Sitting next to my Vin in the shed is a 2013 961 Norton Cafe Racer. Thankfully I bought it second hand at about 1/2 price, with only 2400miles on it. My first season of riding this "new" magnificent retro was less than ideal.. it felt like the motor was bound up, fighting itself, there was a huge mechanical clatter that when idling down my street it felt like bystanders were pointing at this cacophony of mechanical mayhem.
There is a ex-dealer in Ontario that had been working on improving these bikes and had published a lot of how to videos and manufactured some special tools. At the end of the riding season I decided I would pull the engine down and see what was going on. Simple enough process, very well engineered and solid castings. First thing I found was the balance shaft bearing was gone - a NJ305E roller made in Czechslovakia with plastic cage. While I was rectifying that, I was told I should look at the crankshaft mounting plate - a 3/4" thick alum billet plate that holds the center main bearing. This is held into the crankcase with 9 bolts. Each of the bolts were not tight enough to clamp the plate and there were signs it was moving around. The bolt dimensions were incorrect as the shoulder bottomed out on the crankcase - leaving the plate loose. Consequently the crankshaft was out of true now by 12 thou.
I created all kinds of ballyhoo with Norton UK and got not one response. Norton Canada did come through with the balance shaft bearing and two gaskets and paid the $200 for the crank truing, out of "Good Will" since I was not a dealer, nor was my bike still under warranty.
Still more to check out - the balance shaft itself was out of balance - about 3oz had to be ground off one lobe to true it up. The exhaust rocker shafts were almost frozen due to lack of oil - I added some spiral groves to help.
I was also told to replace the sensors with OEM Bosch products including the ignition coil, head temp sensor and cam speed sensor. Norton had designed the system on Bosch spec's but had substituted cheap aftermarket components that actually didn't measure up specification wise and caused all kinds of electronic mayhem.
I was also told by Norton Canada that for peace of mind I should replace the two main bearings while I am at it with FAG brass ones, which I did, NJ307E's came at a considerable cost. I sent my ECU to Ontario for the latest map and buttoned it all up. I was lucky to have the facilities and tools to undertake this. Out of pocket cost overall was minimal for parts, some paid for by Norton but I have 40-50hrs of my time into it.
Good thing it runs really well, vibration is gone and the mechanical noise is about a 1/4 of what it was, plus I found I found all kinds of new power above 5000rpm.
Sad thing, I blogged my progress on Norton Access Forum and it cause quite a stir - it wasn't long before I was told indirectly from Norton, that I should remove my posts and not continue to malign Norton with this clearly one off condition.
Since then I have kept tabs on other 2013-2014 models (pre MKII's) and it is now clear that pretty much the whole batch from that period are suffering from similar symptoms. The chaps in Ontario to this day are still "improving" these bikes without any help from Norton at the Owner's expense.
I was prepared to give Norton a chance, but the way they have treated me and others is DISGRACEFUL. Garner you deserve what's coming.
There is a ex-dealer in Ontario that had been working on improving these bikes and had published a lot of how to videos and manufactured some special tools. At the end of the riding season I decided I would pull the engine down and see what was going on. Simple enough process, very well engineered and solid castings. First thing I found was the balance shaft bearing was gone - a NJ305E roller made in Czechslovakia with plastic cage. While I was rectifying that, I was told I should look at the crankshaft mounting plate - a 3/4" thick alum billet plate that holds the center main bearing. This is held into the crankcase with 9 bolts. Each of the bolts were not tight enough to clamp the plate and there were signs it was moving around. The bolt dimensions were incorrect as the shoulder bottomed out on the crankcase - leaving the plate loose. Consequently the crankshaft was out of true now by 12 thou.
I created all kinds of ballyhoo with Norton UK and got not one response. Norton Canada did come through with the balance shaft bearing and two gaskets and paid the $200 for the crank truing, out of "Good Will" since I was not a dealer, nor was my bike still under warranty.
Still more to check out - the balance shaft itself was out of balance - about 3oz had to be ground off one lobe to true it up. The exhaust rocker shafts were almost frozen due to lack of oil - I added some spiral groves to help.
I was also told to replace the sensors with OEM Bosch products including the ignition coil, head temp sensor and cam speed sensor. Norton had designed the system on Bosch spec's but had substituted cheap aftermarket components that actually didn't measure up specification wise and caused all kinds of electronic mayhem.
I was also told by Norton Canada that for peace of mind I should replace the two main bearings while I am at it with FAG brass ones, which I did, NJ307E's came at a considerable cost. I sent my ECU to Ontario for the latest map and buttoned it all up. I was lucky to have the facilities and tools to undertake this. Out of pocket cost overall was minimal for parts, some paid for by Norton but I have 40-50hrs of my time into it.
Good thing it runs really well, vibration is gone and the mechanical noise is about a 1/4 of what it was, plus I found I found all kinds of new power above 5000rpm.
Sad thing, I blogged my progress on Norton Access Forum and it cause quite a stir - it wasn't long before I was told indirectly from Norton, that I should remove my posts and not continue to malign Norton with this clearly one off condition.
Since then I have kept tabs on other 2013-2014 models (pre MKII's) and it is now clear that pretty much the whole batch from that period are suffering from similar symptoms. The chaps in Ontario to this day are still "improving" these bikes without any help from Norton at the Owner's expense.
I was prepared to give Norton a chance, but the way they have treated me and others is DISGRACEFUL. Garner you deserve what's coming.
