961 is back !

Stephen_Spencer · Jun 23, 2023

Voodooo said:
Still amazes me that to this very day, TVS Refuses to come out and explain in detail what all the changes they made were.

I’m a show me kind of guy.
I want to see it, not hear it from hearsay’ers.

Would be nice Voodoo, but they’re never gonna do it. There’s a body of work involved in summarising that information and as they see it, they have no responsibility to do so.

I think the main reason however is that they have likely exaggerated the changes (30% of the bike?) to maximise the distance between Birmingham and Donington 961’s. To emphasise the re-engineered aspect.

A definitive list might show that the two bikes have far more in common than seperates them. Clearly they have re-engineered specific components, but I think the 30% reference is probably an over amplification.

Stu Bodycote · Jun 23, 2023

Its easy to list a shit load of changes, the most minor design detail is classed as a change. Put a chamfer on the corner of a part....thats a design change, for example. Eventually though, I'll get one in....its inevitable. Then like for like comparisons will be made. Keeping in mind my current relationship with Norton, it'll be a brutally honest comparison review too.

Fast Eddie · Jun 23, 2023

Stu Bodycote said:
Its easy to list a shit load of changes, the most minor design detail is classed as a change. Put a chamfer on the corner of a part....thats a design change, for example. Eventually though, I'll get one in....its inevitable. Then like for like comparisons will be made. Keeping in mind my current relationship with Norton, it'll be a brutally honest comparison review too.

Looking forward to that Stu.

jan nelder · Jun 23, 2023

I suspect nearly all the ‘redesigned’ components have been better MADE , and will still fit older bikes. Still waiting for confirmation....

Stephen_Spencer · Jun 24, 2023

Norton are putting some nice pics out to raise their profile. Best pic I’ve seen to demonstrate the seating position/stance of the CR, as compared to the Sport.

Stephen_Spencer · Jun 24, 2023

Fast Eddie said:
That pic brings back the pain of riding my CR. The worst was riding back on a late cold night from one of the bike nights at Donington. Stiff neck and shoulders, totally numb hands. That’s the night I nearly put the bike in a skip, but decided to get the factory to fit sports bars instead. The improvement was huge !

I’m hearing ya FE and will definitely be heading in that direction eventually - ‘old farts R us’. For now though, I’m managing riding around 150km (usual Sunday ride distance) without too much difficulty. No doubt the generally warm weather on the sunny coast helps, a lot! It’s only a matter of time though.

The pic shows that the reach to the bars is not out of the ordinary for a CR/sports bike, but the leg positioning is certainly quite extreme (high and tight) - especially if you adopt the usual sports stance, with the ball of the feet on the pegs (as shown).

Voodooo · Jun 24, 2023

Stephen_Spencer said:
I’m hearing ya FE and will definitely be heading in that direction eventually - ‘old farts R us’. For now though, I’m managing riding around 150km (usual Sunday ride distance) without too much difficulty. No doubt the generally warm weather on the sunny coast helps, a lot! It’s only a matter of time though.

The pic shows that the reach to the bars is not out of the ordinary for a CR/sports bike, but the leg positioning is certainly quite extreme (high and tight) - especially if you adopt the usual sports stance, with the ball of the feet on the pegs (as shown).

View attachment 107793

Try it on the Domi

BritTwit · Jun 24, 2023

Fast Eddie said:
That pic brings back the pain of riding my CR. The worst was riding back on a late cold night from one of the bike nights at Donington. Stiff neck and shoulders, totally numb hands. That’s the night I nearly put the bike in a skip, but decided to get the factory to fit sports bars instead. The improvement was huge !

I think you hit on something a while back when you suggested ABM clip-ons for the CR. Not cheap, but well built.
ABM have a version that allow you to lift the position of the bars to your personal preference. I think they have a 3" adjust-ability. The only issue is the length of the control, and electric lines. If Norton offered ABM clip-ons, with slightly longer lines, the owner could adjust the bars to his/her preference.
Ergos on my CR are marginally better than my Ducati 999, but still quite medieval.

ABM multiClip SPORT Clip-ons and Upper Triple Clamp for the BMW R nineT Racer

www.bellissimoto.com

TonyA · Jun 24, 2023

Stephen_Spencer said:
I’m hearing ya FE and will definitely be heading in that direction eventually - ‘old farts R us’. For now though, I’m managing riding around 150km (usual Sunday ride distance) without too much difficulty. No doubt the generally warm weather on the sunny coast helps, a lot! It’s only a matter of time though.

The pic shows that the reach to the bars is not out of the ordinary for a CR/sports bike, but the leg positioning is certainly quite extreme (high and tight) - especially if you adopt the usual sports stance, with the ball of the feet on the pegs (as shown).

View attachment 107793

Its very surprising to see how much of the stock seat is not used .

Stu Bodycote · Jun 24, 2023

Mine V Brummie-961.....low is the way to go, and eventually your brain will ignore the pain signals

Stephen_Spencer · Jun 27, 2023

Another review following a test ride, courtesy of our FB cousins, if ya haven’t seen it already.

TonyA · Jun 27, 2023

OK then , That's a start for our data collection ! Now , if Norton can sell a bunch of these then it's good for our parts supply.

Britfan60 · Jun 27, 2023

Stu Bodycote said:
Mine V Brummie-961.....low is the way to go, and eventually your brain will ignore the pain signals
View attachment 107803 View attachment 107804

Old school tyres on the top one. Had those stock on my 79 Bonnie

Britfan60 · Jun 27, 2023

TonyA said:
I like it . I wish mine was that well made .

We really need a hardcore somebody from Brooklyn to do a Norton review. Love my Brit brethren, but all the reviews are "lovely" and "delightful" with a little " could be a little better". Too polite. Too vague.
This effin thing rocks. Tell us what really is great and what really sucks. Be a rocker, not a mod.

Stephen_Spencer · Jun 27, 2023

Britfan60 said:
We really need a hardcore somebody from Brooklyn to do a Norton review. Love my Brit brethren, but all the reviews are "lovely" and "delightful" with a little " could be a little better". Too polite. Too vague.
This effin thing rocks. Tell us what really is great and what really sucks. Be a rocker, not a mod.

So you don’t want to hear George’s review then Bf

!?

Stu Bodycote · Jun 27, 2023

Britfan60 said:
Old school tyres on the top one. Had those stock on my 79 Bonnie

Old school tread, modern tyre....Dunlop TT100-GP. When I saw them, I knew they would be perfect for my build.

Stu Bodycote · Jun 27, 2023

Britfan60 said:
We really need a hardcore somebody from Brooklyn to do a Norton review. Love my Brit brethren, but all the reviews are "lovely" and "delightful" with a little " could be a little better". Too polite. Too vague.
This effin thing rocks. Tell us what really is great and what really sucks. Be a rocker, not a mod.

Nah Norton don't like that....too risky lol

City Garage · Jun 27, 2023

Please, someone, explain to me why one of the things they could change was the cheap Ken Sean mirrors?? I think we would all be surprised at how much really hasn't changed.

I also again ask who is going to buy all these. And at the "new" price structure, everything is an option or upgrade.

City Garage · Jun 27, 2023

And the "reviews" are not real. Everyone wants to slant it just to keep doing what they are doing on social media. Imagine the guy who really wants to review with a no holds barred view. No manufacturer wants that, even on a slightly honest review. One of my customers, who is a social media person, and when he made a video of one of his new motorcycles; the manufacturer sent him a letter with numerous threats and also went to the hosting company and threatened them as well to get it taken down. He is now barred from returning to that manufacturer's dealers and was told they won't sell him another product as well. They actually tried to get him to return the bike and rewind the deal. Come to think of it, I think Ferrari said the same thing to him as well.

So when I see the glowing reviews from people who are in it for the clicks, I don't even watch or read them.

Stephen_Spencer · Jun 27, 2023

I’m confused that you’re confused CG - who will buy them? More people like those on this forum (us) I suspect and any other group, demographic, region, country or collector (etc) that Norton can attract.

Is the Birmingham 961 not everything that we love about this machine, minus the stuff we don’t? We all loved the 961 or we wouldn’t have bought it (given the price point) and we all (at one time or another) have hated its technical shortcomings. Remove the shortcomings and what are you left with?

A drop dead gorgeous, unique and pretty authentic vintage/heritage ride with modern suspension and electrics - ‘it does what it says on the can’ pretty bloody well. It isn’t pretending to be a pure sports bike by way of performance or to be anything that it’s not. There’s nothing else on the marked like it - stand it next to a comparable Triumph (I have) and it becomes easier to see where the monetary difference (and authenticity) lies.

Add in the ‘Norton (marque) factor’ and I’m sure they’ll sell. Enough? Only time will tell and only Norton will know.

My opinion only.