Pictures of your Norton 961

Came to the abrupt realisation at the weekend that the ergonomics on my bike are gonna have to change - soon! Only 150km and my right hip seized up, twice! I must have looked like a kangaroo trying to dismount a unicycle:rolleyes:!

The body got a (very) hard time in a previous life and although I maintain a pretty good standard of fitness, the torturous nature of this bike is starting to bite.

The bars are the first target. The Woodcraft adjustable bars look most likely. No doubt there would be engineering options to move the pegs also. I’m hoping the bars will be enough for me. Gonna start doing something about it and stop bitchin’ bout it!

To add insult to injury, the lower image is of Gary pulling away from my place after we fixed up his CR, on his 2000km trip home. He’s adjusting his tickover there, before blasting off up the road without a care in the world! Gary’s a decade or so older than me and leaps on and off the bike like a teenager!!🤬 That said, he’d probably fit in my back pocket!

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When I swapped the clip ons for sport bars it TRANSFORMED the bike ! Seriously, so much better to ride. It improved the handling of the bike as it gave me so much more comfort and feeling and control.

I’ve used Woodcraft (and others of that type) clip ons on a few bikes and they’re very good. Guess it depends how much you need it to change.

FYi the factory used the same top yoke for the sport bars, just machined it to take the bar risers.

I personally found the footrests ok, and definitely so when looking at the work required to change!

But… my issue was numb hands, not hips.
 
Fast Eddie said:
When I swapped the clip ons for sport bars it TRANSFORMED the bike ! Seriously, so much better to ride. It improved the handling of the bike as it gave me so much more comfort and feeling and control.

I’ve used Woodcraft (and others of that type) clip ons on a few bikes and they’re very good. Guess it depends how much you need it to change.

FYi the factory used the same top yoke for the sport bars, just machined it to take the bar risers.

I personally found the footrests ok, and definitely so when looking at the work required to change!

But… my issue was numb hands, not hips.
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I’m hoping for the same FE - the reason I haven’t changed over so far is the aesthetic. I bought a Cafe Racer because I enjoy the history behind it and replication of that. Daft really if the damn thing is crippling. No doubt I’d be quicker through the twisties with the change also - better handling as you say.

Don’t have dodgy hips - but for some reason that position triggers my right into actually locking up. It’s always interesting trying to stay in control, slow and stop when it occurs :oops:!

Gonna try and stick with clipons of the fully adjustable type - I should be able to find a sweet spot👍.
 
Stephen I have the wood crafts but to fit between top yoke and head lamp bracket I had to get them machined to the bolt clamp heads, about 4mm I think of top and bottom. They are basically too large to fit in the gap, otherwise great. I went with 2 inch rise and now have 3 inch. I also changed from chrome bars to black. You will also need to get longer hoses. Skiddy
 
I bought some (pretty expensive) European adjustable raised clip ons for the R9T some years ago (LSL perhaps?) which were much better than the Woodcraft offerings…

Pictures of your Norton 961


Pictures of your Norton 961


Pictures of your Norton 961
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
I’m hoping for the same FE - the reason I haven’t changed over so far is the aesthetic. I bought a Cafe Racer because I enjoy the history behind it and replication of that. Daft really if the damn thing is crippling. No doubt I’d be quicker through the twisties with the change also - better handling as you say.

Don’t have dodgy hips - but for some reason that position triggers my right into actually locking up. It’s always interesting trying to stay in control, slow and stop when it occurs :oops:!

Gonna try and stick with clipons of the fully adjustable type - I should be able to find a sweet spot👍.
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Steve, I like the look of these, and they are TÜV approved which means that should be a quality product…

www.probrake.de

probrake REVO adjustable clip-ons 50mm for Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer MKII (17-) N961

Adjustable Clip-Ons from probrake. Up to 15cm (6") higher than stock ⏩ Parts certificate included ✔️ easy-fitting ✔️ CNC milled ✔️ fast delivery
www.probrake.de www.probrake.de

Edit: and come in two height variations.👍
 
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skidmark said:
Stephen I have the wood crafts but to fit between top yoke and head lamp bracket I had to get them machined to the bolt clamp heads, about 4mm I think of top and bottom. They are basically too large to fit in the gap, otherwise great. I went with 2 inch rise and now have 3 inch. I also changed from chrome bars to black. You will also need to get longer hoses. Skiddy
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Hey Skiddy, long time no hear - hope you’ve been getting out on your Norton. Been doing the same up here on the (not so) Sunny Coast now the perpetual rain has ceased. I’d appreciate a picture of your Woodcraft setup when you get the opportunity👍!
 
That’s the adjustable clip-on type I’ve been looking at guys. That level of adjustment is great - the ability to ‘trial an error’ adjust in this way until an (as close to) perfect setup is found is fantastic.​

LSL stuff looks top quality FE - certainly look good on the R9T. Had’nt seen the Revo bars before Cliff, good find - they also look great quality. Spent many years over there - made in Germany is still synonymous with quality I think. TUV certifies that. The beer was pretty good too🥴!

Certainly reckon I’d ride the Norton much more when I sort this out, rather than opting for the armchair KTM!!

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BLIGHTYBRIT/SF said:
View attachment 116151View attachment 116152View attachment 116153View attachment 116154View attachment 116155Nipped down to white cliffs of Dover today, Wanstone WW2 Gun Battery site , 15in guns sending 900kg shells across the Chanel , until recently was completely covered in vegetation & eath ,National trust site now
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BLIGHTYBRIT/SF said:
View attachment 116151View attachment 116152View attachment 116153View attachment 116154View attachment 116155Nipped down to white cliffs of Dover today, Wanstone WW2 Gun Battery site , 15in guns sending 900kg shells across the Chanel , until recently was completely covered in vegetation & eath ,National trust site now
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Yep I know it’s not a 961 but I think this particular 850 interstate mk3 is special for two reasons , it was one of the last ones made, registered March 1977 & it has that glorious alloy tank , made by Tab2 classics , came across it today, oh yeah & one more thing , apparently it was very un reliable & ran like a bag of sh@t when it was new , sound familiar?
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POWER !!!


Air museum at Carlisle airport, went up there for a 200 mile tootle and found out it was closed when I got there. Next time will look at the opening times first. 🙄 . Beautiful sleek beastie ( the plane ).
Built in 1960 to become the backbone of UK nuclear deterrent, used for maritime reconnaissance . A few facts.......Weight 4000,000 Lb... Max Alt 65,000Ft.... Max range 4600 miles... Max speed 645Mph... powered by four Olympus engines which were later modified by RR and the French to boot Concorde up the arse.

Something else of interest if you haven't seen this video before it's well worth a watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wx6npt421c&pp=ygUIbnVrZSB1c2E=.


Pictures of your Norton 961
 
kev said:
Thank you. Last night was the first time I moved them at the same time and MY GOD the CR is heavier than the Ducati! I know it's obvious but WOW there's a big difference
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Hello again , Yes the 961 is a 506 lb motorcycle. What year and model is the Ducati ? I have a 2009 HD XR1200 and it weighs 585 lb. But somehow it feels good going down the road same with the Norton 961 . I had picked up the stripped crankcase of a Norton 961 and was very surprised at how heavy the empty cases are.
 
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kev said:
Thank you. Last night was the first time I moved them at the same time and MY GOD the CR is heavier than the Ducati! I know it's obvious but WOW there's a big difference
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Agreed Kev, the CR definitely feels heavy when manouvering in the garage. Partly because there is nothing of manageable height to grab, like the bars of less radically configured bike. No option but to lean low to those clipons to manoeuvre, depending on the height of the owner.

I shift mine around within its own length on rolling stands - makes life a whole lot easier.
 
TonyA said:
Hello again , Yes the 961 is a 506 lb motorcycle. What year and model is the Ducati ? I have a 2009 HD XR1200 and it weighs 585 lb. But somehow it feels good going down the road same with the Norton 961 . I had picked up the stripped crankcase of a Norton 961 and was very surprised at how heavy the empty cases are.
Click to expand...
'18 V4 Speciale. Had a Pikes Peak 1260. previously but don't do the miles on it anymore so got something a bit more exciting for the 1k or so miles I do on it every year...certainly ticks the exciting box!!
 

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