New Commando Owner: First Norton

Hi All,

After lusting after a 'New' Norton Commando for the past 10 years, I have finally bought a 50th Anniversary Edition in Black with Silver pin striping. I am aware that owning one of these beautiful creatures is not always plain sailing, having previously scoured the internet trying to decide whether or not I was ready to take the plunge.

The bike arrived in Ayrshire (Scotland) yesterday and I was able to take a gentle 40 mile run in the sunshine, before the Engine Management Light brought me home a little prematurely. The bike itself is just one year old (obviously), but having spent most of its life in the previous owner's living room; it had only done 36 miles. Having spoken to both Norton's Warranty and Servicing people first, the bike had an oil and filter service before delivery (reputable Yamaha Dealer), and my plan was to run it in and take it to the Factory for its first service.

I love the bike and I think the engine feels and sounds great with the shorty pipes fitted (from the factory). I am looking forwards to a, hopefully, lifelong ownership of this beautiful motorcycle and despite hitting my first gremlin so early, like to think that I was hoping for the best, but ultimately prepared for the worst. I have bought my Breakdown Cover already.

I initially just wanted to introduce myself to the forum, although obviously any feedback about the EML would be greatly appreciated. The bike felt no different after the light came on, and starts and rides the same as it did initially.

Mainly, I was wondering if there was a common, simple, fault that I could tackle myself, or if it was safe to keep riding the bike a further 400 miles to it's first service.

Hello from Scotland!

Welcome,
Very nice looking bike,

It could be something simple - mine was a loose connector - but the EML is there to warn you that something is wrong and stop/investigate before the engine goes bang! If not addressed the EML/EU will stop the engine to protect it anyway. A couple of forum members had serious issues and ended up returning the bike but many others have had very minor issues.
As many have said, the most common cause has been the O2 sensors, but not in every case - I would ring the factory for guidance/advice but looks like an inevitable Van journey back to Derbyshire, unless there is a Norton dealer closer to you.
John

Billy,

Congratulations on your bravery and welcome to 961 Land. Seriously jealous about your ability to ride in sunshine at the moment.
Murphys Law has applied since 2010 and you can track owners experiences through the history of this forum in the long winter months. However, those issues have all but been put to bed by the Mk2 build. Enjoy the sound, the glances and get used to explaining to folk that it is in fact a new one and not a cutomised 1970s model. Top grade fuel, tyre pressures, staying upright and checking the oil catch bottle should easily see you through the season, let alone your first service.
Don't envy the running in bit though!

Stuart

Nice looking bike Billy.

Just just need to remove the reflectors now

BTW, what’s the duct tape on the mirrors for ?

Eljahara said:

Welcome,
Very nice looking bike,

It could be something simple - mine was a loose connector - but the EML is there to warn you that something is wrong and stop/investigate before the engine goes bang! If not addressed the EML/EU will stop the engine to protect it anyway. A couple of forum members had serious issues and ended up returning the bike but many others have had very minor issues.
As many have said, the most common cause has been the O2 sensors, but not in every case - I would ring the factory for guidance/advice but looks like an inevitable Van journey back to Derbyshire, unless there is a Norton dealer closer to you.
John

Click to expand...

Thanks. I've taken a bit of a leap of faith with this bike in the hope that I can get the initial 'snagging' out of the way and then enjoy the bike for many years. I've got a couple of other bikes, so I can get out and ride if this is a 'work in progress' for a while'. I had hoped it would be smooth sailing, but as the bike had done little in its first year, I was expecting some teething trouble. All advice appreciated though. THanks.

StuartSF2015 said:

Billy,

Congratulations on your bravery and welcome to 961 Land. Seriously jealous about your ability to ride in sunshine at the moment.
Murphys Law has applied since 2010 and you can track owners experiences through the history of this forum in the long winter months. However, those issues have all but been put to bed by the Mk2 build. Enjoy the sound, the glances and get used to explaining to folk that it is in fact a new one and not a cutomised 1970s model. Top grade fuel, tyre pressures, staying upright and checking the oil catch bottle should easily see you through the season, let alone your first service.
Don't envy the running in bit though!

Stuart

Click to expand...

Thanks Stuart. Are you saying avoid Supermarket fuel, or go for higher octane? I guess I need to search for a thread on 'oil catch bottle' too. Dry today, but no sunshine. Sadly the EM Light will keep me indoors for a while until I suss out the cause or take it South to a 'technician' again.

Fast Eddie said:

Nice looking bike Billy.

Just just need to remove the reflectors now

BTW, what’s the duct tape on the mirrors for ?

Click to expand...

Cheers Eddie, I don't think there's many with the silver pin-striping, unless this was more common for the 50th (silver) anniversary models? No duct tape on it now, but I quite liked the reflectors; thought they matched the shock reservoirs on the back.

Not sure avoiding supermarket fuel makes much difference in Scotland, it all comes from Grangemouth and all has Ethanol.

kommando said:

Not sure avoiding supermarket fuel makes much difference in Scotland, it all comes from Grangemouth and all has Ethanol.

Click to expand...

My mate works offshore and wont put Supermarket petrol in his bikes. He says they put more ethanol in it. Personally, I've never had any problems, although when I had an XR1200, some other owners complained that ethanol in the fuel caused their plastic tanks to swell up.

Billy RR said:

My mate works offshore and wont put Supermarket petrol in his bikes. He says they put more ethanol in it. Personally, I've never had any problems, although when I had an XR1200, some other owners complained that ethanol in the fuel caused their plastic tanks to swell up.

Click to expand...

You won't exactly find that to be an uncommon problem here. There have been the fair share of warped and blistering tanks. Addendum....a small minority, but enough for concern.

Hi Billy. I have the same issue as you with the EML. Mines a 50th too. It was delivered two months ago and the light came on immediately. It went off after charging the battery at the dealers advice. However, riding the bike since, I've had a couple of serious misfires and the EML back on and off and on again. I'm waiting for the dealer to come over and run diagnostics..

Glenn Harman said:

Hi Billy. I have the same issue as you with the EML. Mines a 50th too. It was delivered two months ago and the light came on immediately. It went off after charging the battery at the dealers advice. However, riding the bike since, I've had a couple of serious misfires and the EML back on and off and on again. I'm waiting for the dealer to come over and run diagnostics..

Click to expand...

Hi Glenn,

Thanks for your input. I read a few threads and tried checking the cables and charging the battery (took me a while to find the 'hidden' Optimate Socket), but the light stayed on. As it seemed to be running well, and others have put it down to the Lambda Sensors, I kept gently running the bike in and the light went off again. It has stayed off so far. I'm hoping it was down to the bike only having done 36 miles in it's first year and having some residual old fuel in it. I filled it up with fresh fuel to help dilute any old stuff, but this might have taken some time to mix through. I'm taking it to Donington for it's first service on Friday, so I'm hoping they'll sort any gremlins out. In the meantime, I've got my Breakdown Cover, to make sure the bike gets there ok.

I might do a thread of the Donington trip, as it's a 300+ mile trip for me, but I'm hoping it will be enjoyable and uneventful. Ash at the Factory seemed very helpful and said that they go over the bikes with a fine tooth-comb at first service. He said that if he saw anything that they had since upgraded (eg. thermostat, oiling), he would just upgrade it as a matter of course.

Wish me luck for Friday!

Welcome Nice bike with a personal look to it. - I just love my 961CR; best thing I've done in years.

Unfortunately Esso Supreme+ is the only ethanol free in England but Scotland and the South West get ethanol in it. You might want to consider a fuel stabiliser such as Startron Enzyme.

My MIL light was on most of the time before my first service. I called up Norton and let them know (+email) to cover myself.

Regards - Clive

Bikes running good? You'll be ok on the 300 mile run. Your arse'll be a bit sore and right hand a bit numb, but you'll have plenty of bugs in yer teeth from smiling too much.

Billy RR said:

Wish me luck for Friday!

Click to expand...

Absolutely Billy! I wish I could get mine to the factory.

Glenn Harman said:

Absolutely Billy! I wish I could get mine to the factory.

Click to expand...

Could you negotiate with the dealer and get them to pay transport - it might be more cost effective for them than paying their technician to investigate numerous times?
Just a thought.

Eljahara said:

Could you negotiate with the dealer and get them to pay transport - it might be more cost effective for them than paying their technician to investigate numerous times?
Just a thought.

Click to expand...

I will see how this week develops..

Ran a Torque wrench over the bike this evening, and quite a bit needed tweaked, despite it only having done about 200 miles. Haven't had the tank off yet, but one of the tank retaining bolts didn't seem to be tightening (Other one was torqued at 9 Nm). Is there a quick fix for this if it's 'threaded'?

Billy RR said:

.... one of the tank retaining bolts didn't seem to be tightening (Other one was torqued at 9 Nm). Is there a quick fix for this if it's 'threaded'?

Click to expand...

I think you need to be careful with those bolts. If it isn't tightening up it might be that the insert has come loose and is spinning, which will be an issue when you try to undo it. You don't want those bolts to get stuck either, so it's worth putting some anti-seize compound on the threads. I would try to get the bolt(s) off before tightening any further.

comet said:

I think you need to be careful with those bolts. If it isn't tightening up it might be that the insert has come loose and is spinning, which will be an issue when you try to undo it. You don't want those bolts to get stuck either, so it's worth putting some anti-seize compound on the threads. I would try to get the bolt(s) off before tightening any further.

Click to expand...

Ok Thanks. I guess I'll just leave it for the Norton Technicians on Friday. They'll need the tank off to torque the head. I'll just wait and see what they say.