Norton 961 Commando a keeper?

BritTwit said:
Everything on the Thaiumphs is well engineered.
Speed Twin is on my really short list.
That's a list with one bike on it.
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I'm jonesing for the Speed Twin too....maybe even a Speedmaster as well for a two up laid back ride. That said, I'd have to hit the Indian dealership as well. They seem pretty well put together since Polaris took over.
 
Yeah, the FTR 1200 is a pretty nice bike.
I've heard good things about it.
The FTR has 120 ponies though, the SpeedTwin only 97.
I just prefer the Speed Twin on a purely appearance level.
 
BritTwit said:
Yeah, the FTR 1200 is a pretty nice bike.
I've heard good things about it.
The FTR has 120 ponies though, the SpeedTwin only 97.
I just prefer the Speed Twin on a purely appearance level.
Click to expand...
Buy them both, life's too short for if's and but's!
 
BritTwit said:
Yeah, the FTR 1200 is a pretty nice bike.
I've heard good things about it.
The FTR has 120 ponies though, the SpeedTwin only 97.
I just prefer the Speed Twin on a purely appearance level.
Click to expand...

Yes, but it’s also 30kg (66lbs) heavier than the Thiaumph.

Or, 44kg (97lbs) heavier than the 150bhp Ducati Monster...
 
Fast Eddie said:
Yes, but it’s also 30kg (66lbs) heavier than the Thiaumph.

Or, 44kg (97lbs) heavier than the 150bhp Ducati Monster...
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Or 50kg heavier than the 207hp Streetfighter
Or.... this could go on for ever.
At some point you have to commit.

I like the SpeedTwin style, I guess that's what it comes down to for me.
The SpeedTwin would be better suited to most of my riding.
Less chance of citations.
 
BritTwit said:
Or 50kg heavier than the 207hp Streetfighter
Or.... this could go on for ever.
At some point you have to commit.

I like the SpeedTwin style, I guess that's what it comes down to for me.
The SpeedTwin would be better suited to most of my riding.
Less chance of citations.
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Only reason for quoting the Thaiumph is cos you like it!

Only reason for quoting the Monster is cos it’s a 1200cc v twin naked, kinda like the Injun !!

Out of them all though, the Thaiumph has to be the prettiest IMHO.

I’d check out where the max torque occurs, the Thaiumph has a lot of torque at very low rpm, which is what makes it feel so quick. I’m not sure where the FTR produces it’s peak torque.
 
Despite all the grumblings, blaming and general posts of hatred and bitterness, I had to venture out today to visit the bank and then pay a dept so I took the 961 and came home the long way around. Bloody marvellous, up to 6000 now and running a treat. Made me feel 40 years younger. I always promised myself a Norton but never got round to one til recently. Glad I did, better late then never.
 
Grumblings I can understand, most bikes i've owned i've had a grumble or two. The hatred and bitterness must come from somewhere I guess, hmm. I have been desperately trying to get rid of the Winter grime on mine so I can take mine out for a spin, err I mean to go for a blatt, err I mean to go get a prescription. Yesterday I put in an ebay order for 6 tubes of Autosol, might be enough :)
 
Have you got some sort of weird climate going on in that shed/barn of yours in Lincs that causes so much grime. Or is it because you are a hardy biker out riding in all weathers (despite the sorn notice) like Blighty Brit. I only do dry miles on mine but haven't polished the rims since I got it so started the other day and they seem to be coming up nice using muck off speed polish. Takes some time though and not forgetting all the spokes. It think it does help not oiling the chain too often although must do that as well. Will post a pic when finished
 
Welshrugby said:
Have you got some sort of weird climate going on in that shed/barn of yours in Lincs that causes so much grime. Or is it because you are a hardy biker out riding in all weathers (despite the sorn notice) like Blighty Brit. I only do dry miles on mine but haven't polished the rims since I got it so started the other day and they seem to be coming up nice using muck off speed polish. Takes some time though and not forgetting all the spokes. It think it does help not oiling the chain too often although must do that as well. Will post a pic when finished
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It is a 3 sided barn with terracotta tiled roof so is effectively open to the elements. Ok so the bikes don't get rained on directly unless it is blowing a humdinger of an Easterly but humidity/condensation is the real problem..... daytime it warms up to 8deg, nightime it drops, condensation forms all over the bikes, even under covers. Being in the middle of Dyson farmland there is a lot of field dust in the breeze which settles on the condensation, the result is grime. The only time it is a problem is when I lay things up and forget about them for a few years, regular cleaning keeps the corrosion away but it takes time and a lot of autosol :(
 
I should also add being a nature lover, I keep it open on the 4th side 'cos we have roosting bats, nesting Robins/Wrens and the swallows have just arrived.... I admire swallows, they come back every year and each year there are a few more, but they sh*t everywhere :)
 
MxMartin said:
I should also add being a nature lover, I keep it open on the 4th side 'cos we have roosting bats, nesting Robins/Wrens and the swallows have just arrived.... I admire swallows, they come back every year and each year there are a few more, but they sh*t everywhere :)
Click to expand...
Similar probs ref dust but I've discovered builders wipes, quick, less fuss, better than my usual oily rag
 
MxMartin said:
It is a 3 sided barn with terracotta tiled roof so is effectively open to the elements. Ok so the bikes don't get rained on directly unless it is blowing a humdinger of an Easterly but humidity/condensation is the real problem..... daytime it warms up to 8deg, nightime it drops, condensation forms all over the bikes, even under covers. Being in the middle of Dyson farmland there is a lot of field dust in the breeze which settles on the condensation, the result is grime. The only time it is a problem is when I lay things up and forget about them for a few years, regular cleaning keeps the corrosion away but it takes time and a lot of autosol :(
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If it is big enough, may I suggest putting a small shed inside yes you read it right, inside the building, and for the condensation, use a dehumidifier inside the shed. That's what I would do.
 
Al's#5 said:
Similar probs ref dust but I've discovered builders wipes, quick, less fuss, better than my usual oily rag
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For most of the bikes I use regular cheapo spray bottle window cleaner and I have a stack of old micro fibre cloths, works wonders. It is just cleaning the bright metal parts that is the chore.... err labour of love :)
 
Bernhard said:
If it is big enough, may I suggest putting a small shed inside yes you read it right, inside the building, and for the condensation, use a dehumidifier inside the shed. That's what I would do.
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I have a tarpaulin stretched across the beams in the area where the bikes sit, this catches the detritus dropping down from the roof space. Building a shed is an option but to be honest I come from a biking background where bikes were parked outside house in all weathers, were used daily as only means of transport, carried all the gear with bungee straps marking all the surfaces, rarely got cleaned and after a year they looked 10 years old with 15k miles on the clock. I'm not really one to pamper my bikes, they are a tool for a purpose and when that expires they get moved on for something else, the 961 being 2 years old now is quite possibly the longest I have owned a road going bike, the exception being my old H-D but that is a different story.
 
BritTwit said:
Yeah, the FTR 1200 is a pretty nice bike.
I've heard good things about it.
The FTR has 120 ponies though, the SpeedTwin only 97.
I just prefer the Speed Twin on a purely appearance level.
Click to expand...

I wonder when people are going to learn? Power is useless unless you intend to race at Daytona or any other high-speed venue. What counts is torque, and although I haven't seen the respective diagrams, Indian provides max. torque at 6000 rpm which doesn't make the bike well suited to town riding or touring, IMO. The ultimate cafe racer it may be, if accelerating hard from roundabout to roundabout is your preference. Seems to be a toy bike. The Speed Twin may be a more versatile and therefore useful bike to most people.

Please excuse the non-Norton content.

-Knut
 
mdt-son said:
I wonder when people are going to learn? Power is useless unless you intend to race at Daytona or any other high-speed venue. What counts is torque, and although I haven't seen the respective diagrams, Indian provides max. torque at 6000 rpm which doesn't make the bike well suited to town riding or touring. The ultimate cafe racer it may be, if accelerating hard from roundabout to roundabout is your preference. Seems to be a toy bike. The Speed Twin may be a more versatile and therefore useful bike to most people.

-Knut
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Max torque on most bikes is at the higher rpm's so don't read too much into the figures, torque on the FTR comes in early, and power kicks in arm wrenching style bang on 4krpm, the combination makes it a superb urban bike with a mix of town and country lane twisties. keep the bike in 4th for as long as you want and let the torque do the work, or snick up and down through the gearbox to keep on the power. I rate the bike very high, nimble, sure footed, enough power for fun which isn't going to get you into trouble (listed as 120hp but tested at 115hp), and the ergonomics makes it a comfortable ride on motorways for an hour or two. It is far removed from being an ultimate cafe racer, not sure on which planet you read that description lol. A toy? Possibly, but in the same vein that my 961 is also a toy :)
 
mdt-son said:
I wonder when people are going to learn? Power is useless unless you intend to race at Daytona or any other high-speed venue. What counts is torque, and although I haven't seen the respective diagrams, Indian provides max. torque at 6000 rpm which doesn't make the bike well suited to town riding or touring, IMO. The ultimate cafe racer it may be, if accelerating hard from roundabout to roundabout is your preference. Seems to be a toy bike. The Speed Twin may be a more versatile and therefore useful bike to most people.

Please excuse the non-Norton content.

-Knut
Click to expand...

If you want to get that serious about it, peak torque figure and at what revs, is also pretty irrelevant.

Just because a bike produces its peak torque at 6,000rpm does not tell you what takes place below, or above that, it may still produce ‘shit loads’ at 3,000, then again it might produce almost nothing till 5,500! Likewise it may continue to produce almost peak torque long after 6,000, or it may drop like a stone.

Thaiumphs are a case in point, the T120 ‘high torque’ engine is championed as having a lower peak torque rpm than the ‘high power’ engine as in the Thruxton. Which is true. However if you look at the graphs, the high power engine actually produces more torque than the T120 does at its peak, at the same rpm, it’s just that it keep on climbing instead of tailing off.

But, at the end of the day, most motorcycles these days (in developed economies) are indeed “toys bikes”. Purchases are therefore driven more by desire and emotion than cold hard facts.

If all motorcycles were purchased solely on facts and practicality we would ALL be riding Honda’s. Period!
 
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