Pictures of your Norton 961

Fast Eddie said:

They’ll be sought after collectors items when these bikes are being restored to ‘factory’ condition... in 40 or 50 years time...

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Would that be the 'after the factory had plundered them for parts' condition ?

Finally got an excuse to take a bike out today, but it wasn't the 961, instead I chose a bike that was likely to give me the least aggravation and after a 7 month lay up it didn't disappoint. No electrics issues on the Injun, fired up without hesitation and gave me 50 miles of pure face in the breeze adrenaline filled pleasure, on empty roads the likes I haven't seen for decades.

PS: that little bundle to the left is the new silencer.... still not fitted yet, my heart just isn't in it

MxMartin said:

Finally got an excuse to take a bike out today, but it wasn't the 961, instead I chose a bike that was likely to give me the least aggravation and after a 7 month lay up it didn't disappoint. No electrics issues on the Injun, fired up without hesitation and gave me 50 miles of pure face in the breeze adrenaline filled pleasure, on empty roads the likes I haven't seen for decades.

PS: that little bundle to the left is the new silencer.... still not fitted yet, my heart just isn't in it

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A muffler for the 961 ? What happened ?

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF said:

On way back back from the annual MOT test ( ministry of transport) which us brits have to tolerate once a year when bike reaches 3 years old .
I stopped by here for a photo opp, the planes are inside the building & couldn’t get the bike inside without anyone noticing, RAF Manston was also a full blown USAF base in the fifties,lot of americans married local girls & took em back to the states View attachment 14893

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Hello Richard , Is this the museum Katherine and I visited ?

Al's#5 said:

3 British icons, glad we've retrieved Norton and hope it stays here.

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I am hoping we get this wish too. It seems to me others on this forum could care less or wish it never was made again by Garner .

TonyA said:

Hello Richard , Is this the museum Katherine and I visited ?

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Yep it is Tony , & like other bankrupt stock & shady dealings the 700 acre airport was bought for £1 ( but £10,000,000 debt) & almost a huge web of slight of hand dealings, off shore companies , Cayman Islands, struck off lawyers , directors known of fraudulent practices, developers, brown envelopes, public enquires reminds me of another company in the news atm !

TonyA said:

A muffler for the 961 ? What happened ?

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Nothing serious, the internal baffle broke away from it's spot welds. I will hang on to the old one as I am sure it could easily be cut open and baffles welded back in place.

They’re getting closer Mark !!

Fast Eddie said:

They’re getting closer Mark !!

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True but there is a problem, it is the right silencer that needs replacing and the new one is on the floor on the left flank. I could move it to the right, only problem there is an H-D SX250 2-stroke in a pile of bits on that side (too dark in photo) also awaiting attention.... just not enough hours in the day to get these 'projects' on the go. Instead I took my Honda 500 Quad out on my field, switched it to rear 2 wheel drive, locked the diff and had an hours fun 'rear end drifting' on the fresh new grass that's coming through

Here she is hard at work in 4wd mode, electric shift gearbox.... but great fun on wet grass


It's just crossed my mind, this ol'girl is 10 years old now, It has sat in the barn uncovered most Winters, gets an annual oil/filter change.... and has NEVER let me down..... nothing has ever needed replacing, still has the original battery! Norton just didn't put any effort into the design of the 961, SG and SS just took the money and ran

First ride in over a month. In keeping with our local virus ordinances, I had no contact with other people, except some waves. And I used hand sanitizer wipes after pumping gas. Just a pleasant 82 mile round trip with stops only for gas and pictures. The weather is beautiful, a warm, sunny, blue sky day in the California canyons. And on a Norton. It could be better, but not much.

The bike in front of the bronze bikers in the city of Santa Paula.



And a shot at one of the view areas overlooking the Ojai Valley. The words seemed appropriate.



Ken

Beautiful.
California dreaming baby.

Had a drive to California myself this morning, the North Yorkshire one. Sunny but not as warm me thinks. All back under covers til the all clear.

I had mine in for a little work and an oil change the day the company went into admin. Despite a few days of poor comms from BDO, they were very helpful and I managed to collect my bike a week and a bit later so early Feb. Rode it back some 70 miles and it performed well but it was a miserable ride, very cold, I was inappropriately dressed as well which made it worse. Would have taken some pics but hands were too cold and neck/back locked in cafe racer position.

Since then and of course due to this virus situation, there have been plenty of fairly cold sunny days in the UK but a combination of using it on essential trips due to lockdown and trying to limit mileage now till we know spare parts are accessible, there have been fewer opportunities to ride it. I have added about 200 miles though and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Actually, whether it is cold or not, if the sun is out, I am trying to use the bikes where I can to get me to work. I make medium voltage cable joints (splices to our usa friends) and am a self declared essential supplier (we supply the MOD and have supplied the recent hostpital at the excel exbo centre so believe I qualify). I am trying to do things I really enjoy like riding the bikes, drinking a lot of coffee, alcohol and working through the contents of my humidor. Missing my games of tennis/squash/racketball but have started on the cross trainer as I am fortunate to have a home gym above the man/bike/beer cave. So I am doing these things in case I kick the bucket any time soon because of the current situation. Don't tell the wife but probably 8 x expresso shots a day, 80 alcohol units a week and 4 x cuban cigars a week. Some bacon/saugage rolls and wine gums.

I hope you guys are trying to pack some good things in also, just in case. But maybe some healthier pursuits than a 54 year year welshman.

Lovely sunny day today so took the 961 to work, wonderful country route (about 16 miles each way) so a few snaps below. What a beautiful machine, lovely rear rump end/butt/arse.

I suppose you will need to change your plate to RIP OTON now?

MxMartin said:

Here she is hard at work in 4wd mode, electric shift gearbox.... but great fun on wet grass

It's just crossed my mind, this ol'girl is 10 years old now, It has sat in the barn uncovered most Winters, gets an annual oil/filter change.... and has NEVER let me down..... nothing has ever needed replacing, still has the original battery! Norton just didn't put any effort into the design of the 961, SG and SS just took the money and ran

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Hello MXMartin , Do you have a farm ?

Showing off there Rugby. Sounds like your having fun. I don’t add up what I eat n drink n smoke. But I do ride the bitch every chance I get. Enjoy

Here's few pictures of Domi #39. Had recent handlebar conversion from the ill-fated Dominator Street parts bin.....reversible, but a better ride. Got a Domiracer front mudguard and throttle quadrant cover plus tail tidy & baffles from Sean R. Lot of warranty work dealt with extremely well by Norton (broken Megaphone pipe, oil issues following breather mod...) Now waiting to get it through the MoT test once this CV epidemic is over....

With mate's AM..

Handlebars...

Handlebars outside Norton workshop...

And as original...

N York Moors with Italians...

Any trouble keeping up with them ?

Halcyon days in the factory when u could see/chat / touch the heart of all things Norton , early 2017