Norton reliability!!!!!

glb · Aug 30, 2017

Just a thought. A lot has been said about Norton 961's and their reliability. Motorcycle.com just posted an article about BMW. This summer alone there have been recalls for R1200GS, R1200GS Adventure, C650GT and C, Evolution scooters and now the R NineT. Maybe in general things are not built as well as they should be. If one of the major players in the motoring industry can't always get it right!!!!!!! Maybe Norton isn't so bad after all.

Raphi · Aug 30, 2017

Well too much electronic gadgets can be problematic...
When I was on tour once with my 961 I met a guy trying to start his RnineT. He couldn't understand the 'WFS' symbol displayed. The manual was in a little box under the seat, but the box couldn't be opened!
Letting the poor guy behind, because I couldn't help, it suddenly came to my mind what 'WFS' means. It's German and says "Wegfahrsperre" (=engine immobilizer)... No wonder the poor boy could move his bike only by pushing it!
Well Norton's electronic parts as some sensors do not seem to be best quality either, but fortunately there are better substitutes e.g. from Bosch...

Bernhard · Aug 31, 2017

re; “Well Norton's electronic parts as some sensors do not seem to be best quality either, but fortunately there are better substitutes e.g. from Bosch...”

And you wonder why I brought a Bosch washing machine – but even they do not always get it right they appeared to once have used a component that was exactly the same fitted to the cheapo “Lada “ scale end of the machines :!:

Richard 1047 · Aug 31, 2017

I lived in Brazil for 10 years and was friends with the German boss of Bosch do Brasil that made their home appliances for the South America market. Don't mean to put a damper ont hings but he quietly admitted that Bosch goods made outside Germany (ie for the European market) were far inferior to other, cheaper markets. As we've said a few times concerning components, you get what you pay for...

worntorn · Aug 31, 2017

One of these dishwashers caught fire in our house a few years ago. Fortunately we were home to attack it with a fire extinguisher.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... -used.html

BritTwit · Aug 31, 2017

worntorn said:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... -used.html

Bosch Operations Director, claimed the fire “risk is very low”. He urged customers worried about their appliances to visit the company’s website.

He told ITV: “Any move to improve registration of appliances to make them easier to trace, we would support.”

He said the company did not feel it was “necessary” to advise households not to use their dishwasher unattended.

I wonder how he would feel if he had one of those units in his house?

Incredible!

cehenard · Aug 31, 2017

I never expected the world would be moving in this direction but I'm proven wrong each day. Planned and calculated obsolescence is keeping the world working and buying and selling. Manufacturers improving their products, but not too much, just enough to make you want to buy the latest and greatest, until they introduce version 2, then 3 , then the new and improved one.
Look at what we're discussing. Comparison of a hopefully high quality product with a similar hopefully high quality product, and trying to justify product "RELIABILITY" by by saying which one of the two must be the LEAST UNRELIABLE. In my life I've set standards for myself that II try to stick to and live by. One of these is; It does not make me look better to point out someone else's faults. Another is; you don't have to tell people you're great if you're great. Live the example you want to be and let them see it for their selves. Pretty sure perfection has been gone for close to 2018 years now.
There's an awful lot of concerns on this section trying to justify the Norton 961 cost, value, reliability etc.. Face facts, these bikes are not a major player in the motorcycle population of the planet and that's not why we bought them. We have to justify the cost to ourselves only. The value is going to be there for us and those of like minds. These bikes will be as reliable as we make and keep them. Maybe I can't repair my cellphone and it's made to go in the trash after a few years, but somebody will inherit my 961 one day. Hope there's petroleum left.
Charlie

richard-7 · Aug 31, 2017

Best answer right here.

cehenard said:
I never expected the world would be moving in this direction but I'm proven wrong each day. Planned and calculated obsolescence is keeping the world working and buying and selling. Manufacturers improving their products, but not too much, just enough to make you want to buy the latest and greatest, until they introduce version 2, then 3 , then the new and improved one.
Look at what we're discussing. Comparison of a hopefully high quality product with a similar hopefully high quality product, and trying to justify product "RELIABILITY" by by saying which one of the two must be the LEAST UNRELIABLE. In my life I've set standards for myself that II try to stick to and live by. One of these is; It does not make me look better to point out someone else's faults. Another is; you don't have to tell people you're great if you're great. Live the example you want to be and let them see it for their selves. Pretty sure perfection has been gone for close to 2018 years now.
There's an awful lot of concerns on this section trying to justify the Norton 961 cost, value, reliability etc.. Face facts, these bikes are not a major player in the motorcycle population of the planet and that's not why we bought them. We have to justify the cost to ourselves only. The value is going to be there for us and those of like minds. These bikes will be as reliable as we make and keep them. Maybe I can't repair my cellphone and it's made to go in the trash after a few years, but somebody will inherit my 961 one day. Hope there's petroleum left.
Charlie

Britfan60 · Aug 31, 2017

I've had German cars my whole life. I've never bought them for their reliability. VW and Mercedes. Both suck. They do have longevity and are great to drive but had quite a few visits to the shop. I didn't buy them for their reliability. I've also had a few English vehicles. They are almost as bad as a Yugo, but are the coolest damned vehicles on the planet as far as grin factor. So..if ya like, buy it. Have fun. By the way, my Bosch dish washer only lasted 7 years compared to over 20 on my Kitchen Aid. Went back to Kitchen Aid.

GKRyder · Aug 31, 2017

Bernhard said:
re; “And you wonder why I brought a Bosch washing machine – but even they do not always get it right they appeared to once have used a component that was exactly the same fitted to the cheapo “Lada “ scale end of the machines :!:

Nooooo

I had a Lada Niva for over 10 years. Awesome little 4WD then one time would not start...faulty regulator...it was a GM part that they put in for 'compliance' but yes I know where you're coming from.

speirmoor · Sep 1, 2017

Ever read Motorcycle Consumer News? There isn't a month that goes by that does not have at least one recall listed from the major manufacturers. Sometimes its a whole page of recalls spread across the industry. Look at Ducati in recent years, flaked chrome rockers, Soft valve guides,Reg/Rec failure , Swollen tanks etc. There are way more Ducati websites than Norton ones so the complaints may seem a bit more amplified here but its par for the course in my opinion.

glb · Sep 1, 2017

I was not trying to point out faults with other manufacturers in 'mines better than yours' scenario. I was trying to say that even major manufacturers get things wrong. I used BMW as an example as it appeared on my Facebook feed. In this day and age the frustration at dealing with faulty parts is or at least seems to be far more common place that it was when I was growing up. How many times have you had to return new product which had failed. Built in obsolescence is one thing and I can deal with that. Modern products do not seem to have the longevity of their predecessors.

Norton has had problems but no better or worse than anyone else. I bought my bike not because it was exclusive, upmarket or expensive. Certainly not on its reputation. I bought mine after visiting the factory with a friend. I had done this many times before with him. However on this occasion I saw a Dominator in the flesh for the first time and sat on it. That was me sold. Would I sell it. No. Do I ride other bikes. Yes. Do I have to justify the cost to myself or anyone else. No. I do not care what anyone else prefers. For each it is a matter of their own taste.

richard-7 · Sep 1, 2017

The Norton 961 is one of the most simple modern bikes available. Also, one of the easiest to work on. You can make ANY of the 961's (DOMI/COMMANDO/TRACKER) reliable. Most are good out of the gates. Some have issues that creep up. ALL OF WHICH ARE EASY FIXES. Here's my suggestion: Buy it if you like it and don't worry about any of the reviews. Upgrade the sensors and coil and wires and plugs. Ride it daily or as much as you can while under warranty. If there is an issue; you will know by the first 1,500 miles. I would bet if you do all your preventative maintenance and break it in and torque the head and upgrade the ignition, there will not be any issues for many many years. My 2014 SE (starting riding it MAY 2015) has never let me down. Rode to North Carolina 2015 INOA Rally from Niagara Falls, Rode to Finger lakes twice, Rode up north 874 KM's in one day. I now have 11,000 happy well enjoyed miles on it. And I don't baby the engine either. Shifts are almost always above 4,500 rpm and a lot of times 6,000 RPM. I'm not much of a speeder but do average 60MPH on B roads. Hard bends, fast starts, heavy braking. The way it's was intended to be ridden. None of this average 80MPH or more type stuff. If that's your thing then this is the wrong bike for you. If you don't even own a screw driver, THIS IS NOT YOUR BIKE. This bike DOES require some hands on.

If you own a few tools and enjoy tinkering as much as you enjoy looking, riding and cleaning it AND>>> If a Fuel injected HOT ROD Bike is your style, A 961 IS YOUR BIKE!!!!

nopdog · Sep 1, 2017

Yeah Yeah Yeah!
It's 1am in Australia and I just wont my f norton to be the best it can be.
Is that to much to ask.
Cost, who cares, oil/petrol , the earth is literally swimming in it.
Question. How many bikes do you need?
Answer. Just one more.

I've got X bikes in the shed and I love them all. All have broken down, blown up, snapped mainshafts, conrods you name it but the norton well now that's something special.

There's three good bikes, all good fun to ride but the Norton it's something special. Jap crap, ducati muscle, KTM madness it's all over powered sowing machines.
That will do me.
Simon

nopdog · Sep 1, 2017

Well said Richard,
That's it in a nutshell.

bpjthornton · Nov 2, 2017

Yep nicely put Richard-7 and Charlie.

Danno · Nov 8, 2017

A friend with a BMW K1300S had it hooked to a battery tender when there was a lightning strike in his back yard. Blew out 2 big screen tvs, their desktop computer, circuitry on the hot tub and garage door openers, electric door locks on his Corvette and the electric power steering unit on his Silverado. All three bikes, the Bimmer, his Ducati and his wife's Yamaha were hooked to battery tenders. All three tenders were fried, but only the Bimmer was effected. The other two bikes were OK. $4000 and hauls to two different dealers later, after replacing every electronic unit and getting the new stuff reprogrammed, his $12,000 machine is now a $16,000 machine. The more complex something is, the more it costs to fix. Nothing is bulletproof.

Norton reliability!!!!!

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