New Commando 270 degree

grandpaul

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New Norton Commando 961 SP and CR The Norton Commando is loved the world over by people from all walks of life (people like Keanu Reeves, for example). It’s one of the most iconic British motorcycles ever produced—but the Norton name has taken a beating over the last decade.
Smothering the blazing dumpster fire left by Stuart Garner is Norton’s new owner, TVS Motor Company. Their plan to revive the brand includes a £100-million investment, and a new, state-of-the-art production facility at Solihull, England.
Yes, even though TVS is the third-largest motorcycle producer in India, Norton’s production is staying in Ol’ Blighty. And they’ve just thrown the wraps off their first new bike—the redesigned Norton Commando 961 SP and CR.
Under TVS management, Norton is turning over a new leaf concerning its build quality. The previous generation Commando was plagued with problems that TVS has addressed head-on by re-engineering more than a third of the bike, including its frame, gearbox and cam-train. We can only go by the photos provided, but the fit and finish seem to have been stepped up.
The Commando 961 SP and CR are essentially the same bike, but with two different riding positions. The SP continues the traditional Commando setup with a more upright handlebar system, while the CR features clip-on handlebars. There is a full suite of adjustable Öhlins suspension, while the braking system is courtesy of Brembo.
The new bikes are available in two color options—Matrix Black and Manx Platinum, which are both traditional Norton colors. The air- and oil-cooled 961 cc parallel twin produces 76.8 hp at 7,250 rpm and 81 Nm of torque at 6,300 rpm. That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s classic Commando, even if the re-phased crank now fires at 270 degrees instead of the traditional Norton 360.
The top-shelf components, the company’s ‘prestige’ and the hand-built construction does mean that the price is high. At £16,499 [about $18,432] for the SP, and £16,999 [about $18,990] for the CR, the new Commando doesn’t seem to have a good bang-to-buck ratio—on paper, at least.
But this bike is not built for spec sheet scientists. It’s built for those who want the feel of a classic Commando, but without the headaches often associated with vintage motorcycles.
https://www.bikeexif.com/motorcycle-news-october-16-2022
 
These journos sound so knowledgable in their articles, unless you happen to know something about the subject matter.
Mostly they just copy down whatever the company feeds them then make up some sort of bullshit about the " feel" of the bike.
Net result zero useful information, but it helps sell stuff.

No coffee yet this am, feeling grumpy! :)

Glen
 
These journos sound so knowledgable in their articles, unless you happen to know something about the subject matter.
Mostly they just copy down whatever the company feeds them then make up some sort of bullshit about the " feel" of the bike.
Net result zero useful information, but it helps sell stuff.

No coffee yet this am, feeling grumpy! :)

Glen
Spot on!
Pretty good before morning coffee.
 
The TRX850 was the first production motorcycle to run with a 270° crank...and tbh that engine, with its dry sump, large capacity and five speed gearbox sounding so similar to how a 961 spec sheet reads...is an absolute gem of an engine. Ive got one. I consider it a poormans 961...except to be honest the engine does everything better than the Norton. Smoother, better carburation on actual carbs, more power, quieter etc
 
The TRX850 was the first production motorcycle to run with a 270° crank...and tbh that engine, with its dry sump, large capacity and five speed gearbox sounding so similar to how a 961 spec sheet reads...is an absolute gem of an engine. Ive got one. I consider it a poormans 961...except to be honest the engine does everything better than the Norton. Smoother, better carburation on actual carbs, more power, quieter etc
The TRX850 was a pretty hot unit.
It had 5 valves per cylinder, and it was dry sump with the tank built into cases above the gearbox.
Had a balancer shaft too.
Great design for parallel twin.
 
The Norton Commando is loved the world over by people from all walks of life (people like Keanu Reeves, for example). At the factory 6/7 years ago
New Commando 270 degree
 
The TRX850 was the first production motorcycle to run with a 270° crank...and tbh that engine, with its dry sump, large capacity and five speed gearbox sounding so similar to how a 961 spec sheet reads...is an absolute gem of an engine. Ive got one. I consider it a poormans 961...except to be honest the engine does everything better than the Norton. Smoother, better carburation on actual carbs, more power, quieter etc
I have a '92 TDM and it can beat the snot out of a stock Norton 850 Commando, wouldn't know about the 961 as I've never ridden one. It feels like a litre bike.
 
The TRX850 was a pretty hot unit.
It had 5 valves per cylinder, and it was dry sump with the tank built into cases above the gearbox.
Had a balancer shaft too.
Great design for parallel twin.
But it "actually" has 80HP with 100cc less.......
 
So, the Yam motor is lighter, faster and more reliable?
Typical bloody Johnny Foreigner, just not playing by the rules !!
 
  • Haha
Reactions: baz
But it "actually" has 80HP with 100cc less.......
I don't want to take this thread off on a tangent, but I guess I will....
The TRX850 mill is a great design, if not very visually inspiring.
I really like the dry sump design with no external oil lines.
The sump is integrally built into the top of the transmission case.
Now that is something DR BOB can consider for future ICE Commandos to rid them of the oil-in-the-frame syndrome.
As well as liquid/air cooling, and a 4 valve head with forked followers, in titanium of course.
5 valves would just be showing off. :cool:
 
Mines been a cracking little bike. I've got a Dominator seat unit for it, and one day I will get around to making a nice bike out of it. Paid £300 for it off a lad at Norton, after he crashed it. Threw on some parts from my spares, along with a few bits bought from Norton... had it back on the road within a couple of weeks.
 

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