2014 Norton Commando 961 for Sale
Miles: 1,300
Clean Utah Title
Bid at post: $5,600
Auction ends: March 25th, 2024
No Reserve
During the 1960s and early 1970s Norton made some of the fastest, best handling motorcycles in the world. Styling was fairly conservative, excepting the John Player version and maybe the Fastback, but the bikes were powerful and handled well, notably due to Norton’s “Isolastic” system that helped to isolate the bike from the vibey 360° parallel twin while retaining Norton’s famous agility. But like the rest of the European manufacturers, they couldn’t compete in the arms race against the Japanese industrial giants. Eventually, unable to keep up with the breakneck speed of development going on, they were rendered irrelevant, and then bankrupt. In the early 2000s, Kenny Dreer in Oregon stepped in and purchased the rights, building a restomod classic with a heavily updated and modernized engine. In 2008, Norton was purchased by a British company that took the basic design created under Dreer and refined it into something that approached “production-ready.” That new Norton Commando 961 was a blend of the old and the new, with a frame that had hints of the Ducati Monster, classic 60s bodywork, and an engine with vintage good looks and character, but much more contemporary performance. The 961cc engine remained air-cooled and still used pushrods to actuate the overhead valves, but used a more modern 270° crankshaft. Power was rated at an optimistic 80hp, with 65 lb-ft of torque, and the bike featured a five-speed transmission instead of the original bike’s four, along with an electric start that could actually turn the engine over…
The 2014 Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer is finished in silver with black pinstripes and powered by a 961cc OHV parallel twin mated to a five-speed transmission. Equipment includes electronic fuel injection, a hydraulically actuated clutch, a dual exhaust system, Rizoma bar-end mirrors, carbon-fiber trim, adjustable Öhlins suspension, triple Brembo disc brakes, a solo saddle, a molded cafe-style tail section, 17″ wire-spoke wheels with alloy rims, and a solo saddle with a rear cowl. This 961 Cafe Racer was acquired by the seller on BaT in January 2023 and is now offered at no reserve with a clean Utah title in the name of the seller’s business.
The fuel tank, tail section, and side covers are finished in silver with black pinstripes and logos and are mounted over a steel double-cradle frame that contains engine oil within its backbone tube. The seller has fitted Rizoma Spy 80 bar-end mirrors in addition to aftermarket LED rear turn signals. The license plate light assembly has been removed, and paint blemishes are present on the fuel tank.
If you’re into vintage style with a bit of modern performance, this bike could be right up your alley. Straight-line performance certainly won’t excite anyone who’s spent time on modern supernakeds, but the premium suspension components mean a skilled rider should be able to have plenty of fun in the corners. I’m not a huge fan of the styling, but i do love the mechanical details, and all of my older riding buddies think this thing is “the bee’s knees,” so take that for what it’s worth. The company seems to be doing well under new owners TVS, and an updated version of the Commando 961 was introduced in 2020. Hopefully, that bodes well for future parts availability and servicing.
-tad
