961 is back !

Hard to believe.
I wonder if this is just announcing the 40 units that the factory promised to those who had unfulfilled orders when the company went under.
 
Big exercise for 40 bikes - and the 40 bikes each time they pictured them lined up didn’t have the gold pin stripes that the one on their page does now.

I’m seeing it as very good news.
 
If this is true, and if they plan to produce the 961, what are they using for the motor since China owned the rights?
 
If this is true, and if they plan to produce the 961, what are they using for the motor since China owned the rights?
Well, they could be purchasing the engines from Jinlang.
This would certainly be less expensive than building them in the UK.
Although some what regrettable to have a Chinese motor in a Commando.
Since the factory dropped this info tidbit on us, they need to explain a bit more about the NEW 961.
To what extent is this offering a NEW 961?
Come on Dr Bob, let's break it down for the forum members.
 
Big exercise for 40 bikes - and the 40 bikes each time they pictured them lined up didn’t have the gold pin stripes that the one on their page does now.

I’m seeing it as very good news.
Me too !!
 
If this is true, and if they plan to produce the 961, what are they using for the motor since China owned the rights?
The Norton 961 will use Asian made engine parts , they will be qualiifed by Norton for use in the 961 . This was always the plan . Jinlang gets to make the parts , and Norton get to qualify them . I don't mean to be negative here , but I think this bike is going to cost a lot more than it did . I hope I am wrong about the cost.
 
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This is good news guys - no, it’s great news! Opens up spares and the potential to adopt their improvements to our machines. This is clearly not about the 40, they are re-ntroducing an awesome looking machine which was already 99% developed for them and with ten years of Beta testing - why wouldn’t they? We are only guessing that they no longer have the rights to make the engine, it may well be a shared rights situation.


6143E0DA-8FD6-43EA-998C-FD8B9739DAFF.jpeg

961 is back !
 
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The Norton 961 will use Asian made engine parts , they will be qualiifed by Norton for use in the 961 . This was always the plan . Jinlang gets to make the parts , and Norton get to qualify them . I dont mean to be negative here , but I think this bike is going to cost a lot more than it did . I hope I am wrong about the cost.
Tony, do you have an inside line to Dr. Bob?;)
 
The Norton 961 will use Asian made engine parts , they will be qualiifed by Norton for use in the 961 . This was always the plan . Jinlang gets to make the parts , and Norton get to qualify them . I don't mean to be negative here , but I think this bike is going to cost a lot more than it did . I hope I am wrong about the cost.
They always did use Asian parts anyhow lol
 
I’ll say this.
I’m glad I have what I have now. Even if it’s known for minor issues.

I wouldn’t buy a new TVS commando if I could today. Even if it is better or has the common issues fixed I’ll be happier with what I own now. Not that it’s even going to be available outside of Europe anyhow.

I’ll be honest, I don’t see TVS selling many of these.
 
Looks like we have our wish for the 961, at least they acknowledge how good the 961 is with a few refinement’s and hopefully spare parts available.They will still sell as a stop gap till they go electric. Still the best looking classic look bike on the market in my opinion and it’s 12 years old. My own 961 sport is going very well and still turns heads and comment’s wouldn’t change it for the world.
 
With all the bad press in USA who are they going to get for dealers!
If they really have "fixed" the 961, and intend to get it certified in the US, then there will be dealers willing to carry them.
Not many dealers, but a few like to carry specialty/rare brands, without a dealer network in the US, the 961 would be considered a specialty. As long as it is truely "fixed", and operates like say, a Royal Enfield, and parts are available, they will sell some here.
 
There's nothing about this announcement that is a negative. Negative would be Norton totally abandoning the 961 Commando platform. Frankly, I thought they would carry the Commando name forward with a new water cooled engine, which I suppose is still a possibility in the future. It's the "Commando" name that has provenance, history and importance, not the 961 engine size. IMO
 
No reflection on the hardware, but the the photographer was obviously more expensive than the cliche writer!
 
If they really have "fixed" the 961, and intend to get it certified in the US, then there will be dealers willing to carry them.
Not many dealers, but a few like to carry specialty/rare brands, without a dealer network in the US, the 961 would be considered a specialty. As long as it is truely "fixed", and operates like say, a Royal Enfield, and parts are available, they will sell some here.
It will be like Morgan if they make it here and like you said they will have to sell other brands
 
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