Norton 961 California Article

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Hi , This was in Classic Motorcycle magazine by Alan Cathcart .
 

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Tony,
Thanks for posting.
Very interesting article.
Especially where Skinner reveals:

“It was a pretty significant evolution of the original
961 engine, because the motor was retooled almost
in its entirety. We have new crankcases, new
cylinders, a new cylinder head, new pistons, new
crankshaft, and a new gearbox, all in order to reduce
NVH [Noise Vibration and Harshness], and to
improve overall quality as a means of refining the
product..."

This is a significant investment by Norton, and should mean new models are vastly improved.
 
I understand this new engine doesn't pass US emissions and, as such, won't be allowed into the country.
 
Well there you have it.
5000 bikes in 10 years.
So 500 bikes a year or
41.6 bikes a month.
 
What I was told is that the recent re-design of the engine to make it comply with European noise emissions standards resulted in the engine having to be re-certified for entry into the US and that, as yet, has not happened.
 
My dealership ordered one as a favor to a customer, although no longer a Norton dealer. He waited 3 months, the bike landed in the US and got sent back for non EPA compliance.
 
Wow. I thought Euro 4 was much stricter than the US regs?

If so, it should be ‘in hand’ to get the admin sorted I imagine.
 
My dealership ordered one as a favor to a customer, although no longer a Norton dealer. He waited 3 months, the bike landed in the US and got sent back for non EPA compliance.
Same thing happened to me. Ordered in Aug '17 and STILL don't have the bike.
 
Wow. I thought Euro 4 was much stricter than the US regs?

If so, it should be ‘in hand’ to get the admin sorted I imagine.
Regardless of the strictness of the regulations, new forms and inspections are required and this process, as I understand it, hasn't happened yet.
 
Yes, of course, but at least there shouldn’t be any engineering changes required to the bike.

So hopefully it’s something that one would think could be done relatively quickly?
 
From what I gather, this has been a factor ever since the re-design of the engine to make it quieter so as to comply with the European regulations. The changes, essentially, amount to an entirely new engine that will have to go through the whole emissions and DOT re-certification all over again.
 
From what I gather, this has been a factor ever since the re-design of the engine to make it quieter so as to comply with the European regulations. The changes, essentially, amount to an entirely new engine that will have to go through the whole emissions and DOT re-certification all over again.

That makes sense.
Any modification that results in a significant change from the original certification results would trigger a need for re-certification.
Unfortunately.
 
From what I gather, this has been a factor ever since the re-design of the engine to make it quieter so as to comply with the European regulations. The changes, essentially, amount to an entirely new engine that will have to go through the whole emissions and DOT re-certification all over again.


I’m going to say Rob will de bunk this. If anything the engine hasnt really changed. Simon said all parts fit all years. I’m guessing its a paperwork
Issue. Norton went down this road in the past. Or if testing is required its to pass the new electronics on the bike for each country. Each country and within it each state have their own set if sets and rules. Its a paperwork nightmare.
 
Paperwork nightmare or not, my bike got rejected for emissions and was returned to the UK in September 2017 and, from what I gather, the second shipment met the same fate. I've been waiting since 10 August 2017.

Norton hasn't answered any of my e-mail inquiries, either. Not since day one.
 
What I was told is that the recent re-design of the engine to make it comply with European noise emissions standards resulted in the engine having to be re-certified for entry into the US and that, as yet, has not happened.
Maybe you are the customer my dealership was referring to. NY??
 
. Richard 7 told me the tale of how the SF 961 came about with the USD forks & import regs or EPA ,Norton got round it that time ,perhaps u can tell us all again rich ?


As told to me, the first bikes that went through homologation for Canada (and maybe usa) had USD forks. Because of costs they didnt want to send another bike where the only things different were front brakes and forks. So was born the Sport Factory (SF). Which is really the CAFE RACER with standard bars. So no more needing to send bikes for testing. But no RWU forks in Canada up to now. Also, in Canada, there was a shipment of 10 bikes (as far as I know its only 10) that had to be back dated because of some paperwork issue. I have one of them. So my 2014 SE is registered as a 2013 SE but the vin and the sticker on the frame and the tag in the rims all say made May 2014. So I’m part of the super super super rare club. Only 20 SE’s in Canada which is fully loaded with carbon usd and leather seat; 1 of only 50 bikes total of all configurations in Canada. 2013,2014,2016 only. And 1 of 10 with back dating paperwork. And its my daily. Lol. There are less rare bikes that have never been started.
 
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