Hair pulling.

Ryan F9, the best of the motobloggers (is that the term) by far in my opinion. Pretty cool, for a Canadian!

Stick with it Britfan! No doubt you will find the fault after a few Bart ‘Doh’ moments and a bit of head scratching. When you’re on the third conversation on your next ride, with some random old dude that used to own a Norton, you’ll remember that it’s worth the effort and you are riding something a little bit special (faults and all). Or we could all just buy a Honda :oops:
Still eyeing the Kaw Z or the Beemer 1200RT. I may never sell anything. I'm quite the junk collector.
 
I had some bad luck early on with Ballistic Li batteries. I don't think they were of the same quality as Shorai.
Nonetheless, once bitten . . .go ultra cheap conventional.
I've tried the cheapest of the cheap eBay Batteries from Battery Sharks and others.
There have been some failures, all warrantied . One lasted two years but three others have survived for four full seasons of riding and still load test ok.
I'm talking $29 batteries!

Glen
 
Just checked the earliest purchase of the cheap batteries.
In May of 2014 I purchased an spill proof AGM battery from eBay seller Batterystuff in Oregon. This battery replaced the 1 year old dead Li battery in the Glenli.
The AGM battery has to sit on its side in that bike. It's in the cowl behind the seat. Within a few months I noticed some acid leakage and contacted Batterystuff. They replaced this battery under warranty. The replacement battery is still in that bike and still passes a drawdown test. So that one is six years old. The leaky battery did not leak when turned upright, so it went into another bike, but I've lost track of which one or how long it lasted.
I don't bother with battery tenders on these cheap batteries.
I only expected them to last a season or two, not six and still going strong!

Glen
 
Before I became a Shorai fan I tended to use Odyssey batteries, they’re AGM IIRC. They’re incredibly low maintenance and long lived.

Still got one on the ’68 Bonnie that my Dad ‘stole’ from me, he only has a ‘normal’ charger, so I left the Odyssey on that one for him. Ironic in a way cos he’s never yet charged it !
 
Still eyeing the Kaw Z or the Beemer 1200RT. I may never sell anything. I'm quite the junk collector.
I like the Kaw Z900RS . But being practical I have to think that the 1200RT will make a better tourer bike ? Shaft drive , water cooled , bags or no ? Once you get the Kaw and pipe it will be a more aggressive sporty experience , but no snob appeal . I have not checked fuelly for MPG figures for the BMW . I get good MPG with the KAW , but it must be driven gently . I've gotten 50 mpg US and more with the KAW. Again this is the Z900RS not the Z900 which is the more modern version tuned for more high end power.
 
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I like the Kaw Z900RS . But being practical I have to think that the 1200RT will make a better tourer bike ? Shaft drive , water cooled , bags or no ? Once you get the Kaw and pipe it will be a more aggressive sporty experience , but no snob appeal . I have not checked fuelly for MPG figures for the BMW . I get good MPG with the KAW , but it must be driven gently . I've gotten 50 mpg US and more with the KAW. Again this is the Z900RS not the Z900 which is the more modern version tuned for more high end power.
I don't find anything exciting about the beemer either, but its quick, comfy, high tech and light. A proper bike for two up with zero cool factor. Sounds like a percolator. Me missus deserves to get off of that T140D. She likes it because she doesn't know the difference.
 
If a bike is’nt appealing (sexy), exciting and make you feel good when you are riding it why would anyone even contemplate purchase :oops:? Expensive ‘Practical Motorcycles‘, no thank you. There are too many models out there that can give the rider most (if not all) of what they’re looking for including being ‘practical’. My opinion only:)
 
If a bike is’nt appealing (sexy), exciting and make you feel good when you are riding it why would anyone even contemplate purchase :oops:? Expensive ‘Practical Motorcycles‘, no thank you. There are too many models out there that can give the rider most (if not all) of what they’re looking for including being ‘practical’. My opinion only:)

I fully agree with you.

But it depends why people ride. If riding is ‘a means to an end’ and getting to a destination is the main goal, then practically trumps.

For me, 99% of the time, riding IS the end goal. I ride primarily for fun and pleasure. Hence the bike has GOT to be fun.

I just swapped my Monster 1200S, even though it was the best bike I’ve ever owned, because it just wasn’t much fun !
 
I fully agree with you.

But it depends why people ride. If riding is ‘a means to an end’ and getting to a destination is the main goal, then practically trumps.

For me, 99% of the time, riding IS the end goal. I ride primarily for fun and pleasure. Hence the bike has GOT to be fun.

I just swapped my Monster 1200S, even though it was the best bike I’ve ever owned, because it just wasn’t much fun !
I've ridden the 1200S quite a few times. Surprised you sold it. The bike has ESP in the twisties. Think about that curve and it does it. That said, I'd never put my wife on the back of it. That was my choice before the 961. Can't say I erred, but damn...............
 
I've ridden the 1200S quite a few times. Surprised you sold it. The bike has ESP in the twisties. Think about that curve and it does it. That said, I'd never put my wife on the back of it. That was my choice before the 961. Can't say I erred, but damn...............

No arguments from me there! Like I said, definitely the best bike I’ve ever had.

But when I just want to go out and enjoy the ride, it just never got picked. I did more miles on my humble T140 in the year I had the Duc.

Got a Dyna Low Rider S now. Needs WAY more input and physicality. But it’s SO much fun. I just wanna ride it whenever / wherever. That says a lot I think.
 
No arguments from me there! Like I said, definitely the best bike I’ve ever had.

But when I just want to go out and enjoy the ride, it just never got picked. I did more miles on my humble T140 in the year I had the Duc.

Got a Dyna Low Rider S now. Needs WAY more input and physicality. But it’s SO much fun. I just wanna ride it whenever / wherever. That says a lot I think.
Hello FE , What do you use on track days now ?
 
What the hell!????
SG sold out to the Chinese
 

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Blimey. That actually looks good IMHO.

Do you have the story behind the pic?

I wonder if the Chinese have actually run the engine yet? Wonder if they realise how authentically ‘retro vintage’ it actually is ?!
 
Blimey. That actually looks good IMHO.

Do you have the story behind the pic?

I wonder if the Chinese have actually run the engine yet? Wonder if they realise how authentically ‘retro vintage’ it actually is ?!
No. That’s all that was shown. Wish more info was posted.
 
Well we know Garner (rather controversially) sold the engine rights to a Chinese concern, so in fairness to them, at least it looks like they’re trying to do something with it.

But what does it mean for future 961 Norton’s??
 
What the hell!????
SG sold out to the Chinese

Bound to happen thanks to SG's business deals.

Things that are not bad:
1. Fairing is a nice touch, although a small bikini job would be better.
2. Looks like a different tank, not a nice as the original, but might be metal not plastic?
3. No badging that says Norton Commando that I can see. We can all say it's not a real Norton:D
 
No. That’s all that was shown. Wish more info was posted.

I wonder since we know that SG bought the 961 engine castings and other components from Taiwan, does the Jinlang mainland factory buy their parts from the same Taiwan source, or manufacture their own?
 
I didn't know that the 961 cases & more came from Thailand.
Now I'm thinking of the Thaiumph slurs that I silently endured from certain 961 owners...
well maybe not silently but it would have been way more fun with that bit of info. Just something to chuck back at the race based Thruxton R detractors...:)
 
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