Pictures of your Norton 961

Your missus is right, you‘re on track to burn out. It happens a lot, it doesn’t have to end in dramatic mental health issues, but it can easily end in you getting so fed up that you hate the sight of 961s and chuck it all in.

As to whether or not she’s right about jacking the day job, well, that’s a call that only you can make, but good luck either way sir.
 
Stu Bodycote said:
And much appreciated it is too! If you started producing them, I reckon you'd be a very busy bloke. Not only do you have the potential sales from 2010 to 2020 Donington heritage 961s, but also it seems TVS have stuck with the same shite throttle bodies, so potential re-release 961 customers too.

And cheers for the kind words. Tbh the 961 thing at present is getting to be a strain on my well being ie no free time to relax....and even when I do sit down for a bit, I'm on here, the FB page or scouring the internet world for 961 related parts, or solutions to parts. Finished at midnight on Friday, 11pm Saturday and 1am Monday morning....and up 6:30am Monday morning to start the day job...its catching up with me now. Running Motorvated alongside running someone else's workshop during the week just aint happening, especially now we have a baby. The missus (*boss) has now stepped in, insisting that I keep a day/evening for myself once a week...and also that I quit my job and take this full time next Spring. Even though she's been in Poland with the boy (I'm actually sat at East Mids airport, waiting for her flight to come in), she's been sending me links to workshops and units to rent. So, watch this space..
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That's awesome news , especially for the UK 961 owners ! Just think , One day you will be working on TVS Nortons and will be telling us what fits and whats what !
 
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Yeah, I know she's right tbh.

Anyhow, quicky chucked my mudguard back on after having the brackets cerakoted black. I think it looks much better than when they were silver. Its only a dry run at fitting as the mudguard needs a proper polish.
Ive also found some nicer looking tyres....Dunlop TT100's, so I'll be replacing these Pirelli Phantoms. I loved the look of the rear, but not so the front
 

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  • Pictures of your Norton 961
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This is not my 961. Regarding this exhaust system. What is it and why??? Looks like a way to collect water from rain fall in drought prone regions or a Frankenbike model.
 

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Boss302 said:
This is not my 961. Regarding this exhaust system. What is it and why??? Looks like a way to collect water from rain fall in drought prone regions or a Frankenbike model.
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Good one!
That exhaust is a Gen 2 exhaust from Matt Capri - SouthBay Norton - now defunct.
Matt's original exhaust had a fowling issue with the drive chain.
The Gen 2 exhaust was an attempt to resolve the issue.
Cone Engineering made the silencers - "Dominator Silencers," which are not actually very silent at all.
Rather rakish design, no?:D
 
BritTwit said:
Good one!
That exhaust is a Gen 2 exhaust from Matt Capri - SouthBay Norton - now defunct.
Matt's original exhaust had a fowling issue with the drive chain.
The Gen 2 exhaust was an attempt to resolve the issue.
Cone Engineering made the silencers - "Dominator Silencers," which are not actually very silent at all.
Rather rakish design, no?:D
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Thanks for that info. I've seen them on a few bikes and had no explanation. My bike was a demo at South Bay Norton before they closed and then consigned to Orange County. I'm glad they did not put this "upgrade" on my bike. The ones I've seen them on seem to be circa 2015.
 
Boss302 said:
Thanks for that info. I've seen them on a few bikes and had no explanation. My bike was a demo at South Bay Norton before they closed and then consigned to Orange County. I'm glad they did not put this "upgrade" on my bike. The ones I've seen them on seem to be circa 2015.
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Yeah, 2014 or 2015 is about right.
The gen 1 exhaust fowled the drive chain, and the vibes from the 961 caused the mounting ears on the silencers to fracture at their welds. My gen 1's had both problems. Matt got a number of complaints and redesigned them.
 
Designed (in part I guess) for the aesthetics of the cones following the line of the rear frame section. Rakish indeed. Wonder how he gets on with heavy lean angle on righties!? :oops:
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Designed (in part I guess) for the aesthetics of the cones following the line of the rear frame section. Rakish indeed. Wonder how he gets on with heavy lean angle on righties!? :oops:
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They actually increased cornering clearance on the right side as opposed to the gen 1 design.
In that picture you can't see but by moving the silencer back slightly, Matt was able to keep the end of the crossover pipe and silencer closer to the bike centerline but lower away from the chain.
The design may look "over the top" aesthetically, but it actually worked.
He fixed the fracturing weld problem by having Cone replace the welded ears with the more conventional slotted captured nut bolt on ears.
It's a well built system.
 
Now I know where I've seen it before.
 

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Stephen_Spencer said:
Designed (in part I guess) for the aesthetics of the cones following the line of the rear frame section. Rakish indeed. Wonder how he gets on with heavy lean angle on righties!? :oops:
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@Stephen_Spencer You mean like, when you're bending over to pick up a cleaning cloth? Or leaning for another can of "joint lubricant" to ensure a pain free cleaning process?
 
Gojuu said:
@Stephen_Spencer You mean like, when you're bending over to pick up a cleaning cloth? Or leaning for another can of "joint lubricant" to ensure a pain free cleaning process?
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Ah Sir Gj, ye knoweth I too well!! You have to keep an ‘eye out’ for those cleaning injuries! A friction burm from overly vigorous use of a microfibre cloth can be quite nasty :oops: ! This happened the last time I got carried away!!

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Pre-ride fettle/clean before I go scrub in those beautiful new shoes tomorrow - no cracks apparent in the frame:rolleyes:! Couple of hundred Km of hinterland heaven planned, sandwiched either side of a fat-boy breakfast - with extra cholesterol!

Yes that is my dirt bike! Yes it is ‘that clean’ under the front mudguard!! And yes, I do need help:oops:!!!

I didn’t buy a dirtbike to get it dirty!

Pictures of your Norton 961
 
And this is a crack to watch out for....centre exhaust hanger. Although a couple have reported an improvement in vibrations since the hanger breaks free.
 

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Stu Bodycote said:
Looks lovely!
What tyres you gone for? I'm eyeing up a set of Dunlop TT100's at present
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Hey Stu, I’m ‘sticking’ (literally) with Michelin. Had a great experience with the Michelin Power RS; super sticky and long lasting - go figure! Scrubbed the Michelin Power 5‘s (next iteration RS) in today. Same, same - lots ‘o’ lean angle and rock steady. Not surprising really - the ass end is hardly gonna get all squirrelly accelerating out of a corner with only 87 horses on tap! They appear to have a slightly steeper side wall, so rubbing out the Michelin Man logo (which is compulsory as we know) may be more challenging.

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Stephen_Spencer said:
Pre-ride fettle/clean before I go scrub in those beautiful new shoes tomorrow - no cracks apparent in the frame:rolleyes:! Couple of hundred Km of hinterland heaven planned, sandwiched either side of a fat-boy breakfast - with extra cholesterol!

Yes that is my dirt bike! Yes it is ‘that clean’ under the front mudguard!! And yes, I do need help:oops:!!!

I didn’t buy a dirtbike to get it dirty!

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Your garage floor and walls are very nice too.
 
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