Norton Motorcycles has unveiled a limited-edition Commando 961 Cafe Racer MKII to mark its collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Breitling.
The bike is one of just 77 and includes dials designed by the watchmaker, as well as signature “Bs” engraved on the clutch box and stitched into the seat.
There is no word yet on price, but the current model costs more than $A33,000 in Australia.
Breitling watch
The limited-edition bike has been developed to coincide wth the release of a new watch from the Swiss watchmaker’s Premier collection.
Their Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton Edition costs a hefty $A11,250 and is only available online.
It honours the British bike brand with Norton logos engraved on the left side of the case and transparent caseback.
The black dial has gold numerals, silver subdials and white bezel inscribed with the word “TACHYMETER” in red.
The hands are coated in a luminescent “Super-LumiNova” finish to make them easily legible for riders day and night.
It comes with either a brown leather strap or stainless steel bracelet.
Watch collaborations
It is not the first time a luxury watchmaker has collaborated with a motorcycle company.
Swiss watchmaker Baume & Mercier has got together with Indian Motorcycle on several occasions to release watches costing up to $5500.
Indian Baume at Mercier watch
Other motorcycle manufacturers have had similar exclusive watches in recent years so devoted fans can wear their “heart” on their sleeve – or wrist!
In Australia, the Rekluse X clutch costs $1812.75 which does not include fitting. However, Husky says fitting is a “quick and uncomplicated” process.
That’s still a lot to pay to upgrade a 373cc learner bike that already costs a whopping $11,592 ride away.
Automatic benefits
While most riders love using their gears, there are advantages with automatic and semi-automatic transmissions.
They include smoother gear engagement, improved traction, faster acceleration, no-fuss riding in traffic, no missed gears and easier use in tricky off-road situations.
Honda offers a similar semi-automatic system in its Africa Twin adventure bike and many modern bikes now have quick shifters for up and down shifts that eliminate the need to use the clutch except when stationary.
It even eliminates the chances of engine stalling when starting and when braking hard because you can stop without engaging the clutch.
“Offering an even more accessible and enjoyable experience for riders of all levels, the automatic clutch allows for easy starting and stopping without the need to use the clutch lever,” they say.
That’s great for novice riders as this is, after all, a learner-approved motorcycle.
The kit combines a TorqDrive clutch pack with Rekluse’s EXP automatic clutch disk.
“Providing a more relaxed and controlled riding experience, the Rekluse’s Radius X automatic clutch kit allows Husqvarna owners to ride their Vitpilen 401 or Svartpilen 401 machines for longer periods of time covering greater distances,” Husky says.
“Able to focus more on line selection, users get even closer to the pure riding experience Husqvarna Motorcycles’ sophisticated single-cylinder machines offer.”
A British notice that Norton will be struck off the Register of Companies and dissolved is no cause for alarm, says Norton Motorcycles.
“It’s a standard late-filing notice,” a company spokesperson told us.
“We’re not going bust or indeed going anywhere.”
Only last week the company posted the above social media photo of a beautiful Commando Street.
Unfortunately, they are only making 50 which are limited to the UK due to homologation. Click here to make an enquiry.
“We are currently delivering more bikes than ever and investing millions in a larger production facility along with new model launches.
Donnington Hall where Norton continues to build motorcycles
“We have a very strong future ahead.”
The Companies House notice was published by UK website Visordown.
“We have contacted Visordown but sadly they will not respond,” thge Norton spokesperson says.
Big year ahead
We recently published an article saying Norton Motorcycles will have a big year ahead.
Here is that article:
Norton Motorcycles is expected to improve reliability and spare parts availability as well as delivering important new models this year after two major cash injections.
Norton Motorcycles is expected to improve reliability and spare parts availability as well as delivering important new models this year after two major cash injections.
Lust stretching right back to my teenage years was enough to convince me to accept his offer.
But I was also interested to see if the hefty price tag of $32,990 plus on-road costs is justified.
Before departing, James tells me the ECU update has taken some of the lumpiness and grumpiness out of the engine, particularly when cold or ridden at low speeds.
However, we let it idle for a few minutes to warm up, just in case.
As we head out into busy morning traffic I am pleasantly surprised at how tame and manageable it feels.
However, when we turn the Commando 961 forks toward Mt Glorious, it lets rip with a maniacal yelp and plenty of bite from the 961cc parallel twin pushrod engine with 60kW of power and 80Nm of torque.
They are not world-leading figures, but there is a tone and character to this engine that is absolutely delightful and infectious.
The engine throbs and purrs with the best induction roar since Samson slayed that recalcitrant lion.
At idle, the twin pipes burble delightfully but their note is lost in the induction roar as you power on. So it entertains the rider, rather than alarming the general public.
Tingling ride
We press on into the hills and the Commando 961 tingles my fingers, my feet and the antennae-like wing mirrors — if I could afford one, the first thing I would do is ditch those mirrors for bar-end units.
Handling duties are managed by Ohlins forks and shocks, so it’s predictable, sharp, precise and firm, but with a compliant ride over the harsh bumps.
A perfect, neutral handling bike with light steering and a joy to throw around S-bends.
However, I feel a strange disconnect with the bike. Not emotionally, but physically … in the seat of my pants!
I soon realise it’s due to the shape and design of the narrow-fronted seat and scalloped tank.
The seat is comfortable and fits me well, but my knees are too far forward and underneath the indents on the tank.
Consequently my knees are hanging out in the breeze rather than gripping the tank.
I move my rear rearward and it feels better, but still a little strange.
As we slice through the corners, I tap-dance on the gearshift and find the gears as slick as many Japanese motorcycles.
In fact, unless you watch the green neutral light flick off, you wouldn’t know you had selected first gear it is that smooth and quiet.
There are only five gears but with hefty midrange torque, you don’t really need to mess around with a lot of cog swapping.
In fact, I use only three gears up and down Mt Glorious.
Yet you can also short shift and cruise around in top gear even on city roads.
The Commando 961 is a bike that will accommodate any style of riding and reward in a responsive and entertaining way.
But don’t think of this like an original Commando with its lightweight featherbed frame.
This feels a bulkier and more substantial bike.
I was a little surprised to find the instruments only included an odometer, one trip, a clock and a volt meter with the toggle button between the two analogue dials, not on a switchblock on the bars.
But then, this is supposed to be a neo-classic.
Some of the current neo-classics are a little too hi-tech, defeating the whole purpose of getting back into the retro feel.
Is it worth it?
Sport and Cafe Racer models
After a delightful romp through the hills we are back at Brisbane Motorcycles and I am still pondering why anyone would pay so much for a fairly basic motorcycle.
Yet I’m still wanting one and wondering how I can finance it.
Why is that?
There’s no lavish paint, hi-tech wizardry, spec sheet bragging rights or acres of chrome to admire.
In fact, the casings are a lightly polished alloy that is already developing an oxidised patina.
Then it hits me. That’s exactly what I like.
It feels authentic. It feels hand-built. It feels like quality without any unnecessary trimmings, except for those hand-painted gold pin stripes.
There is a certain intrinsic value to this bike that does not translate to the bank balance.
I know I could afford two Japanese bikes for the same price, but I don’t know that I would feel the same level of pride in ownership.
Norton Commando 961 Sport Mk II
Price:
$32,990 plus on-road costs
Engine:
961cc push-rod valve actuation, 3 bearing crank and balancer shaft.
Power:
58.4kW @ 6500rpm
Torque:
90Nm @ 5200rpm
Compression:
10.0:1
Bore x stroke:
88.0 x 79.0 mm (3.5 x 3.1 inches)
Valves per cylinder:
2
Fuel system:
Injection
Ignition:
Digital
Lubrication system:
Dry sump
Cooling system:
Air
Gearbox:
5-speed
Transmission:
Chain
Clutch:
Wet multi-plate hydraulic lifter
Driveline:
Constant mesh
Emissions:
3 way catalytic converter.
Exhaust:
Stainless steel
Frame:
Steel tubular with integral oil tank.
Rake (fork angle):
24.5°
Trail:
99mm (3.9 inches)
Front suspension:
43mm Ohlins RWU – adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping
Jawa Motorcycles have returned with such a vengeance in India, there could be pressure to export to other markets and delay the revival of BSA.
Currently, owners Mahindra Motorcycles are only licensed by the original Czech Jawa company to make and sell the bikes in India.
However, that could change in the next few years judging by the success of their three new Classic Legends models unveiled in India last November.
The bikes are currently sold out until November 2019 and caused such excitement that competitor Royal Enfield registered their first sales decline in several years in December.
Jawa Forty Two
BSA revival delayed?
Mahindra has released the bikes under the new brand called Classic Legends Private Ltd.
However, the revival of the British BSA brand could be held up while the company tries to cope with demand for its Jawa bikes.
The company had set up a website for Jawa orders but had to take it down after crashing from demand.
Jawa say they wanted to sell 90,000 bikes a year, but it could be more.
That will place huge pressure on their manufacturing resources and could delay the release of the BSA revival.
New Classic Legends
Perak bobber, Jawa and Jawa Forty Two
The new Indian-made Jawa motorcycles, currently only available for domestic sale, are the Jawa, Jawa Forty Two and Perak which will follow later this year.
The Jawa and Perak feature the traditional “egg-shaped” headlamp with integrated instruments. The Forty Two has a separate offset instrument pod.
Jawa
Forty Two
Other iconic features include a tool box, dual shocks, twin peashooter exhausts and flat bars.
Indian prices are Rs 1.64 lakh, Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.89 lakh, respectively. That’s about $A3130-3600 ($US2280-2600, £1780-2050).
All are powered by a new 293cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which has been styled to resemble the original air-cooled motor.
It has a very modest output of 20kW (27bhp) of power and 28Nm of torque.
The bikes come with a disc brake on the front with single-channel ABS and a rear drum brake. To be considered for global exported, Mahindra will first have to update to all discs and two-channel ABS.
Jawa Classic Legends tech specs
Jawa
ENGINE: 293cc Single Cylinder, 4 Stroke, Liquid Cooled, DOHC
BORE STROKE: 76 x 65
COMPRESSION: 11:1
POWER: 20kW (27bhp)
TORQUE: 28Nm
Jawa Forty Two
TRANSMISSION: Constant Mesh 6 Speed
FRAME: Double cradle
TYRES: 90/90 – 18; 120/80 – 17
SUSPENSION: Telescopic Hydraulic Fork; gas canister dual hydraulic shocks
BRAKES: 280mm disc with floating caliper and ABS; rear 153mm drum
Customers who have put in orders for the two new hand-built Norton Atlas 650cc models are set for a long wait for delivery.
The Atlas Nomad cafe racer and Ranger scrambler will not hit the assembly line until early Northern Hemisphere summer 2019.
And even then they will only be built for the UK market, says Norton International Dealer Manager Lee Frankish.
“During late 2019 we will start to plan for international markets with the plan to start building early 2020.”
Meanwhile, Australian distributor, Brisbane Motorcycles, tells us they already have one pre-order and will announce pricing “in the next couple of months”. In the UK they cost £9995 for the Nomad and £11,995 for the Ranger.
Since the Norton Commando 961 starts at £15,995 in the UK and $A29,990 in Australia, we can expect the pricing to be just under $20,000 for the Nomad and just over for the Ranger.
Atlas Ranger
Atlas Nomad
All Nortons are handmade in the Donington Hall factory in the UK, so it will be some time before they are exported in significant volumes.
Donington Hall factory
The Aussie distributors are expecting the bikes at the end of next year. However, that would be difficult since Norton says they won’t be built until 2020 for international markets.
While the Nomad will sell for £9995 (about $A17,700, $US12,750) and the Ranger for £11,995 ($A21,250, $US15,300), the Norton Superlight will sell for about £19,950 ($A35,350, $US25,500).
That’s a lot for a 650cc bike, but we expect its main purpose is to compete in the Lightweight TT class in next year’s Isle of Man TT.
It will be raced by 23-time IoM TT winner John McGuinness who moved from Honda t Norton this year but didn’t race because of injury.
Why does it cost so much?
Superlight by name …
Well, for a start, it is covered in carbon fibre from the wheels to the body work and single-sided swingarm.
Together with a polished aluminium tube frame instead of steel in the Atlas models, so it weighs just a dashing 158kg.
That’s 20kg less than the Atlas and if you add the optional titanium exhaust system it drops another 6kg.
Suspension is top-shelf Ohlins with NIX 30 forks and TTX GP monoshock.
Ohlins TTX-GP shock
Brakes are big Brembo 330mm discs on the front with M50 calipers.
It also features an up-down quickshifter, IMU traction and ABS controllers, colour LCD dash and race-worthy electronics such as wheelie and launch control.
Power-to-weight ratio
The 650cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine in the Atlas models is basically half of the 120cc V4 Norton are working on for their engine V4 flagship model which is expected to be released next year.
In the Atlas Nomad and Ranger, it produces a modest 62kW of power at 11,000 revs and 64Nm of torquer.
In the Superlight it makes 78kW which gives it a racy power-to-weight ratio.
We are still awaiting news from Norton on the V4 and it remain s a mystery what the British company has planned for India.
The company last year signed a deal with India’s Kinetic Group to build 650cc motorcycles for Asian markets.
When we mentioned this before, the company was at pains to say all their bikes are handmade in England.
Jawa Motorcycles are back with a retro vengeance with the unveiling of three new Classic Legends models in India.
Unfortunately, owners Mahindra Motorcycles are only licensed by the original Czech Jawa company to make and sell the bikes in India.
However, we believe that could change in the next few years if these are successful.
Jawa
Mahindra is releasing the bike under a new brand called Classic Legends Private Ltd which will also produce Yezdi (made Jawa-Yedi bikes in the ‘60s-‘70s) and BSAmotorcycles.
The new Indian-made Jawa motorcycles are currently only available for domestic sale.
They are the Jawa, Jawa Forty Two and Perak bobber which feature the traditional “egg-shaped” headlamp with integrated instruments. The Forty Two has a separate offset instrument pod.
Jawa
Forty Two
Other iconic features include a tool box, dual shocks, twin peashooter exhausts and flat bars.
Indian prices are Rs 1.64 lakh, Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.89 lakh, respectively. That’s about $A3130-3600 ($US2280-2600, £1780-2050).
Perak bobber
The bikes will be available in India early next year with the bobber following later in 2019.
All are powered by a new 293cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which has been styled to resemble the original air-cooled motor.
It has a very modest output of 20kW (27bhp) of power and 28Nm of torque.
The bikes come with a disc brake on the front with single-channel ABS and a rear drum brake. To be considered for global exported, Mahindra will first have to update to all discs and two-channel ABS.
Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra says it is “rare to get an opportunity to resurrect a legend”.
“Jawa is an authentic and iconic brand that represents the desire and yearning in all of us for freedom and adventure,” he says.
Jawa Classic Legends tech specs
Jawa
ENGINE: 293cc Single Cylinder, 4 Stroke, Liquid Cooled, DOHC
BORE STROKE: 76 x 65
COMPRESSION: 11:1
POWER: 20kW (27bhp)
TORQUE: 28Nm
Jawa Forty Two
TRANSMISSION: Constant Mesh 6 Speed
FRAME: Double cradle
TYRES: 90/90 – 18; 120/80 – 17
SUSPENSION: Telescopic Hydraulic Fork; gas canister dual hydraulic shocks
BRAKES: 280mm disc with floating caliper and ABS; rear 153mm drum
Norton has unveiled a surprise with not one, but two Atlas 650cc models – the cafe racer Nomad and the Ranger scrambler.
The bikes go on sale as early as this weekend in the UK for £9995 (Nomad) and £11,995 (Ranger).
There is no word of export schedules or overseas pricing yet.
Since the Norton Commando 961 starts at £15,995 in the UK and $A29,990 in Australia, we can expect the pricing to be just under $20,000 for the Nomad and just over for the Ranger.
Atals Ranger
Atlas Nomad
All Nortons are handmade in the UK and these will only be available in small numbers in the UK. So it might be some time before they are exported in significant volumes.
They draw inspiration from Norton’s original 750cc Atlas of the 1960s.
Both new Atlas models are powered by a 650cc twin engine. It is basically half of the 1200cc V4 they are working on for their flagship V4 model expected to be released next year.
Norton V4 RR
The liquid-cooled, parallel twin engine in the Atlas models has a 270-degree firing order like the new Triumph Bonnevilles.
It has 62kW of power at 11,000 revs and 64Nm of torque.
In cafe racer form, the Nomad features an 18-inch front wheel, 180mm rear tyre, wire wheels, straight bars, suede and vinyl bench seat, single headlight and twin pod instruments.
The scrambleresque Ranger has a 19-inch front wheel, high front guard, 50mm higher suspension, a 43mm higher seat (867mm), sport screen, headlight protection and dual-sport tyres.
Both come in a choice of grey, light blue, maroon, black or white.
Norton Atlas Ranger
Engine: Norton Designed 650cc parallel twin. 270 degree firing order. Chain driven double overhead cams with idler gear.
Wheels: 19-inch front spoke wheel with Titanium coloured aluminium rim and 120/70 R19 Avon Trekrider tyre; 17-inch rear spoke wheel with Titanium coloured aluminium rim and 170/60 R17 Avon Trekrider tyre.
Bodywork: High mudguard, brushed aluminium rear panels.
Wheels: 18-inch front spoke wheel with polished aluminium rim and 110/80 R18 Avon Trekrider tyre; 17-inch rear spoke wheel with polished aluminium rim and 180/55 R17 Avon Trekrider tyre.
Bodywork: Aluminium polished low front mudguard. Polished aluminium rear panels.
Seat height: 824mm
Brakes: 2 x 320mm full floating Brembo discs. Radially mounted twin Brembo monoblock callipers with ABS. Brembo master cylinder; single 245mm Brembo disc. Brembo twin piston rear calliper with ABS. Brembo master cylinder.
Suspension: 50mm diameter Roadholder USD forks. Preload, compression and rebound adjustable. 150mm wheel travel; Roadholder monoshock with rising rate linkage and piggyback reservoir. Adjustable preload. 150mm wheel travel.
