Brembo 2 x Ø320 mm fully-floating high carbon stainless steel discs, 4 piston
"Gold Line"
Brembo radially mounted calipers. Brembo "Gold Line" front brake master cylinder
with integral reservoir
Rear Brakes
Brembo single Ø220 mm disc, 2 piston "Gold Line" caliper.
Brembo rear brake master cylinder
Front Wheel
3.50 x 17", 36 spoke, stainless steel polished rim
Rear Wheel
5.50 x 17", 40 spoke, stainless steel polished rim
Front Tyre
120/70 -17"
Rear Tyre
180/55-17"
Wheelbase
1420 mm / 55.9 in
Seat Height
813 mm / 32 in
Dry Weight
188 kg / 415 lbs
Fuel Capacity
17 L / 4.5 US gal
Triumph’s present Bonneville engine is a lot sweeter to
use in everyday riding conditions. True, the 961 makes more power – and it is
smile-making when it comes to overtaking traffic or belting along back roads –
but then it is 961cc opposed to 865cc. It’s also fact the 961 engine deals out a
lot more vibes and has a gearbox that wouldn’t be out of place on a proper
classic.
Gearshifts are slow and noisy and the needs a good solid
movement of the foot to get top (fifth) gear to engage fully. No doubt most
owners will call it character and live quite happily with their treasured Norton
– the bike they’ve always wanted. If this includes the weeping crankcase
breather we encountered then so be it.
Of course Norton wouldn’t be Norton if the bikes didn’t
have sports riding capability built into them as standard. Fortunately, the 961
is well up for a session or two of back road boogie. We can thank the sturdy
frame, respectable chassis geometry and some of the tastiest chassis components
your money can buy.
Top of our list of bolt-ons is the Ohlins suspension front
and rear. This is the sort of tackle that specials builders lust after. Billed
as road/track, they suit the Sport very well. Any subsequent adjustment is
purely to accommodate riding styles and rider weight. The Sport is super stable
but doesn’t take much effort to cajole it through the bends – the chassis gifts
the rider with feel and, therefore, confidence to seek out the next set of
bends.
The old adage of ‘you’re paying for the name’ falls
squarely across a Norton fuel tank. There are plenty of bikes out there that
would run rings around a 961 Sport – probably two for the price of one – but
then I guess we’d pay anything to own the bike of our dreams.
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