A little while ago I made a post about what I thought was a very special vintage Norton. Some loved to see an older performance bike, but others were less impressed. One even commented, and questioned the bikes ability to wheelie. Hopefully this Norton redeems myself and appeals to some of our inner hooligans as well as fans of vintage bikes.
With over 80 horsepower moving about 400 pounds the bike is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. Modern Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes ensure everything is kept under control while enjoying the bike. Styling is unmistakably a Norton, and it walks the retro line very well. It clearly is a modern bike paying tribute to the past, but is not pandering, or trying too hard.
This example is being sold as a brand new bike. The $19,569 asking price on eBay is very close to what the original MSRP would have been a few years ago. Maybe a shrewd negotiator can get a slightly better discount. The green color beautifully suits the lines of the bike, and looks amazing with the gold accents of the suspension.
From The Seller’s eBay Listing:
This Norton 961 is in new condition however due to its age we are selling this bike without any warranty or implied conditions. Therefore this bike is sold as is however we will run up this motorcycle for you if you are seriously interested and or can send you a video of it running if required
Blackfoot Motosports is selling off our collection of Vintage motorcycles. These bikes have been stored in doors heated for many years and we have decided to put these Vintage Motorcycles on the market for customers to have the opportunity to purchase and enjoy rather then having them in storage at our dealership.
A bike like this is an emotional purchase. Sure the money could be spent on something that laps a track faster, or maybe on something more beautiful to stick in the back of a man cave, but for those that desire a bike with modern components, build quality and performance, but wrapped in a vintage style, there are few real options. Many flock to the Ducati Sport Classic, and for good reason. But this Norton offers a very similar, but far less common package. What would you rather have?
I have sold a couple of these used through my dealership and they brought good money. Only real trick is this bike is not known for its reliability and engineering – and there is zero factory support for this model. They are fantastic to look at and show.
I have the exact ’16 961 mk II SF bike in dark red color and have owned it since new. Most parts for these bikes are available from various sources, upgrades available from places like Colorado Norton Works, and the Access Norton Forum has a wealth of knowledge, parts compatibility lists, maintenance tutorials, etc. While the current owners of Norton, who acquired the company in 2020, have not yet committed to support for these 961 Commandos, it has been rumored that it may happen yet. In addition to being easy to work on, the bike is not only beautiful to look at, but also rides wonderfully, with that classic British parallel twin rumble. The Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes work outstanding.
Thanks for the first-hand account, Kevin!
dc
Great to hear from an owner. Im sure many that would look at this would have concerns about parts, and service. Nice to hear there is a robust owners group to rely on.
Lots of buyers, especially in the U.S., have been satisfied with nicely finished, heavy, underperforming motorcycles, so it wasn’t madness for someone to think this might be a success. Owners of original Commandos didn’t line up to pay twenty grand for one of these.
William, I’m sure you know that actual information about any bike is just a couple of clicks away – here’s some from Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com/2015-norton-commando-961-sport-standard-motorcycle-review-road-test/
https://www.cycleworld.com/2015-norton-commando-961-sport-motorcycle-dyno-run-video/
Apparently these things weigh five hundred pounds and make closer to seventy horsepower, with adequate vibration to go around.
A look at the Colorado Norton Works website might add perspective…
Interested buyers should note that the model described in the Cycle World article linked in the comment above is the lower base model, referred to as the Commando 961 Sport. The bike listed for sale is the 961 Commando SF, which carried higher spec Brembo radial mounted calipers (vs regular Brembo on the Sport), and higher spec USD Ohlins forks (vs regular non-USD forks on the Sport). Additionally, the SF came with a number of carbon fiber pieces exclusive to the SF and the Cafe Racer models, absent from the Sport model. The SF carried a sticker price of $22,395 vs $19,995 for the Sport model. Proper British parallel twin vibration, though not excessive, was standard on both models. 😉
Owners who installed Norton’s de-cat pipe and short sport mufflers combined with Norton ECU Race Map attained appreciable gains in HP, as well as aural improvement.