Pulling the trigger

Well at long last I took delivery of my new 961 yesterday. I thought the timing had actually turned out to be fortuitous. Great weather and my birthday tomorrow! Like an excited teenager, as soon as I arrived home from the dealers I was straight out on the road, trying hard to keep the revs below 3500.
Well would you bloody believe it, one of the fears I expressed at the start of this thread materialised. I'd only gone about ten miles when on a narrow, busy, country road I got a puncture! Thankfully a lovely lady stopped with a tyre compressor so I could pump up the tyre, (my jumping up and down cursing at the side of the road didn't seem to have put her off!) She had to stop alongside me to allow the lead to stretch, all the while controlling the traffic! I had to stop for this to be repeated three times before I reached home, and she followed me all the way. I didn't get her contact details but I just can't thank her enough.
So now the bike is sat in my garage on a squashed back tyre, going nowhere! I've contacted the dealer and they are going to pick up the bike at the end of next week. I asked as to how they will remove the rear wheel, but I didn't get an answer about that.
 
albional said:
Well at long last I took delivery of my new 961 yesterday. I thought the timing had actually turned out to be fortuitous. Great weather and my birthday tomorrow! Like an excited teenager, as soon as I arrived home from the dealers I was straight out on the road, trying hard to keep the revs below 3500.
Well would you bloody believe it, one of the fears I expressed at the start of this thread materialised. I'd only gone about ten miles when on a narrow, busy, country road I got a puncture! Thankfully a lovely lady stopped with a tyre compressor so I could pump up the tyre, (my jumping up and down cursing at the side of the road didn't seem to have put her off!) She had to stop alongside me to allow the lead to stretch, all the while controlling the traffic! I had to stop for this to be repeated three times before I reached home, and she followed me all the way. I didn't get her contact details but I just can't thank her enough.
So now the bike is sat in my garage on a squashed back tyre, going nowhere! I've contacted the dealer and they are going to pick up the bike at the end of next week. I asked as to how they will remove the rear wheel, but I didn't get an answer about that.
Click to expand...
How have you parked it ?

If you’ve left it on the side-stand it will more than likely be lying on its side by morning mate…
 
Well that is jolly bad luck , it’s best to keep a couple spare inner tubes at home btw , particularly the rear one , had my first puncture at around 12,000 miles outside a pub ,got it recovered to a local triumph main dealer & they didn’t have a tube on the shelf , so be advised all , get a spare or two
Pulling the trigger
Pulling the trigger
 
albional said:
Well at long last I took delivery of my new 961 yesterday. I thought the timing had actually turned out to be fortuitous. Great weather and my birthday tomorrow! Like an excited teenager, as soon as I arrived home from the dealers I was straight out on the road, trying hard to keep the revs below 3500.
Well would you bloody believe it, one of the fears I expressed at the start of this thread materialised. I'd only gone about ten miles when on a narrow, busy, country road I got a puncture! Thankfully a lovely lady stopped with a tyre compressor so I could pump up the tyre, (my jumping up and down cursing at the side of the road didn't seem to have put her off!) She had to stop alongside me to allow the lead to stretch, all the while controlling the traffic! I had to stop for this to be repeated three times before I reached home, and she followed me all the way. I didn't get her contact details but I just can't thank her enough.
So now the bike is sat in my garage on a squashed back tyre, going nowhere! I've contacted the dealer and they are going to pick up the bike at the end of next week. I asked as to how they will remove the rear wheel, but I didn't get an answer about that.
Click to expand...
Did you get her phone number?
 
Well First of all congratulations on your Norton ownership. My original intention to buy an electric commuter bike, along with common sense, went out the window when I saw the 961 CR and despite Donington-related issues do not regret my purchase.

Ran out of fuel a few miles after factory pick-up then a few hundred miles on I also got a puncture.... Fortunately managed to keep it upright on the sidestand. Since then I have done over 14K miles without another.

I am curious and suspicious- most riders do many thousands of miles between punctures so to get one so soon sounds very unlucky. Does your house often get hit by falling space hardware or lightening repeatedly hit you??? It makes me wonder about either an assembly issue or something on the wheel rim... can you see what caused it? When it is fixed I would make sure you are certain of the cause. Hopefully unless you live next to the Acme nail and screw manufacturing despatch yard you should be able to enjoy many miles without further issue.

Mine has bobbins but even with those getting it onto the paddock stand is a very precarious business. The ease that my single-side swingarm Ducati goes on makes me cry. I am considering a front wheel chock/stand for security while liting.

The jump start thing has never been an issue. They used to suffer from the instruments draining the battery overnight - not sure if this is sorted - so I bought a cheap trickle charger off ebay and plug it in when its parked up. Never fails to start.

Once this issue is sorted I'm sure you will enjoy the unique riding experience this bike delivers. I absolutely love mine now the Donington issues have been fixed (thanks Stu of Motorvated Patron Saint of all poor and distressed Donny 961 owners). There is absolutely nothing like it to make me change it. The only issue is the weight - many owners have dropped theirs while manoeuvring - but once on the move it is a delight. Keep us posted.
 
cliffa said:
Interestingly Outex list a DIY tubeless conversion kit for the 961…

Click to expand...


A couple of questions here if this kit changes a tubed rim into a tubeless rim and is supposed to work why would they need to sell "Air leak prevention agent" to seal leaks.?????. Central Wheel Components also do a sealing kit for tubed tyres. Another question which no one will give a definitive answer to is do the rims on the TVS 961 Commandos have the correct profile to be made into tubeless, I have asked TVS and they wont give a definite answer probably scared of possible come back on them.
 
Guessing the air leak prevention agent is to seal the bead as it's profile is not designed for tubeless..... Same problem mountain bike conversion kits.......
 
peebee said:
A couple of questions here if this kit changes a tubed rim into a tubeless rim and is supposed to work why would they need to sell "Air leak prevention agent" to seal leaks.?????. Central Wheel Components also do a sealing kit for tubed tyres. Another question which no one will give a definitive answer to is do the rims on the TVS 961 Commandos have the correct profile to be made into tubeless, I have asked TVS and they wont give a definite answer probably scared of possible come back on them.
Click to expand...
Yes, the rims do have the nessesary “hump” (for want of a better word) to ensure the tyre stays central in the event of a puncture. Presumably the “air leak prevention agent” is some kind of self healing liquid ?
 
cliffa said:
Yes, the rims do have the nessesary “hump” (for want of a better word) to ensure the tyre stays central in the event of a puncture. Presumably the “air leak prevention agent” is some kind of self healing liquid ?
Click to expand...
Well if it is self healing liquid I might buy a bottle and take a swig every day.😵‍💫
 
Fast Eddie said:
How have you parked it ?

If you’ve left it on the side-stand it will more than likely be lying on its side by morning mate…
Click to expand...
Well I assumed it would be ok because when I parked up the tyre was flat and the bike was stable. But then after reading your message I realised the tyre would not have been fully flat at that time and I rushed into the garage to find the bike stood just about vertical in such a position that if I'd just breathed on it it would have been over! All I've been able to do is put a well padded prop against the right side and tie a sturdy rope to the handlebars looped over the roof joists. It seems secure enough now - I hope!
 
albional said:
Well I assumed it would be ok because when I parked up the tyre was flat and the bike was stable. But then after reading your message I realised the tyre would not have been fully flat at that time and I rushed into the garage to find the bike stood just about vertical in such a position that if I'd just breathed on it it would have been over! All I've been able to do is put a well padded prop against the right side and tie a sturdy rope to the handlebars looped over the roof joists. It seems secure enough now - I hope!
Click to expand...

A paddock stand is a good addition to yer shed.

There’s a chap on the FB page called Fozzie Forsdike who makes some neat paddock stand bobbins that fit into the wheel spindle, no good for wheel changes of course, but good for secure storage and wheel cleaning etc.

I don’t leave mine in for fear of them fouling the exhaust, I fit ‘em when in use and remove ‘em for riding.

Pulling the trigger
 
Clive said:
Well First of all congratulations on your Norton ownership. My original intention to buy an electric commuter bike, along with common sense, went out the window when I saw the 961 CR and despite Donington-related issues do not regret my purchase.

Ran out of fuel a few miles after factory pick-up then a few hundred miles on I also got a puncture.... Fortunately managed to keep it upright on the sidestand. Since then I have done over 14K miles without another.

I am curious and suspicious- most riders do many thousands of miles between punctures so to get one so soon sounds very unlucky. Does your house often get hit by falling space hardware or lightening repeatedly hit you??? It makes me wonder about either an assembly issue or something on the wheel rim... can you see what caused it? When it is fixed I would make sure you are certain of the cause. Hopefully unless you live next to the Acme nail and screw manufacturing despatch yard you should be able to enjoy many miles without further issue.

Mine has bobbins but even with those getting it onto the paddock stand is a very precarious business. The ease that my single-side swingarm Ducati goes on makes me cry. I am considering a front wheel chock/stand for security while liting.

The jump start thing has never been an issue. They used to suffer from the instruments draining the battery overnight - not sure if this is sorted - so I bought a cheap trickle charger off ebay and plug it in when its parked up. Never fails to start.

Once this issue is sorted I'm sure you will enjoy the unique riding experience this bike delivers. I absolutely love mine now the Donington issues have been fixed (thanks Stu of Motorvated Patron Saint of all poor and distressed Donny 961 owners). There is absolutely nothing like it to make me change it. The only issue is the weight - many owners have dropped theirs while manoeuvring - but once on the move it is a delight. Keep us posted.
Click to expand...
Funny you mention the bit about lightning, anyway that's another story! I can see the cause of the puncture which is a dirty great screw. It's in the centre of the tread, so normally I would assume the tyre to be repairable. I'm just wondering however if the weight of the bike on the sidewalls over several days means the tyre is now knackered.

I'd had my bonneville for 13 years before a puncture, so it's particulary galling for it to happen within hours of collecting the 961. More so because I'd been so fearful of this happening as to raise concerns regarding removing the rear wheel at the beginning of this thread. The bonneville puncture happened only a mile from home but still meant leaving the bike at a nearby house for a couple of days, thankfully I'd paid extra to have a centre stand fitted at new. With my recent aquisition of a new Guzzi V7, I insisted on a centre stand being fitted as part of the otr price.

I know how dealers skimp on the fuel, regardless of the purchase price, so the first thing I did was to top up the tank (I wasn't going to be left stranded at the side of the road with strange women offering to help me, shortly after picking the bike up!)

I know how much you love the bike from your past posts and I agree the ride is a unique experience which I love too. I'm just wondering though if the bike loves me or is trying to tell me something! I'm very wary of not just the weight of the bike but also the restricted steering lock. I'm sure now that this is the reason for the incident I had during a factory test ride. I didn't so much as fall off the bike, I ended up with it on top of me! I was alright (I landed on my head) but dammit they made me pay for the damage! I believe what happened was that I'd made a sudden turn that the steering lock couldn't cope with. It's certainly something which has never happened to me before. But you are right, on the move the bike is a delight and it looks even better in the flesh that any photograph can do justice.
 
My puncture was a screw in the middle and was repaired with no issues. FE's advice was wise - heard a story where one got a flat, went over and played dominos with bikes next to it. I am wondering about getting a half inch or so taken off the side stand and re-welded. My Kawa, although lightweight, is the opposite and leans at a most alarming angle but is totally stable. Another thing to consider when parking on a camber. Or on a ferry..... And yes to protect the bike I let it go over on me once rather than damage it and was stuck under it on the drive at 6 in the morning..... The turning circle can be a nuisance when manoeuvring round cars on the drive but never been a big issue for me.
I'm in the Midlands and the weather is mixed this week but looks to be picking up next weekend. Give yourself a second birthday and new bike ride re-run?
 
Expensive fix for the puncture situation (plug’n’go), but with other benefits that include better manoeuvrability, is the fitting of carbon wheels as we’ve discussed previously. If the bikes a keeper that is!

Styles are limited but they are available and they do make a huge difference to handling, through a marked reduction of unsprung weight.
 


Write your reply...

Similar threads

Bonzo
Bike pulling to the left...
2
Replies
29
Views
2,095
o0norton0o
o0norton0o
grandpaul
"Three-Ring Circus" at the Flying Z Ranch
2
Replies
21
Views
1,175
grandpaul
grandpaul
S
  • Locked
Boyer magnetic trigger
Replies
9
Views
1,422
seattle##gs
S
cliffa
Factory tour and 961sp test ride
Replies
18
Views
1,501
City Garage
City Garage
ashman
Seems to be a debate on use of clutch when stopped
2 3 4 5 6 7
Replies
134
Views
9,013
ashman
ashman
Back
Top