First Post

MAK · Mar 17, 2018

I started riding a Norton Commando in 1977 and have had several Commandos since then. In the early eighties I became interested in Norton rotaries, have had a couple of Norton Commanders and still own a Norton F1 Sport, which is an unbelievable motorcycle.

I have had a mixture of other motorbikes over the years, my wife and I go touring each year as much as we can, typically within Europe, we still work so time is limited. But the lure of a Commando still lay dormant so in 2016 I took the plunge and purchased a 961 Sport. I find the new Norton Commando such a pleasure to ride and plan on doing the Norton International rally in Austria this year. I have found the grumbles about the 961 to be totally groundless (usually from people who don't have one) and think the positive attitude of this site is great. MAK

robs ss · Mar 17, 2018

Welcome to the forum - you must be somewhere near Newcastle?
If/when you come to Oz you're welcome to a bed/etc - I'm about 1500km north of Sydney - Sorry, I misread that - it's Austria not Australia - still, we're used to missing out on things.
The offer of a bed still goes though...
Cheers
Rob

glb · Mar 17, 2018

Hi MAK Are you based in England? Welcome to the group. There are a few events being organised to get some of us together if you are up for a ride out somewhere.

MAK · Mar 17, 2018

glb said:
Hi MAK Are you based in England? Welcome to the group. There are a few events being organised to get some of us together if you are up for a ride out somewhere.

Yes
The North East,or it feels more like Siberia at present.
Am looking to do a lot more motorcycling this year.
Thanks for the welcome.

MAK · Mar 17, 2018

robs ss said:
Welcome to the forum - you must be somewhere near Newcastle?
If/when you come to Oz you're welcome to a bed/etc - I'm about 1500km north of Sydney - Sorry, I misread that - it's Austria not Australia - still, we're used to missing out on things.
The offer of a bed still goes though...
Cheers
Rob

Thanks for the welcome & the offer of somewhere to stay.
Will not rule anything out!

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF · Mar 17, 2018

MAK said:
I started riding a Norton Commando in 1977 and have had several Commandos since then. In the early eighties I became interested in Norton rotaries, have had a couple of Norton Commanders and still own a Norton F1 Sport, which is an unbelievable motorcycle.

I have had a mixture of other motorbikes over the years, my wife and I go touring each year as much as we can, typically within Europe, we still work so time is limited. But the lure of a Commando still lay dormant so in 2016 I took the plunge and purchased a 961 Sport. I find the new Norton Commando such a pleasure to ride and plan on doing the Norton International rally in Austria this year. I have found the grumbles about the 961 to be totally groundless (usually from people who don't have one) and think the positive attitude of this site is great. MAK

Well that’s a great intro MAK ,we welcome u & look forward to pictures , & just a nudge of where u live please as there’s a 961 meet coming to a town near u ( at some point anyway ) BOX HILL , SURREY next Sunday boy,s

gchoppin · Mar 17, 2018

Welcome to the 961 world from across the pond. We're a tight nit group, pond not included.

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF · Mar 18, 2018

MAK said:
have had a couple of Norton Commanders and still own a Norton F1 Sport, which is an unbelievable motorcycle

Hey MAK have u ever seen this one,it’s now in “ Donelsons cycles” mini museum at Carl Donelsons multi franchise dealership located in St. Louis ,Missouri over in the states .
A keen eyed enthusiast on the NOC site says it’s an ex South Yorkshire police bike ,converted from an Interpol 2 to look like a classic

MAK · Mar 18, 2018

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF said:
View attachment 4307 View attachment 4306
Hey MAK have u ever seen this one,it’s now in “ Donelsons cycles” mini museum at Carl Donelsons multi franchise dealership located in St. Louis ,Missouri over in the states .
A keen eyed enthusiast on the NOC site says it’s an ex South Yorkshire police bike ,converted from an Interpol 2 to look like a classic

Hi
Without the numbers its hard to tell.
There was a lot of conversions done to a high standard.

regental · Mar 18, 2018

Hi Gary & welcome - had my Sport decatted and the short pipes refitted in November so awaiting the warmer weather - Alan

BritTwit · Mar 18, 2018

That's an interesting photo.
Did the Interpol 2 have an enclosed final drive?

MAK · Mar 18, 2018

BritTwit said:
That's an interesting photo.
Did the Interpol 2 have an enclosed final drive?

Fully enclosed chain & holding a small amount of oil, chains lasted forever.

MAK · Mar 18, 2018

regental said:
Hi Gary & welcome - had my Sport decatted and the short pipes refitted in November so awaiting the warmer weather - Alan

Hi Alan
May have to wait a bit longer due to more snow.
It will be worth it.
Had same done to my 961.
Sounds gorgeous.

BritTwit · Mar 18, 2018

MAK said:
Fully enclosed chain & holding a small amount of oil, chains lasted forever.

Cool.
But must be a bitch if you have to pull the wheel to change a tire.
Nice idea for a police bike though, would also be pretty handy for a touring setup.
More efficient, and less complex that a shaft, and virtually maintenance free.
Might be a good idea for a future 961 model, maybe a 961 Interstate.

MAK · Mar 18, 2018

BritTwit said:
Cool.
But must be a bitch if you have to pull the wheel to change a tire.
Nice idea for a police bike though, would also be pretty handy for a touring setup.
More efficient, and less complex that a shaft, and virtually maintenance free.
Might be a good idea for a future 961 model, maybe a 961 Interstate.

The clever Norton engineers designed it so the chain and hub etc.remained in place as the wheel was removed from the cush drive.
Just like a shafted BMW.
Minimum of fuss.

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF · Mar 18, 2018

MAK said:
The clever Norton engineers designed it so the chain and hub etc.remained in place as the wheel was removed from the cush drive.
Just like a shafted BMW.
Minimum of fuss.

And that was in the mid eighties ! , but hey hope u all dont mind me posting another non 961 but it is a very special machine , this one I took two years ago in the National motorcycle Museum,Birmingham in the UK , & for those of u that don’t know it outside the UK ,& those of u that do ,correct me if I’m wrong they got around a 1000 bikes & they all work, & u can join there club & pay as u go for a ride on a lot of them .

TonyA · Mar 18, 2018

I was there last year and their display of British motorcycles was amazing . I was of course most interested in the Norton Area . I got to see the Nemesis and the 900cc triple they had made in a Commando Isolastic frame that never made it to production. It was called 900 Commando Trisolastic .. The selection of Norton Racing Rotaries was stunning and memorable . It is hard to imagine how long ago that all was ( early eighties to mid nineties ) . I know I wanted one at the time !

BritTwit · Mar 18, 2018

Sounds wonderful.
I'll put it on my bucket list.

cliffa · Mar 18, 2018

MAK said:
The clever Norton engineers designed it so the chain and hub etc.remained in place as the wheel was removed from the cush drive.
Just like a shafted BMW.
Minimum of fuss.

err, actually just like an MZ

worntorn · Mar 18, 2018

Or my old BSA Super Rocket. Ariel also had a similar setup in the 1950s.
Pull the axle then remove 4 large wheel lug nuts similar to those on a car wheel and the wheel drops off. Chain, sprocket and enclosure remain attached and unaffected.