is common.
When I do press the horn button by mistake a also wave to indicate that I meant to press the horn to acknowledge an acquaintance that I am passing by.
With a smoked face shield on, none of the motorists know who I'm waving to, so it's all good.
My dignity is preserved, even if I feel like a idiot inside my helmet.

BritTwit said:

& me

Click to expand...

Due to the position of the indicator and horn buttons I suspect this is common.
When I do press the horn button by mistake a also wave to indicate that I meant to press the horn to acknowledge an acquaintance that I am passing by.
With a smoked face shield on, none of the motorists know who I'm waving to, so it's all good.
My dignity is preserved, even if I feel like a idiot inside my helmet.[/QUOTE]

I’ll try and remember that trick next time!

The indicator switch is the same way on my Aprilia. I suspect that our switch gear is from Aprilia. I noticed that the turn signals are the same as Aprilia. Also Norton used the Aprilia RSV4 motor as a prototype to which they designed the frame for their V4 at the beginning of the project.

I've only accidentally blown the horn maybe twice in the past 4 years. I still don't care for the position of the indicator switch though. Can't seem to reach it while the clutch is depressed.

Well, my problem was that I couldn’t find the horn button in the time required the only time when I would have wished to press it...
A van was suddenly stopping and driving backwards into me who was stopping behind it!

Geez. I'm wondering if I've spoken too soon about the IAM although it's been great for over 500 miles. Started idling at 2K again. Got to turn one of the IAM bolts a half turn again. Restarted and idled normally. Didn't ride though because it started to rain. Hopefully, for a third time, that was the problem.

Curtis,
Just use a little bit of blue loctite on each bolt.
Should do the trick.

Did. Just used a little more. You couldn't fit a tissue through the gap between the flanges. Weird. One bolt, half a turn.

BritTwit said:

Curtis,
Just use a little bit of blue loctite on each bolt.
Should do the trick.

Click to expand...

Is this yet another appropriate place for some bolt wiring?

Did an oil and filter change, not needed based on miles but just so i have a known zero point. Plenty of oil in each and all looked quite clean, including the filter.
No more false neutrals since adjusting the gear lever position.
Now playing with the Idle - removed the idle air motor. Found one slightly loose flange mounting bolt and both hoses to the IAM had their clamps/clips missing at the IAM. Will see how it goes with that all sorted.
The IAM piston was fully out - engine off was on a hot motor while the idle revs were climbing to 2000rpm so presumably makes sense?