Moving on...... sort of.

Joined
Nov 22, 2016
Messages
88
Country flag
Hi All,
Well after quiet a journey with the 961 - starting with ordering it in late 2016 and expecting a Mark 2 only to find out some time later it was actually a 2015 model, and then have parts drop off it on the ride home from Auckland to Wellington due to piss poor assembly by the dealer, and then a continuing lack of support or knowledge. If it wasn’t for Richard I would have been screwed.
Anyway - even though I had the bike running as good as it could - custom open Dunstall type exhaust, open airbox, new maps, O2 eliminated, it still wasn’t satisfying my desire of ‘always wanting a Norton’. So I’ve sold it and recently became the proud owner of Colorado Norton Works build number 43 (1975 Mark 3 850 Roadster) and couldn’t be happier with it. It starts, it idles, it rides beautifully- and then I just put it away until next time.
It’s a work of art and Matt has done a fantastic job and was great to deal with all the way through the process.
Picture below :)
 
The picture is not showing (for me at least?) but i had a look on the cNw website - nice.
Not sure whether you are in the NOCNZ, but will you be coming to the Wainui rally in Feb - a cNw machine would turn a few heads.
 
Is that Wainui north of Auckland? If so probably not - I live in Wellington. Apparently build number 44 is in New Zealand as well.
 
Is that Wainui north of Auckland? If so probably not - I live in Wellington. Apparently build number 44 is in New Zealand as well.
In Canterbury, on Banks Peninsula over the harbour from Akaroa.
 
Nice build! I meant to ask you about the Cycle Works peashooters you had made last year. Did they perform OK and were they straight through with perforated inner tube? IMHO they are the only authentic looking Commando exhausts I have seen on a 961 to date since the original longs were increased in diameter. Thanks and all the best with your new steed.
 
Yes FE I have been following your thread thanks. I am afraid I am one of the long can exponents - I have the open longs with first section solid tube, no baffle and they sound ruddy marvellous. However, I do agree that they do look a little large and would not pass the dreaded circuit noise test. So I will look for a straight through commando peashooter much like the Cycle Works NZ that Kiwi961 posted here last April (there is a photo on their website). IMHO the Theil long exhausts do not look commando to me, the shorts look the best although a little out of proportion and the twin exhausts - I’ll say no more.
 
The proportions of the Theil reverse cones look very much like reverse cones found on original Commandos.
Maybe that's why they look right to Nigel.
For what it's worth, they look right to me as well.

Glen
 
Nigel, how are they made internally and what is the weight?
I'm tempted to try making some thinwalled ss lightweight reverse cones for the Norton 920 lightweight project. If it goes well I would make a set for the Thrux as well.
The stock Thrux reverse cones are similar in proportion to your Theils and have a good sized straight thru tube inside like the Cone Ind. reverse cones. As such, restriction is negligible, but at 6.5 lbs each, they need to go!
The Cone Industry jobs aren't light either.
The saving grace there was they have a straight thru 2.5" that I used with a 2" two into one system w collector on the Egli.
I believe the Cone product weighed about 5 lbs, but with only one needed, it passed muster. For now!

What are we going to talk about when the EBikes take over?:)

Glen
 
Last edited:
They are straight through, perfect tube. With removable dB killers.

I didn’t weigh them, they’re a similar weight to the Norton shorties I took off, so they’re not really what you’d call lightweight.
 
Back
Top