First ride

Joined
Oct 8, 2018
Messages
114
Country flag
Finally got my SF registered last weekend and have had a chance to put a few miles on it. Just a few though, it's now done 200 miles so still running in.

So how am I finding 961 ownership? First accomplishment is not beeping at everyone every time I try to use the indicators. Seem to have that sussed now!

Only able to do 60mph as that's 3500 revs which is my limit for the next hundred miles. A lot of vibration below 3500. Makes the bike feel alive, you know your riding it. My Hayabusa was lovely silky smooth. The 961 is not and it's all the better for it. Reminds me of my HD. It just puts a big smile on your face :)

It does seem to all smooth out above 3500 revs so looking forward to finding out what it's like higher up the rev range.

Handling is superb. It's so flickerbly. It's just what I was hoping it would be like. Suspension need softening for me, but I'll wait until after it's run-in before I fiddle, give it a chance to bed in first. It is an absolute pleasure through the twisties. Looking forward to trying them with a few more revs! Brakes are also excellent. Still using the gently, but can tell how good the feeling is.

Seems to need a delicate throttle hand around town. Also doesn't seem to like doing below 2000 revs, can get jerky. Just a case of learning to ride a different bike.

Mirrors are not bad. The usual 50% what's behind and 50% elbow. I'm thinking of bar end mirrors, but can see what someone means who posted on another thread, you would have to take your eyes off the road to look in them. Not much, it may be more noticeable on a CR, but you would need to move your head to where they would be, not just your eyes which is what you do for the standard mirrors.

Don't know how many more miles I'll get on it this year. It'll be a summer bike so only a couple more weeks until they start salting the roads and it will be Its hibernation time.

Very pleased with my purchase :)
 
Congratulations on your purchase! But what bike likes to do 2000 revs. The 961 idles at 1200!!! Give it some stick man do the ton. After it’s run in.
 
Mirrors my experiences exactly - except you forgot to mention the elusive side stand which most people seem to struggle with but I never have. Mainly depends on foot size and shoe style:) Oh - and the restrictive lock as you manage to jamb it embarrassingly across your drive trying to turn it around.

Not sure where you are with exhausts/cat/mapping but the first few miles are really snatchy and restrictive. For me now the sheer joy as the thing howls out of a tight bend cranked well over and revving hard is so addictive one of life's great pleasures, so you have that to look forward to.

I have had a few issues with my 2017 CR but all are fixable and soon forgotten when back on the road. I absolutely love the thing and in a previous post the question was asked whether you would buy another if anything bad happened. Well I certainly would but I might just hesitate for a moment to look at a Domi with megas.........

I have been dealing direct with the factory and have had nothing but good experiences and a service which you would not get from any other manufacturer. If your respect them as fellow bikers doing a job then you get respect and help back.

Best Wishes Clive
 
Yes. Re: the vibes. You get it. I didn't expect smooth nor did I want it. Relive those vibes.
 
Mirrors my experiences exactly - except you forgot to mention the elusive side stand which most people seem to struggle with but I never have. Mainly depends on foot size and shoe style:) Oh - and the restrictive lock as you manage to jamb it embarrassingly across your drive trying to turn it around.

Not sure where you are with exhausts/cat/mapping but the first few miles are really snatchy and restrictive. For me now the sheer joy as the thing howls out of a tight bend cranked well over and revving hard is so addictive one of life's great pleasures, so you have that to look forward to.

I have had a few issues with my 2017 CR but all are fixable and soon forgotten when back on the road. I absolutely love the thing and in a previous post the question was asked whether you would buy another if anything bad happened. Well I certainly would but I might just hesitate for a moment to look at a Domi with megas.........

I have been dealing direct with the factory and have had nothing but good experiences and a service which you would not get from any other manufacturer. If your respect them as fellow bikers doing a job then you get respect and help back.

Best Wishes Clive

Oh yes, the side stand. Clutch in to start, clutch in to put side stand down. Just in case I catch the gear lever :)
 
Finally got my SF registered last weekend and have had a chance to put a few miles on it. Just a few though, it's now done 200 miles so still running in.

So how am I finding 961 ownership? First accomplishment is not beeping at everyone every time I try to use the indicators. Seem to have that sussed now!

Only able to do 60mph as that's 3500 revs which is my limit for the next hundred miles. A lot of vibration below 3500. Makes the bike feel alive, you know your riding it. My Hayabusa was lovely silky smooth. The 961 is not and it's all the better for it. Reminds me of my HD. It just puts a big smile on your face :)

It does seem to all smooth out above 3500 revs so looking forward to finding out what it's like higher up the rev range.

Handling is superb. It's so flickerbly. It's just what I was hoping it would be like. Suspension need softening for me, but I'll wait until after it's run-in before I fiddle, give it a chance to bed in first. It is an absolute pleasure through the twisties. Looking forward to trying them with a few more revs! Brakes are also excellent. Still using the gently, but can tell how good the feeling is.

Seems to need a delicate throttle hand around town. Also doesn't seem to like doing below 2000 revs, can get jerky. Just a case of learning to ride a different bike.

Mirrors are not bad. The usual 50% what's behind and 50% elbow. I'm thinking of bar end mirrors, but can see what someone means who posted on another thread, you would have to take your eyes off the road to look in them. Not much, it may be more noticeable on a CR, but you would need to move your head to where they would be, not just your eyes which is what you do for the standard mirrors.

Don't know how many more miles I'll get on it this year. It'll be a summer bike so only a couple more weeks until they start salting the roads and it will be Its hibernation time.

Very pleased with my purchase :)
I’m liking your post as I have around the same miles on my dominator naked which I am also running in, I got mine the start of September. Next year will be the year of fun once I can open it up
 
Congrats! Your experience mirrors mine... put mine on the road in March and now have 2k+ on her, and the smile just gets bigger and bigger!
 
good to hear you`re enjoying the machine . Keep it rolling .................. it can only get better
 
I have a dominator naked, only done around 20, my light switch is on, it has 3 positions but doesn’t seem to move?
 
Finally got my SF registered last weekend and have had a chance to put a few miles on it. Just a few though, it's now done 200 miles so still running in.

So how am I finding 961 ownership? First accomplishment is not beeping at everyone every time I try to use the indicators. Seem to have that sussed now!

Only able to do 60mph as that's 3500 revs which is my limit for the next hundred miles. A lot of vibration below 3500. Makes the bike feel alive, you know your riding it. My Hayabusa was lovely silky smooth. The 961 is not and it's all the better for it. Reminds me of my HD. It just puts a big smile on your face :)

It does seem to all smooth out above 3500 revs so looking forward to finding out what it's like higher up the rev range.

Handling is superb. It's so flickerbly. It's just what I was hoping it would be like. Suspension need softening for me, but I'll wait until after it's run-in before I fiddle, give it a chance to bed in first. It is an absolute pleasure through the twisties. Looking forward to trying them with a few more revs! Brakes are also excellent. Still using the gently, but can tell how good the feeling is.

Seems to need a delicate throttle hand around town. Also doesn't seem to like doing below 2000 revs, can get jerky. Just a case of learning to ride a different bike.

Mirrors are not bad. The usual 50% what's behind and 50% elbow. I'm thinking of bar end mirrors, but can see what someone means who posted on another thread, you would have to take your eyes off the road to look in them. Not much, it may be more noticeable on a CR, but you would need to move your head to where they would be, not just your eyes which is what you do for the standard mirrors.

Don't know how many more miles I'll get on it this year. It'll be a summer bike so only a couple more weeks until they start salting the roads and it will be Its hibernation time.

Very pleased with my purchase :)

Your experience is similar to mine, although I can't say I notice vibration (must be having an original Commando and Bonnie)
I'm up to 470 miles now and need to get it booked in at the factory for it's first service.
I've had absolutely no issues and the bike is exactly as I expected it to be like.
While I'm here I must thank Richard for his work with the manuals.
Not looking forward to winter :)
sam
 
I have a dominator naked, only done around 20, my light switch is on, it has 3 positions but doesn’t seem to move?

Correct.
I assume it is the same as my euro4 CR and it is locked on to prevent you driving around with your lights off. Thanks Brussels. See old thread on subject....

Regards Clive
 
Ref the lack of an off switch, the switch unit is wired up differently, and the wire harness is also different (on Euro 4 bikes at least).
Therefore, swapping the switch unit doesn't work, you'd have to break into the wire harness and modify that as well.
All in all... best left alone.
At least that was my conclusion.
Anyone wanna buy a pre Euro 4 switch unit, bought in error and now surplus to requirements...?
 
Back
Top