Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/958653
2018 NORTON COMMANDO 961 LIMITED 50TH EDITION CALIFORNIA FULL TEST P98 60 mph downhill fourth-gear sweeper didn't unsettle it at all. Indeed, the Ohlins suspension just shrugs off bumps, and the Norton holds its line well over them, due mostly to the low center of gravity achieved by the dry sump engine being placed low in the frame without impact- ing on ground clearance. And the Brembo twin-disc brake package provides controllable, effective stopping power with just the right degree of sensitiv- ity from the radially mounted calipers, though you can use a surprising amount of the consid- erable engine braking on offer without getting the rear wheel hopping, even with that normal 1300 rpm idle speed. Retro is cool, right now but only when done right. Fortu- nately, the Norton Commando 961 California is a two-wheeled equivalent of today's acclaimed Mini or the Fiat 500, as a properly re-engineered, suc- cessful re-interpretation of a classic-era design icon, that's both functionally pleasing and fashionably stylish, while also being completely authentic, especially in the case of the white-and-blue California! It's indeed a satisfying blend of old and new, a mixture of period chilled-out attitude combined with modern civility, like brakes that work brilliantly, tires that warm up fast and grip well on a cool winter day, and suspension that, while tautly set up as you'd expect a genuine sport bike like this to be, also irons out bumps while laying that hefty torque to the ground with a degree of compliance that makes this a very confidence-inspiring bike to ride hard. It's getting on for a decade now since Stuart Garner ac- quired the rights to the historic British marque in October 2008 from its previous American owner, Boston financier Olly Curme, obtaining with it the prototype Commando 961 street bike, which Curme had commis- sioned from the USA's number- one twin-cylinder Norton guru, Oregon-based Kenny Dreer. Since then, heaps of hard graft entailing long hours, a good bit of risk taking and several major changes in strategy have put the born-again Norton Motorcycles firm back on the map. CN 2018 NORTON COMMANDO 961 LIMITED 50TH EDITION CALIFORNIA ENGINE: ....... Air/oil-cooled, 4-stroke, 4-valve, SOHC, parallel twin DISPLACEMENT: ...................................... 961cc BORE X STROKE:............................ 88 x 79mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ..............................10.1:1 HORSEPOWER (CLAIMED): ................ 71.9PS @ 7500 rpm TORQUE (CLAIMED): .........67Nm @ 6500 rpm IGNITION: ...................................................... EFI EXHAUST: ..... 2-1-2 3-way catalytic converter, Euro 4 compliant TRANSMISSION: ...... 5-speed, constant mesh FINAL DRIVE: ......................... 525 O-ring chain CLUTCH: ................................... Wet, multiplate FRONT SUSPENSION: ...... 43mm Ohlins, USD, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION: ......... Ohlins twin shocks with remote reservoir, fully adjustable FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ...........................4.5 in. REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: .............................4.9 in. FRONT WHEEL: ...........3.5 x 17 in., 36 spokes REAR WHEEL: ..............5.5 x 17 in., 40 spokes FRONT TIRE: .............................120/70 x 17 in. REAR TIRE: ............................... 180/55 x 17 in. FRONT BRAKE: .............. Brembo, twin floating 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers, ABS REAR BRAKE: ... Brembo, single 240mm disc, 2-piston caliper, ABS RAKE / TRAIL: .......................................... 24.5° TRAIL: ...................................................... 3.9 in. WHEELBASE: .......................................... 55.1 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ...........................................32 in. COLORS: .... Galactic Black, Royal Red, Manx Silver, Titanium Grey, Steel Green, English White, Galaxy Black, Canary Yellow, Candy Red, and Red/White/Blue S P E C I F I C A T I O N S The Norton is fitted with Brembo brakes, including a fully floating 320mm front discs with four- piston calipers.