• Norton Commando Workshop Manual Australia

Having picked up my SE (in Black) yesterday from the factory I took the oportunity of buying the 'proper' workshop manual and can reccomend any 961 Owners to do likewise. The service at the factory was excellent and the ride home something to remember. In my view Norton are working very hard to get rid of some negative views of the company and yesterday the factory was a hive of activity with finished bikes being crated up for delivery. The star owner award must go to the guy from Finland who rode his bike through Poland and Germany to get the bike services at the factory (it was being given a 6000 service when I was there), so the bike was not being treated as a toy not to get wet but as a proper working motorcycle.The bike was covered in dirt having encountered rain riding accross Germay.

Previously davidclarke1 wrote: Having picked up my SE (in Black) yesterday from the factory I took the oportunity of buying the 'proper' workshop manual and can reccomend any 961 Owners to do likewise. The service at the factory was excellent and the ride home something to remember. In my view Norton are working very hard to get rid of some negative views of the company and yesterday the factory was a hive of activity with finished bikes being crated up for delivery.

Norton Commando Workshop Manual Australia

The star owner award must go to the guy from Finland who rode his bike through Poland and Germany to get the bike services at the factory (it was being given a 6000 service when I was there), so the bike was not being treated as a toy not to get wet but as a proper working motorcycle.The bike was covered in dirt having encountered rain riding accross Germay. David Hi David Hope you don't mind me asking, how much was the Workshop Manual, can't see it on the website Regards Colin. Previously alansessions wrote:.this is the best reference for getting an insight into the construction and use of the bike. Remember that this is a hand built motorcycle and prices cannot be compared to mass produced items I would have thought all motorbikes are handbuilt, can't imagine a robot inserting piston circlips, valve collets, fitting headlamps, shock absorbers, final drive trains, petrol tanks etc etc. CNC machining is now a normal production method, but this has nothing to do with the cost of a manual.

Why do you need a manual to tell you how to use the bike anyway? Content of messages from 961 owners already indicates the novelty has worn off. One or two for sale with only a few hundred miles on the clock. Has the hype not lived up to the reality? Previously simonratcliff wrote: Previously alansessions wrote:.this is the best reference for getting an insight into the construction and use of the bike. Remember that this is a hand built motorcycle and prices cannot be compared to mass produced items I would have thought all motorbikes are handbuilt, can't imagine a robot inserting piston circlips, valve collets, fitting headlamps, shock absorbers, final drive trains, petrol tanks etc etc. CNC machining is now a normal production method, but this has nothing to do with the cost of a manual.

Why do you need a manual to tell you how to use the bike anyway? Content of messages from 961 owners already indicates the novelty has worn off. One or two for sale with only a few hundred miles on the clock. Has the hype not lived up to the reality? Well Simon, it seems we don't disagree on everything after all! Previously John Shorter wrote: Previously simonratcliff wrote: Previously alansessions wrote:.this is the best reference for getting an insight into the construction and use of the bike. Remember that this is a hand built motorcycle and prices cannot be compared to mass produced items I would have thought all motorbikes are handbuilt, can't imagine a robot inserting piston circlips, valve collets, fitting headlamps, shock absorbers, final drive trains, petrol tanks etc etc.

CNC machining is now a normal production method, but this has nothing to do with the cost of a manual. Why do you need a manual to tell you how to use the bike anyway?

Content of messages from 961 owners already indicates the novelty has worn off. One or two for sale with only a few hundred miles on the clock. Has the hype not lived up to the reality? Well Simon, it seems we don't disagree on everything after all! Wouldn't sell mine for all the tea in China, I can remember my brother having to by a workshop manual for his new commando 850 to fix a gear box problem because Norton were not interested in the seventies after going back on numerous occasions.funny how short peoples memories are and how quick they are to knock. I don't object to the (idea of the?) 961, or most motorcycles, it's the bullshit that owners/salesmen come out with to justify buying/selling an expensive product, where in reality the 961 is expensive due to scale of economies and also because S.Garner has realised there are people willing to pay over the odds for a pushrod twin with a Norton sticker on the tank. Not a million miles away (and of similar performance) from Harley Davidson's ethos of selling motorcycles, '.living the dream.'

If I have to explain you wouldn't understand.' Etc etc and other drivel the advertising dept. Come up with. Your Triumph is cheaper because of mass production but dosen't mean it is of poor quality. The fact that owners have already reported problems with 961's, e.g high oil consumption and oil leaks, from a 'hand built', low volume product equates to a high percentage of bikes sold so far having faults - so where has/is the customers money going. It would appear not to be in R&D or quality control going by problems so far, no matter how quickly the problems have been fixed or 'enthusiastic' the staff are. Where's the justification of comparing the 961 to a Ferrari?

One's a pedigree sports machine with decades of continuous history and developement, the other is a brand resurrected by an entrepreneur whose immediate previous ventures were selling fireworks and prams. Where's the connection? Hope this explains my previous comments, Simon. How am I spoiling it?

- Norton quality control is doing that at the moment. I haven't mentioned in the above a dislike for the bikes or Stuart Garner, I was countering claims made by Alan Sessions by pointing out problems with 961's due to poor quality control as reported on this forum by 961 owners, and that the bikes are expensive. This is all fact.

It's not my problem the truth is spoiling it, as you claim, for people like yourself. It's amazing some people still have a head in the sand attitude when it comes to British manufacturing. I believe every 961 comes with a free pair of rose tinted specs.

Sure your not related to Lord Melchett? I have been reading this thread with great interest!

I walked around the NEC bike show last year looking carefully at every model on every stand and the only bike that affected my heart rate was the 961! I placed the order and paid my deposit there and then. Recently I've rejoined the NOC after 20 years of being Nortonless. The 961 might not be total perfection on two wheels, which bike is? But what the 961 does have are top quality cycle parts, yokes machined from solid billet all put together by hand in a British factory by loyal workers who know full well that what they are doing is a massive challenge in a highly competitive industry. I own an engineering company, I know how hard it can be and I also know that the 961 is cheap, in fact it is a bargain. Take the Sport for instance, at £14000, 20% of that goes straight to HMRC in VAT.

That is £2800 paid to the Government on every model; add up the expensive componentry, and the attention to detail on the beautiful pushrod engine, it all adds up. So we should be appluding and be proud that Nortons are in production and being admired all over the world. Oh yes, I also have to say that I can't wait to pick mine up this week!! Previously simonratcliff wrote: I don't object to the (idea of the?) 961, or most motorcycles, it's the bullshit that owners/salesmen come out with to justify buying/selling an expensive product, where in reality the 961 is expensive due to scale of economies and also because S.Garner has realised there are people willing to pay over the odds for a pushrod twin with a Norton sticker on the tank. Not a million miles away (and of similar performance) from Harley Davidson's ethos of selling motorcycles, '.living the dream.' If I have to explain you wouldn't understand.' Etc etc and other drivel the advertising dept.

Come up with. Your Triumph is cheaper because of mass production but dosen't mean it is of poor quality. The fact that owners have already reported problems with 961's, e.g high oil consumption and oil leaks, from a 'hand built', low volume product equates to a high percentage of bikes sold so far having faults - so where has/is the customers money going. It would appear not to be in R&D or quality control going by problems so far, no matter how quickly the problems have been fixed or 'enthusiastic' the staff are. Where's the justification of comparing the 961 to a Ferrari?

One's a pedigree sports machine with decades of continuous history and developement, the other is a brand resurrected by an entrepreneur whose immediate previous ventures were selling fireworks and prams. Where's the connection? Hope this explains my previous comments, Simon. Simon have you seen the price of the Norvil commando, and you say the 961 is expensive, Lee don't get drawn in by Simon his only joy is to preach Simons gospel and to wind up any 961 owner as he, like others, do not like the 961 and its owners and would rather we not be in this club. Once again, people are attempting to read between the lines of what I have written, ignoring what I have written, and then coming up with what ever conclusion they like.

The price of the so called Norvil product is irrelevant. They are not a motorcycle manufacturer, they are a spares shop assembling bikes from parts - personally I wouldn't buy a washer from the company. As I said before, the high price of the 961 is due to the economies of scale and obviously does not reflect a high quality product, otherwise there would not be so many customers having problems - a fact, read the postings in the 961 forum. I hope the company, for the sake of the employees and suppliers, who would lose a lot of money if the company collapsed, is successful.

Whatever happens, I imagine Mr Garner would come out of it financially alright. I couldn't give a monkey's who joins the club. Chances of meeting approx. 95% of the members are very small, as they appear to rarely use their bikes, if at all. All the best, Simon. Previously simonratcliff wrote: Once again, people are attempting to read between the lines of what I have written, ignoring what I have written, and then coming up with what ever conclusion they like.

The price of the so called Norvil product is irrelevant. They are not a motorcycle manufacturer, they are a spares shop assembling bikes from parts - personally I wouldn't buy a washer from the company. As I said before, the high price of the 961 is due to the economies of scale and obviously does not reflect a high quality product, otherwise there would not be so many customers having problems - a fact, read the postings in the 961 forum.

I hope the company, for the sake of the employees and suppliers, who would lose a lot of money if the company collapsed, is successful. Whatever happens, I imagine Mr Garner would come out of it financially alright. I couldn't give a monkey's who joins the club. Chances of meeting approx. 95% of the members are very small, as they appear to rarely use their bikes, if at all. All the best, Simon. Hello Simon The Norton 961 is not expensive at all.

For those like me,who have more than enough money and who choose to back British manufacturing. It's more than a motorcycle it's actively backing something that you believe in and want to encourage.

This bike and company is being built from the ground up and to be honest I do not expect perfection. However my 961 Norton Commando Sport is one of the worlds most gorgeous looking motorcycles and is top fun to ride. Redressing the balance a tad from certain posts here and from somebody who actually has one, my 961 Sport after ten months has been excellent - great performance, good handling, superb brakes, comfortable and reliable. Only technical glitch has been a loose earth wire under the seat causing indicator fault at 500 miles which Norton quickly identified and fixed during first service. Personally, have always received good service from Norton once bike was finally delivered.

Read news section on their website and it's clear the company is on the up - even allowing for a certain amount of obligatory PR hype. Wishing Stuart Garner all the best for the future of Norton.

Some comments I noticed on the Excess Norton website you may be interested in. 'What tremendous value the 961 is. I wish all the critics would stop whining about it.' Also, '£15,000 for a 961, it's a disgrace! - it's far too low. The excellent service Norton provides, it should be at least £30,000'.

And, 'The workshop manual is quite magnificent. It justifies the cost of the 961 on it's own. Personally I think the price is too low. I would willingley sell my house and all it's contents to help Norton. Well done Stuart Garner!'

Norton Commando workshop manual. Pages 52 File type PDF Introduction This manual has been compiled as a practical guide to enable owners who are competent to undertake major overhauls and dealers service staff, to service Norton Commando models. Technical data is included to enable the operator to check parts for wear against normal dimensions. Where instruments for measuring engine and gearbox parts are available,reference to technical data should be made to determine if replacement is necessary or otherwise.