Norton Commando 961 SE Make Model. | Norton Commando 961 SE | Year | 2010 | Engine | Parallel twin with push-rod valve actuation, 3 bearing crank balancer shaft, 2 valves per cylinder | Capacity | 961 cc / 58.6 cu in | Bore x Stroke | 88 x 79 mm | Compression Ratio | 10.1:1 | Cooling System | Air cooled | Lubrication | Dry sump | Induction | Fuel injected | Ignition | Crank fired electronic | Starting | Electric | Max Power | 59.7 kW / 80 hp @ 6500 rpm | Max Torque | 90 Nm / 9.2 kgf-m / 65 ft-lb @ 5200 rpm | Clutch | Wet multi-plate with hydraulic lifter | Transmission | 5 Speed, constant mesh | Final Drive | Chain, 525 "O" ring | Frame | Tubular steel with integral oil tank | Rake | 24.5° | Trail | 99 mm / 3.9 in | Front Suspension | ?43 mm ?hlins RSU, adjustable preload, compression, and rebound damping. | Front Wheel Travel | 115 mm / 4.53 in | Rear Suspension | ?hlins reservoir-style twin shocks, adjustable ride height, preload, compression, and rebound damping. | Rear Wheel Travel | 100 mm / 3.94 in | Front Brakes | Brembo 2 x ?320 mm semi-floating carbon stainless steel discs, 4 piston "Gold Line" axial calipers | Rear Brakes | Brembo single ?220 mm disc, 2 piston "Gold Line"caliper | Front Wheel | 3.50 x 17", BST carbon fibre | Rear Wheel | 5.00 x 17", BST carbon fibre | Front Tyre | 120/70 -17 | Rear Tyre | 180/55 -17 | Wheelbase | 1420 mm / 55.9 in | Dry Weight | 188 kg / 414 lbs | Seat Height | 813 mm / 32 in | Fuel Capacity | 17 Litres / 4.5 US gal | While normally a job for deities, resurrection often requires a bit of hubris when tackled by mere mortals. But, when given the opportunity to return the Norton Motorcycles marque to its former prestigious glory, Stuart Garner could not resist the challenge.
The new Norton Commando 961 SE, limited to a production of 200, features an honest-to-goodness British-designed, air-cooled, long-stroke, parallel-twin powerplant, with pushrods, a dry sump and, saints preserve us, a balancer shaft (no Isolastic frame this time around).
"It was felt that to bring the Commando up to date and deliver a good value product, a ground-up engineering exercise was necessary," according to Head of Design Simon Skinner. "This work started in 2008 and has now progressed to completion."
Weighing in at a claimed 414 pounds dry-thanks, in part, to such components as BST carbon fiber wheels-and cranking out 67 ft/lbs of torque at a modest 5,200 rpm, acceleration should be brisk and easy. First-class bits abound, from a Brembo braking system to full ?hlins suspension.
Built in a new manufacturing facility at legendary Donington Park in the British Midlands, the new Commando is a retro-styled motorcycle with its fair share of modern technology. "The biggest challenge for the UK design team was the full integration of the fuel injection and engine management systems," Skinner says.
"This needed to be done without compromising styling and the classic look of the Commando. The fuel injection system is necessary to pass modern worldwide emissions legislation but also offers other benefits such as improved drivability and reliability. The engine in the Norton Commando has been engineered to bring the 961cc parallel-twin engine up-to-date with modern expectations of refinement and durability as well as complying with the latest emissions and noise legislation. All this needed to be achieved whilst maintaining the classic lines and character of the Commando."
Norton Motorcycles will be distributed in the United States by South Bay Norton in Lomita, Calif., a dealership with over 35 years' experience in motorcycling.
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