The Purchasing Decision

contours said:

Britjunkie said:

A friend of mine has a 1200 Thruxton R and made me ride it. I didn't want too because I knew what would happen. Fabulous torque, fantastic gearbox and clutch, suspension great, [altho he'd had it worked on] ergonomic's sort of boy racer, style, well that's where the Triumph and I part ways. Hideous tank seams that look like early Honda, fake fuel injection covers that try to look like Amal Monoblocks but without cables rising from the top, not really air-cooled, etc. When you buy a 961, you are buying an updated, new 850 Commando. There is nothing fake about it.

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Exactly the way I feel about the Thruxton R. Can't get past the disquise. And no Alloy or CF wheel option.

After riding the 961 Sport I highly doubt I'd be impressed by Thruxton's handling.

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Past IOM race winner Steve Parrish ran a 109mph lap of the IOM on dead stock Thruxton R.
A couple of years ago he was given a 961 to run the IOM with and managed high 80s mph.
For handling and power the two bikes are in different leagues.
There are little cosmetic details on both bikes that one could fixate on as wrong or right, but both are good looking bikes.
Ill leave it to others to worry about those cosmetic preferences, I'll take the fast and reliable bike and go ride the wheels off it!

http://www.fortheride.com/stories/watch ... evelation/

Glen

worntorn said:

For handling and power the two bikes are in different leagues.

http://www.fortheride.com/stories/watch ... evelation/

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The article is truly flattering, I'll give ya that. Just maybe Steve Parrish is in a quite different league as well? All I can say is, at my level, I have never felt more confident on narrow, hilly, twisty and often rough, beat up roads as I do on my 961. No, I don't have the Thruxton experience to compare it to. I sure as hell don't require any more power than the 961 offers as I rarely go over 60 MPH around here.

An A10 owner recently made similar comments about my old 850 Commando, questioning the need for "all that power" . Made me smile because it's only powerful compared to something like an A10.

My point about the IOM lap is that most of the opinions in forums are completely subjective from us amateurs who don't really know what handling is. Here is as close to an objective performance comparo as you will get, Steve Parrish going full tilt at the IOM.

worntorn said:

A couple of years ago he was given a 961 to run the IOM with and managed high 80s mph.

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Any link to that?

It was a feature in a motorcycle magazine, I'll have a look and see if I still have it.
He enjoyed riding the 961 as I recall.

Glen

worntorn said:

It was a feature in a motorcycle magazine, I'll have a look and see if I still have it.
He enjoyed riding the 961 as I recall.

Glen

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Good man. The only reference I found was he passed out Dave Roper on it but nothing else.
http://daveroperracing.blogspot.com/2016/10/2016-classic-tt.html

Turning into an old but familiar "I told you so" type of thread. Take your 12 grand and buy a Triumph already. This gets old. :roll:

Don't kill the debate Britfan, its ok to hear a few contrarian views. Every niche group protects it's own and it's normal for someone to come along and knock on the door and ask a few awkward questions now'n'again.

Triumph're a good comparison because they took an old brand, re-engineered and relaunched it and have recreated a mass market product. In my eyes they're a success story every motorcycle company would want to emulate. The Thruxton 1200R similarly appears to have hit the nail on the head so let's praise it not slag it off.

A healthy discourse should now head towards a bit of navel gazing and ask how Norton are doing in comparison and why when a new lad appears on the forum and asks why its still basically a single bike range and there isn't something more diverse he gets a bunch of stick from the protectors of the marque?

In my eyes we should expect more from Norton simply because their success is directly derived from meeting customer needs and at the end of the day, that's why they're in business.

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF said:

Givi quick release tank lock bag,handlebar risers( Dave coote prototype), 25 litre soft luggage Meant for a motocross bike ,indicators worked well in lieu of pannier rails,Alt rider rack meant for a Ducati multistrada,fabricated on by " faraday fabrications" broadstairs,Kent Uk , fuel range not a problem & never carried any spare,it worked for me,Dunlop Road smart 2 tyres fitted 5000 miles ago & loads of tread left,u can tour & tour on these bikes

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This post says to me ; I'm going to have a right good trip on my bike( it happens to be a Norton 961) I think it says it all, nothing to do with client demographics , product placement or aggressive business and 109mph laps not to mention professional rider aptitude verses couldn't handle a meat pie, just a guy going to have a bit of a road trip on his machine. A bet you he doesn't give two hoots about anybody's adverse comments when he gets where he going and desperate for a cold one. I think that may be the difference between a biker and a motorcyclist.

Interesting discussion, thought would throw my 2 cents worth at it.
I am a long time Brit Bike fan, with 7 vintage Norton's in the shed plus over the years added some exotica, MV Agusta F4 Brutale (2), F3, Laverda Jota, Ducati Darmah so I have some good experience to call upon.

Last year I bought a Thruxton R, sight unseen on pre-order when they announced it Nov 2015. My first impression in May 2016 when I picked it up was I was blown away by so many attritbutes of this bike - the torque is amazing, propelling me out of corners in a flash, putting me too fast into the next ones... handling is great, smooth, quiet, uncomplicated and yes with the fairing in Silver is a handsome bike. I did a four day long ride and really had no complaints. It is a keeper.

Earlier this year I chanced upon a 2013 961 CR being sold at a good discount for the a lightly used bike with 1500mls on it. In black and gold it is stunning. In 2004 I had gone to the Seattle show to put a deposit on a Deer 952 Commando, he had the prototype there to look at, but my eye was focused on the MV Brutale, hot little Italian number in a skimpy red dress.... so now 13 years later the chance to own a 961 was real... done... On my first ride of the 961, I sort of wondered what did I do?, this is nothing like the Thruxton R, noticeably down on power, but suspension, brakes and handling very nice. The motor was making a lot of noise that made me feel like the bystanders on the street were pointing at the charf-cutter coming... it was pretty loud.

I have a full shop and working on bikes is a hobby. I contacted Richard-7 from this site, downloaded all the manuals, bought the split gear spring and few other goodies, replaced the plugs, the battery, oil in engine and oil in primary/gbox (20/50 Liqui Moly), it has really settled down and sounds like a true thoroughbred. Two weekends ago I joined our club run for a 400mile day ride, wondering how the 961 would work out. It has clip-ons that are higher than stock which is about the same position as the Thruxton R, so I had no issue on the ride. End of the day I was very happy to have taken the 961 - the noise is barely noticeable now, the handling in the twisties is precise, bumps are sucked up by the Ohlins, braking fantastic, seat comfortable (with a sheepskin). As far as quality, one can feel the difference. The 961 is really the true extension of my 850 Commando, it is raw, it is a brute and gorgeous, I am thinking "bovver boy" sort of untamed behaviour, big hairy legs and a set of boots.

If you want an no fuss commuter, the 961 is not for you. It will demand things from you in all areas, even just the little things like draining the airbox oil periodically helps one connect with the bike.. it is all part of the experience. So far this year: 961 1000mls, Thruxton R 80miles. Says it all

A very delightful story. I am glad you are enjoying the 961.

If it's wasn't for the 850 commando we wouldn't have the Kenny Dreer bike pictured here,on my 8,500 mile transatlantic summer road trip last year,I had one of many chance meeting,s which lend me by invitation to see this guy,s private collection ,built for a " Cycle World " competition which some of u will be familiar with. Also Came across another guy With a great bunch of bikes that are rented from $150 a day ,inc this peachy 961 SE with the sexy pipes on ,so well worth a visit to " Moto Fantasy " in Oregon ,& finally if it wasn't for this 880 commando we definitely wouldn't have the 961 .

Richard 1047. I have read this thread and with your repeated criticism of Norton for only having one model I feel that you are completely missing the point and can only assume that you had no intention of buying one in the first place.
When I first saw it I always wanted a Dreer machine but unfortunately it was not to be.
I was therefore pleased when the company was bought up by Stuart Garner.
It was a massive gamble and at the time there was no talk about other models. The design and development has obviously taken some time and i feel for early buyers that had a lot of problems, I have to say however that most seem pleased when the machines have been sorted.
There has been a continued development leading to the Mk2 variant.
This machine seems to have most of the mods to make it a reliable machine and from what I can tell a very exciting and admired machine as opposed to a the run of the mill albeit very accomplished run of Jap bikes.

Triumph are a different kettle of fish completely although I understand the comparisons, as has been mentioned here they really are completely different machines.

It is well documented that Norton are developing new models, the V4 will, I assume be the flagship following on from its Isle of Man success, especially this year. They are also talking about a new range of twins which will have to change to comply with Euro compliance, although I see that the Mk2 961 has passed the required Euro 4 and as a result may well pass the Euro 5, presumably keeping it going for some time.

I believe that making a choice between the Triumph you bought to the 961 is like comparing Gold Plate to Gold. i.e. Gold plate looks like Gold and many people will be happy with it but its not really Gold, many people plump for plate as they cannot afford the real thing. I suspect this was there real reason you bough the Triumph.

What I cannot understand is that you do not seem to like the Triumph!

I by the way am a fan of Triumph and own a 1974 850 mk2 Commando, i still hope to buy a 961, it will be a new mk2 though, if I manage it.

Good luck with the Triumph by the way.

Oh and by the way Norton repeatedly say that they have no intention to make their machines mass produced.
With the price of other exotica from other companies the 961 is not looking as expensive as it perhaps did in the first place.
And has already been pointed out by many owners a few small mods would I'm sure if you had been serious in the first enabled the 961 to fit you!!

I find it a bit odd when someone tells me that I had no intention of doing something.... or that I'm not serious, furthermore 'repeated criticism' has only been two points that even I'm getting bored of repeating, so whilst I understand the need to get it off your chest, I'm not sure your comments are accurate.

Going straight to the final point about adapting the 961, the point you fail to understand is when you're 6'7" a one inch spacer on the bars isn't going to make a fig of difference hence (oh god I'm going to repeat it...) the point about a more relaxed riding position variant.

I admit the T100 has grown on me, I'm 300kms in and its a totally different power band to the Vstrom however yes, it's putting a smile on my face but in a different way.

Not much more to add.

Wasn't the right bike for you in the first place then, neither I assume was a Ducati!

Richard.

At 6'7"...I'd have gone with a very tall bike like the BMW GS, or the Triumph Tiger. Maybe a KTM adventure type bike. The Ducati Multistrada is quite tall. All of them too tall for my 32" inseam. Yet, the T100 is still quite short. And all of those bikes mentioned, be they not retro bikes, handle quite well and have much better suspension. Were any of these on the "maybe" list?

I had the Vstrom 1000 for 3 years and wanted to take a break from tall bikes. The T100 is fine, it's rather like sitting atop the Commando 750 if you know what a mean... steer with your knees! The Vstrom 1000 is a beast, the engine is superb. I recommend it to all.

Hello , I am on the other end of the spectrum. I am 5'-8" with a 30 in. inseam and a lot of bikes are too tall for me. With the 961 my feet reach the ground flat footed which I appreciate and slight bent knee. Same for the Triumph T120 and more so.