Norton Commando 961 Has Been a Little Naughty By Not Complying With Euro 5 Emission Regulations

Fifty five years after its world debut back in 1967, the latest incarnation of the Norton Commando is about to hit the dealerships, and while the sales figures over its first decade hit 55,000, a figure unlikely to be matched nowadays the two variants Sport and Café Racer, feature a re engineered 961cc parallel twin motor, top spec components and a superb level of finish in a bid to recapture nostalgia. Over one third of the engine parts have been upgraded with a brief to increase the quality of finish, and while the overall silhouette of the bike might be near enough identical to the outgoing version it’s the invisible work deep within that has made the 2023 version of Norton’s icon work and work well. The frame, gear mechanism, fuel tank, cam shafts, cam chains, crank case, engine calibration are all upgraded plus the material advances with, for example aerospace level brushed billet aluminium top clamps which are hand welded. the orchestral resonance from the pair of low and sexy smooth exhausts that halt either side of the rear axle, still bellows strongly, the vibrations shake the number plate and the natural nuances of an internal combustion engine tinker with your senses it’s a real flashback. That said Norton has been a little naughty by not complying with Euro 5 emission regulations and instead type approving the new Commando under SVA government rules aimed at those building bikes in their sheds which have no restriction on overall CO, hydrocarbons or Nox, which is the stuff that mainstream manufacturers have to comply with. Nevertheless the 961cc air and oil cooled parallel twin rumbles to a red line of 7500rpm, wheezily towards the top end as the peak torque figure of 81 nyutonmeter 59,7 pound feet strikes at 6300rpm while a peak power figure of 76.8bhp @ 57,3 newtonmeter is only achieved 250rpm short of that redline. The motor is most at home in the mid range and away from the very short 1st and 2nd gears, Used only to gain momentum, 3rd is where anything happens and that can be achieved easily by 25mph. It’s a shame that 1st and 2nd are almost identical because there are only five gears to play with and that makes overtaking more of a challenge that requires a little planning. On the plus side dropping down and using the very neat throttle connection to drive the power through gives you another chance to soak in the aural pleasures residing from that superb rattly howl.
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[@PhilharmonicMoto]

5 gears on a bike like this is really a shame. cool video!

[@MichaelSmith-mc8bd]

It should be more than naughty at £17.000!