2022 Norton Commando 961 SP & CR | Road test & review
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- With new owners, big ambitions and a huge amount of investment behind them, Norton are back and they mean business.
Insidebikes sent Carl Stevens to find out just how much has changed, and to see how good their latest iteration of the iconic Commando 961 really is.
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It’s great to see a real British bike back where it belongs and build where it belongs in the UK and I hope this is just the start of better things to come for NORTON 🇬🇧
Any true biker should respect what the new TVS Norton people have done here. To start from scratch, in the UK to a product of this finish is remarkable. As a modern braked/suspended/tyred classic with air/oil cooling, it's pretty unique. Price for this level/numbers of production and spec/finish is also fair. It would have been so easy to knock these out in Thailand and still charged £12k...
Really fantastic looking bikes and a great sound. The 961 will be a modern classic for many years to come. Well done Norton.
The first reviewer to mention the quibbles as well as the upsides to owning a new Norton. I own a 2018 961 sport and i love it despite a couple of recent reliability issues. I have to say I wouldn’t swop it for anything, well maybe a 961 Dominator!
My 72 mk1 850 I bought in 1980 still the real deal think I'll just hunt out a mk111 to buy from '75..there you go
Anyone had an issue with corrosion on the swingarm ?
I have just bought a 9 year old ( 2015 ) bike with 2000 miles on her.
Paint blistering near the hugger and missing around the rear brake master cylinder.
Other than a flat battery she seems fine.
I guess only time will tell.
LET US HEAR THE SOUND OF THE BIKE, YOU WAFFLER!
Yeah, it's unreal how this guy just drones on and on - even TALKS about how it feels at idle yet neglects to let us hear it for even a second. How sad.
@@midnightmc3096if you listen you might learn something.?😊
@@robertlangley1664 Well, the tenet is true. It’s just that it does not apply when listening to you 😁
Nothing wrong with five speeds. I have six now but my last bike was five and there was nothing wrong with it. This is really cool bike If I was looking for another cool bike this would be on the top of my list! A lot of value for the price actually.
My Bonnie is in its fifth decade and it's really showing it. I'd love one of these, but I'd have to win the lottery or engage in illegalities 😎
Sell your bonnie then 🤔
Better off with the Bonnie.
Norton goes in and out of business like I change my socks for goodness sake.
Stunning bike. Great review. 👏🔥
Lovely bikes, it all depends on reliability and quality whether they last the distance. I have not ridden one but I hope to do so soon, but it should have a 6 speed box IMO, as I've always thought that 5 speed box's just rev a little too high in top.
Nice test thanks.
I’ve test ridden both versions and I didn't find the cafe racer too extreme. Less comfortable at low speed but better than the high bar version at speed. Agree about the switchgear, definitely on the cheap side. Other than that though, a fantastic bike.
You should try a Moto Guzzi V7 and then rethink everything about enjoying riding an heritage motorcycle.
Put 5k miles on a 2018 CR, my bones ache just looking at it ;)
I'll take my 2017 Triumph Thruxton R with the Cafe Fairing all day long!! No contest...
Why would you choose this over a Guzzi at half the price if old-school rumble is what you're after?
Because the paint, alloy and chrome and quality of fit, finish is far better than most plus it has much stainless steel so the finish won't rust like some of the modern bikes like this honda 1100 Africa twin which is £13k and Harley's that rust and Italian and German bikes that aren't cheap and not so well finished and aren't always reliable often with big electrical problems.
I have both a V7ii and a 23 Norton. They are surprisingly similar. Apart from suspension and brakes being far superior on the Norton. If I could only have one bike it would be the V7.
3:50 It's really good that the engine ticks over when you get on it.
If I had the means I would buy either one of these. I had an original Dunstall commando , a T140 and a SF2 laverda ; lucky chap , but they were all second hand and full of character as they say . Well , they took some looking after whilst friends bought Japanese stuff and learnt nought but had no problems , well small problems , I had an education . I reckon I was the winner ! I would love one of these and be able to use it properly ! Do they still do the pools ; oh well ... lol
They can shake the quality problems so they can compete with quality. But how are they going to compete on price. With the new backing they should get it all sorted. Best of luck guys.
They don't have any quality problems yet, the bike has only just been released
belle vidéo et très belle moto , a quand pour la Belgique seront elles dispo ?
I bought a Norton back in 1972, then they offered two models 1) "the Roadster" a single carb engine with a fiberglass fuel tank. 2) The "Combat or Commando" with twin 32mm Amal carbs and a steel fuel tank. 65 HP. They sent the American models with a 19 tooth primary sprocket rather than a 20 tooth for the European models. My Combat had the bomb occur in the upper third gear around 80-90 MPH with a WOT it would lift the front end and would flip over backwards if you kept the wick up however, just shifting into fourth gear would smoothly place the front end back on the pavement with no noticeable contact ! I paid $1995.00 for it new in 1972.
It's a sad day after 40 years that the hp for 750 cc in '72 are the same or lower now for the same 750 cc displacement ?
It's far far nicer than the Enfield interceptor but has the Enfield's simplicity of design . It's certainly got old school character with great fit and finish, The gearbox is typical Norton with true British character from 1970s. Well done TVS don't change it and take away it's beautiful torquey character. The presenter can't appreciate simplicity will mean basic servicing without those awful electrical gremlins like on modern bikes.
A Porsche is far nicer than a VW. Ok, class dismissed. 😉
I had a 74 Norton Commando and where they screw up with these retro standards is they forget that in the 70s they made standard motorcycles that were powered by the most power that was technically available.
Make a bike that is a standard with 170 horsepower that is comfortable enough to ride for more than an hour then they will sell .
There is a reason most sport bikes have very few miles .....
You are marketing, friend. A rider would focus on the bike and skip the adjectives. The bike is 100 pounds too heavy. Pity.
I kept thinking you were reviewing my Sportster 1200. Could have had one sitting there instead of the Norton and I would have agreed with pretty much everything you said. Alas, the Sportster (1957-2022) is no more. Will be keeping mine until I or it just can't ride anymore.
At the price, I’d like to put my ‘20 T120 up against it for fit and finish. If they produce a JP paint scheme, I’d pay the extra for the English build.
I rode a 1971 750cc Combat Commander against a Honda 750cc four and beat it handily. Unfortunately the rear axle broke from the stress.
Would have been nice to get a closer look at them while you did your narration.
sweet bike. i reckon the box will free up . its an everyday bike but f me its arms and legs!
It's a beautiful bike! I'd love to have a black SP Commando but for the price I would like to have a 6 speed transmission, the brake reservoirs look like warts on the handlebars and maybe belt drive vs a chain. They look really nice but there's a lot of amazing bikes in that price range.
Gorgeous, but not at that price.
Wow nice
With you with the foot pegs - take the springs and balls out - a little thing but makes the world of difference....
$17,000-18,000 for a “raw and rough” motorcycle?! That’s a lot of money for nostalgia.
You could ask any Harley owner exactly the same question and yet they lap it up.
Wss as y to much !
Don’t look 👀 or ride a 1000cb Honda ! Quality and reliable and will out last you if treated and serviced correctly . I’m riding a 1980 cb900c , 10 speed and will put it against a new Norton ! In handling comfort and reliability ! Over 40 years older and I’d say better in every way. Topped out or 1/4 mile. See Honda ! We have decided that no motorcycle company in the World builds a Better Motorcycle than a Japanese built 4-cly. Horizontal motorcycles . All three Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki ! Norton is a fashion statement today. They got passed by years ago ! Rough is right for Norton ! They look good , like I say is a fashion statement.
Those brake and clutch fluid reservoirs on the bars are really ugly and look like an afterthought.
Nice. The Thruxton RS is perhaps is a better and cheaper ride but then is not a Norton.
They need to get rid of (redesign) those ugly and obtrusive brake and clutch reservoirs on the handlebars! Look a complete mess and afterthought. And, what about an alternative to the thumping and thrashing final drive exposed chain! Otherwise, it looks really nice.
I can live with 'the warts,' but a rubberband on the back would be NICE !
If it looks right.......
Norton should have a look to Triumph, the only bike company with a successful reborn, building best quality and best looks for reasonable prices.
Norton pushrod twin looks good, but offers nothing elseand will fail like others before
TVS missed a trick with this bike because it doesn't have the features to match its competition, namely Triumph. Currently its about 10 years behind the competition...
Unfortunately it comes with fluid resevoirs they got of a Chinese moped.....How about some nice machined aluminium items insted...I'd hate to have to look at them (and the brackets) all day whilst riding....
It really doesn't need traction control.
Looks exactly the same as my 2015 Cafe Racer.....
They look super. But the price is way too much. And bare bones. At least triumph and the new BSA are affordable. But it’s not even a true British bike. If it were 12k maybe????
Sadly triumphs are not made in Britain
Neither are BSA
So I'm guessing at least some of the Norton is made in the UK ?
Amen to that
Every bit as British as the Thai built Triumphs! Shame about the hefty price tag, but talking small production numbers.....I wish them well.
@@g.g.6362 I too wish them well but not one part of the thaiumph (well the Bonneville range at least) is made or even assembled in the UK
I thought some of the TVS commando was made in the UK ?
Cheers
@@nickmarshall9192 I understood that the Commando was manufactured and assembled in UK? Maybe someone can confirm this?
Gauges, not frigging clocks. Do they tell time, or the bloody speed and engine r.p.m. ???????
And not a single exhaust note was heard....
How is it possible for you to go on and on about how it feels - even about how it feels at idle - yet neglect to let us actually hear it for even one second? Are there concerns about what it sound like? What an ominous sign of things to come that is.
I love the look of the bike but I do think it has a few quality issues. Those plastic fluid reservoirs are cheap and nasty. They should be part of the levers. The exhaust sits low which is begging for a clout with the first speed ramp you encounter. The reports of vibration above 50mph do put me off. don't misunderstand me its a beautiful looking bike but they need a bit more attention to the detail and rideability. Sticking it in your living room to look at is great but I want to ride it. I am a QA manager and it makes me critical but I wouldn't buy it until they take a second look at what they have made.
You forgot the sound 😂😂😂
Too much money. Not enough bike. Yes I have owned Nortons.
Cant see the point of em, and I was riding in the 60s . £16000 blimey.
Sixteen and a half big ones to have a nice name on the tank!
Sacrilege!
Nice bike but too heavy, underpowered and yet to be proven. Think i will keep my RE Interceptor which is nearly a third of the price.
After Brexit.. I wouldnt go trough all those troubles with custom permits, tax and MoT / TÜV in Germany..
England has closed the door and German buyers dont want worries with the warranty or dealerships and workshops.
Have fun with low sales in Europe..
(My new Honda runs perfect!)
Berlin🇩🇪
Isnt that too expensive??
You can buy 3 Re in this price and isnt gs1250 nearly same price? Or HD bikes?
Most of 1000cc or more bikes are less than this bike. My AT 1100 is cheaper and way better than this bike.
Sure fail.
Tvs is going to save millions of usd in tax.
They look good but they are not good for that sort of money i would want something that is the blocks gone wrong
So it doesn’t corner, it has no power, the switchgear is no good. It needs a sixth gear, the swing arm is no good but it’s special?
😲
Then suddenly you bring out the keys and they look like an old suitcase key. That's when it starts to suck. Also that flimsy cheap brake fluid reservoirs are just so annoying to even look at.
What a stupid price, for a twin cylinder ancient motorcycle. You would have to be 'super rich' to even consider wasting money on this rubbish!
Just buy a 2016 Thruxton r lol, they are around $10k and will blow this bike away
@@NudaMan Getting about the same power from an air-cooled 961cc engine as a 1200cc water-cooled "retro" is a feat in itself for Norton. I'm sure the engine will have a lot of character and feel to it, which will probably be its main selling point over the modern retros.
Also, building it in Britain will come at a premium, compared to Thailand.
Don't buy one then !
Simples
Sounds like an underdeveloped piece of junk.
Amen to that that is for sure
Beautiful bike, just under powered and over weight.
Stop talking it up, nearly £17,000 behave.
Love the looks of the bike. Pity you couldn't find someone with testosterone to review it !
And 6 months from now, the company will be out of business.
Again.
Blah blah blah....
Another here today gone tomorrow co. Price guantees it.
Bellísima , eso es incontestable pero..... ¿20.000 Euros y un equipamiento de primera para unos irrisorios 77 CV ?
Not a very good review..!!