Norton Commando 961 Café Racer MKII
Norton Commando 961 Café Racer MKII | |
Manufacturer | |
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Production | 2016 - 17 |
Engine | Parallel twin, push rod, hydraulic lifter, 2 valves per cylinder |
Compression ratio | 10.1:1 |
Ignition | Electronic |
Transmission | 5 Speed, constant mesh |
Frame | Tubular steel with integral oil tank |
Suspension | Front: Ø43 mm Öhlins USD, adjustable preload, compression, and rebound damping. Rear: Öhlins reservoir-style twin shocks, adjustable ride height, preload, compression, and rebound damping. |
Brakes | Front: Brembo 2 x Ø320 mm fully-floating high carbon stainless steel discs, 4 piston Brembo radially mounted calipers. Brembo front brake master cylinder with integral reservoir Rear: Brembo single Ø220 mm disc, 2 piston caliper. Brembo rear brake master cylinder |
Front Tire | 120/70 -17 |
Rear Tire | 180/55 -17 |
Wheelbase | 1420 mm / 55.9 in |
Seat Height | 813 mm / 32 in |
Weight | 188 kg / 415 lbs (dry), |
Fuel Capacity | 17 Liters / 4.5 US gal |
Manuals | Service Manual |
Engine[edit | edit source]
The engine was a Air cooled cooled Parallel twin, push rod, hydraulic lifter, 2 valves per cylinder. The engine featured a 10.1:1 compression ratio.
Drive[edit | edit source]
Power was moderated via the Wet multi-plate with hydraulic lifter.
Chassis[edit | edit source]
It came with a 120/70 -17 front tire and a 180/55 -17 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Brembo 2 x Ø320 mm fully-floating high carbon stainless steel discs, 4 piston Brembo radially mounted calipers. Brembo front brake master cylinder with integral reservoir in the front and a Brembo single Ø220 mm disc, 2 piston caliper. Brembo rear brake master cylinder in the rear. The front suspension was a Ø43 mm Öhlins USD, adjustable preload, compression, and rebound damping. while the rear was equipped with a Öhlins reservoir-style twin shocks, adjustable ride height, preload, compression, and rebound damping.. The Commando 961 Café Racer MKII was fitted with a 17 Liters / 4.5 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 188 kg / 415 lbs. The wheelbase was 1420 mm / 55.9 in long.
Photos[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
Norton Commando 961 Café Racer MKII
The Commando 961 Cafe Racer was built to replicate the old
style cafe racers with all modern components and engineering whilst maintaining
a classic appearance and style.
The Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer is powered by a 961cc
parallel twin with a dry sump, power is sent to the rear wheel via a
constant-mesh 5 speed transmission and the rear end is held up by twin Öhlins
reservoir-style twin shocks with adjustable ride height, preload, compression
and rebound. The front suspension are 43mm Öhlins forks, also with adjustable
preload, compression and rebound damping.Stopping
power is provided by the Italians with twin Brembo 320mm fully- floating high
carbon stainless steel discs on the front end with Brembo 4 piston goldline
radially mounted callipers. The rear brake is a smaller single Brembo 220mm disc
with a Brembo 2 piston caliper.
That engine produces 80hp and 80Nm of torque at 7700rpm
and 6000rpm respectively, the total weight of the 961 Cafe Racer is 205kgs and
the top speed is said to be 130mph. Although I suspect that I could surpass that
speed if given access to a Commando, the Bonneville salt flats and a pair of
dark blue underpants.
From a styling perspective, the new Norton Commando is one
of the most handsome motorcycles currently in production. In fact Id go so far
as to say that it is the most handsome outright. Now whilst this isnt cheap its worth remembering that
this is a bike you keep for life, then pass on as an heirloom.
Review
I am no British bike fanatic but the font and the name are seriously cool and theres no denying that the new Commando range looks unreal whether you are into that type of bike or not Ive just stepped off the 1299 Panigale at Fraser Motorcycles. Ive been riding the latest superbike from Italy for a week and have completely lost my mind over the amazing power and handling. Five minutes after doing the hand back of the 1299 to multiple Australian Pro Twins Champion, Craig McMartin, hes handing me the keys to my next press test machine. The Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer. Polar opposites. I swap racing leathers for my RJays Scorpion retro jacket and Bullit retro jeans not to mention the Bell open face. Happy Days. I feel like The Fonz It doesnt take that long to get the rundown on the bike. No wild electronics here. Theres a speedo, tacho, trip meter and a clock. Nothing else to remember! I walk around the bike in admiration. The build quality is good deep silver paint, rich chrome, lots of polished alloy and stainless-steel mufflers. I do notice casting marks on the primary cover that have not been polished out, which is disappointing, but aside from that the finish is high quality. The bike is an odd mix of old and new. The engine looks very similar to the original Commando twin aside from the obvious, being the much larger cylinders. The waistline of the fuel tank is stunningly slender and the bars low and narrow. The tank is very long and the seat flat with the caf-racer hump. Modern Ohlins forks, Brembo radial-mount calipers and wide wheels and fat hoops support these classic styling traits. The balance is just right I sit on the bike for the first time. The reach to the bars is a loooong way. Further than on any bike Ive ridden. The fuel tank is slim between the knees but unfortunately the knee indents are too far back and my knees are sticking out like sails in the breeze. Im average height 183cm. I fire up the big parallel twin and it settles into a low rumble, clunking and clattering and sounding like its full of nuts and bolts. I love the character but want more exhaust sound. The mufflers are the big let down here no note to speak of and completely strangling what could be a glorious sound. Id be throwing them out ASAP and be putting open pipes on this stunner if I owned it.
I pull the hydraulically actuated clutch in and select first
gear. Clunk! Off I head up the M4 Expressway.
Within 150m there is a nice left curve and I carve through it on
the 961, grinning already and to be honest a bit gob smacked at how nicely the
bike steers and tracks through a smooth, fast turn. Silverwater Rd exit and I do
20-odd kilometres of hellish peak hour traffic before Im free again heading
north through my home twisties.
The 961 is not a commuter bike and I would assume would rarely
be ridden in peak hour traffic. It rumbles, farts, rattles, clunks and is
incredibly uncomfortable we will leave it there as really, its pointless
commenting here as the bike is out of water completely
So back to my twisties. The same corners I rode the 1299 through
just hours earlier, with 182rwhp, are just as enjoyable on the much less
powerful Norton. Just like the Moto-Guzzi V7 Stone is one of the best fun
machines in the smooth 80-zones of my local roads, the Commando too promotes
good times at sane speeds that dont land you in the lock-up.
The engine is old school and Ive accepted that. Ive found the
sweet spot of 3500 to 5500rpm and there is no point revving outside that range
unless you want to do an imitation of a mechanical paint tin mixer!
The gearbox action as expected of a primary gearbox that is a
long, slow shift and if I try to rush the shift or shift at the same speed as I
would with a conventional box, the gears wont engage and there is a false
neutral between every gear. The engine doesnt like the throttle snapped open,
either, so everything you do has to be done with finesse and patience on the 961
think wet weather riding.
Once on the go, riding that torque curve and rolling corner to
corner is a great experience. The ride position begins to make sense and the
bike actually handles really well on smooth tarmac. There is a lot of weight
there no official numbers are available and Ive read some claiming 183kg dry,
others claiming 205 dry, but my estimate is closer to the 220kg range.
That said, the steering is quick and accurate, the bike tracks
well, the brakes are sensational and although my test bike was very soft, the
Ohlins suspension could doubtless be dialed in very nicely.
On the bumpy roads there is a lack of spring control on standard
settings, making the 961 unstable particularly at the back. All in the set-up,
though, and there is no questioning the quality of the suspension.
The 961 is fitted with Dunlop Qualifier tires I was surprised
not to see Avons on the bike, given its country of origin. The Avon 3D Ultra
Sport would work well.
Few bikes have caused as much of a stir as the new Norton
Commando among the middle aged motorcyclists of this world. Those lucky enough
to have enjoyed the heyday of British motorcycle domination when names like
Triumph, Norton, Velocette, Vincent, HRD, BSA, Royal Enfield, Brough Superior,
AJS, Ariel, Matchless, CCM and dozens more ruled the TT and streets most likely
drooled over the first Norton Commando 750 in 1967 or subsequent models through
to the 850.
Despite the fact that the engine design was already over
20-years old in 1968, having being pencilled by Bert Hopwood in the 1940s for
the 7 Twin, the Commando was a great success. It was sporty, nimble and at
190kg, lightweight.
Despite being one of the most unreliable and self destructing
bikes in history the old Commando also gained a cult following and was a pretty
damn cool bike and nothing has changed
Fast-forward to 2010 and Norton Motorcycles UK (owned now by
Stuart Garner of Norton Racing) shipped the very first example of the new Norton
Commando from its factory in Donnington, UK.
ive-years later, after a long wait, Nortons are finally Down
Under, with NFI becoming the Australian importer and distributor of all three
models, the Cafe Racer, SF and Sport.
Before you get all excited, the first shipment was completely
pre-sold and they are not a cheap motorcycle. The 961 Sport will set you back
$31,490 + ORC, the 961 Cafe Racer as tested $35,490 + ORC and the top of the
line 961 SF, based on the Sport but with Ohlins suspension, upgraded brakes and
lots of carbon-fibre, will set you back $37,490 + ORC.
Huge dollars for an underpowered, overweight air-cooled pushrod
two-valver, right? Well, there is no looking past the price but those who buy
one of these exclusive hand built machines are probably willing to part with
just about anything to get one and I would be willing to bet that they wont go
down in value at all as the years pass by
The Norton Commando 961 is primarily a work of art and you would
not be judged if you never even rode the bike rather parked it on show in the
bar or lounge room in a glass case. If you ride the bike, it will make you
smile, particularly if you are from the original Commando era.
Source
Make Model | Norton Commando 961 Café Racer MKII |
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Year | 2016 - 17 |
Engine Type | Parallel twin, push rod, hydraulic lifter, 2 valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 961 cc / 58.6 cu in |
Bore X Stroke | 88 x 79 mm |
Compression | 10.1:1 |
Cooling System | Air cooled |
Lubrication | Dry sump |
Exhaust | Café Sports exhaust, Euro 3 compliant |
Induction | Fuel injected |
Ignition | Electronic |
Starting | Electric |
Max Power | 59.7 kW / 80 hp @ 6500 rpm |
Max Torque | 90 Nm / 9.2 kgf-m / 65 ft-lb @ 5200 rpm |
Clutch | Wet multi-plate with hydraulic lifter |
Transmission | 5 Speed, constant mesh |
Final Drive | Chain, 525 "O" ring |
Frame | Tubular steel with integral oil tank |
Front Suspension | Ø43 mm Öhlins USD, adjustable preload, compression, and rebound damping. |
Front Wheel Travel | 115 mm / 4.53 in |
Rear Suspension | Öhlins reservoir-style twin shocks, adjustable ride height, preload, compression, and rebound damping. |
Rear Wheel Travel | 100 mm / 3.94 in |
Front Brakes | Brembo 2 x Ø320 mm fully-floating high carbon stainless steel discs, 4 piston Brembo radially mounted calipers. Brembo front brake master cylinder with integral reservoir |
Rear Brakes | Brembo single Ø220 mm disc, 2 piston caliper. Brembo rear brake master cylinder |
Front Wheel | 3.50 x 17, 36 spoke |
Rear Wheel | 5.50 x 17, 40 spoke |
Front Tire | 120/70 -17 |
Rear Tire | 180/55 -17 |
Rake | 24.5° |
Trail | 99 mm / 3.9 in |
Wheelbase | 1420 mm / 55.9 in |
Seat Height | 813 mm / 32 in |
Dry Weight | 188 kg / 415 lbs |
Fuel Capacity | 17 Liters / 4.5 US gal |