Driving report Norton Dominator 961

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Driving report Norton Dominator 961
Nakamura

Driving report Norton Dominator 961

Driving report Norton Dominator 961

Driving report Norton Dominator 961

Driving report Norton Dominator 961

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Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Picture gallery: Driving report Norton Dominator 961.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Picture gallery: Driving report Norton Dominator 961.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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1440 millimeters wheelbase, and yet the Dominator turns more lightly than sister Commando. The adapted geometry makes it possible.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Classic trains on the 961 cm³ twin of the Norton transmit the request of the gas hand to the injection system.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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At the back, the Dominator 961 is much more modern. The hump is adorned with fine carbon, complemented by the Union Jack.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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It’s classic in the field of vision. Two round clocks provide information on engine speed and speed, supplemented only by a small digital display.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Stuart Garner, who took over Norton in 2008, and his chief designer Simon Skinner sat down, threw the stereo dampers of the Commando 961 overboard, installed a mono damper, honed its design and equipped the bike with all kinds of high-quality parts.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Pictures from the driving report of the Norton Dominator 961.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Pictures from the driving report of the Norton Dominator 961.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Pictures from the driving report of the Norton Dominator 961.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Pictures from the driving report of the Norton Dominator 961.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Pictures from the driving report of the Norton Dominator 961.

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Driving report Norton Dominator 961
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Driving report Norton Dominator 961

Bulldog in street dress

Norton’s limited edition Domiracer made the mouth watering for fans of the brand in 2014. The Domiracer SS, launched in 2015 and also limited in number, did not change anything. Now the road offshoot Dominator 961 is in the starting blocks – as a series vehicle without limitations.

Norton and racing – they go together. After all, the motorcycles built since 1913 dominated the races on the Isle of Man at the “Senior TT” from 1939 to 1954 almost at will. So it is hardly surprising that the first offshoot of the NOrton Commando listened to the name Domiracer. Stuart Garner, who took over Norton in 2008, and his chief designer Simon Skinner got together, threw the stereo dampers of the Commando 961 overboard, installed a mono damper, honed its design and equipped the bike with all kinds of high-quality parts.

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Driving report Norton Dominator 961

Driving report Norton Dominator 961
Bulldog in street dress

Bulldog look fully packaged for everyday use

In 2016, the official start of production of the Domiracer’s road offshoot, the Norton Dominator 961, the second series model in the Norton range next to the Commando 961, will follow. “It was important for me to get the same bulldog look with the series offshoot as with the Domiracers, but then to pack the whole thing for everyday use.” The new tank is the most significant change that is noticeable at first glance. The Norton Dominator 961 uses a rotation-molded fuel barrel, while the Domiracer stashed the petrol in a handmade aluminum container with a Monza tank cap. “This change greatly simplifies production,” explains Skinner.

Further adjustments are more likely to be hidden inside the machine. “The engine is a significant evolution compared to the original 961 cubic centimeter drive,” continues the head of design. The Norton Dominator 961 has a new crankcase, new cylinders, a different cylinder head, new pistons, a modified crankshaft and a new gearbox. “Our goal was to further reduce the vibrations of the engine, which is already running relatively smoothly thanks to the built-in balancer shaft, and to further increase the quality,” remarks Skinner. Due to the larger numbers that Norton now builds of the 961 engine, it is now manufactured using die-casting and no longer using the sand-casting process.

Sounds more like a 90 degree V-engine from Ducati

The new manufacturing process has not changed anything in the basic character of the engine. And that’s just as well. Like the bulldog described above, the Dominator starts at just above idling speed, and thanks to the crankshaft with a 270 degree crank pin offset, it doesn’t sound like parallel twin, but much more like a 90 degree V-engine from Ducati. The Norton Dominator 961 develops its highest torque of 90 Nm even at a low 5200 revolutions. Its peak output is 80 hp, which the engine provides at 6500 rpm. The rev limiter only intervenes at 8000 revolutions. Due to the airbox, which is 1.5 liters larger than the Commando, and the intake manifold, which is now 35 millimeters in diameter, the new engine delivers a bigger punch than the first 961 units. It is not necessary to squeeze the Norton Dominator 961 to the limiter. She feels much more comfortable when she is allowed to work in the range of her maximum torque. It is always a pleasure to drop the revs for a short time and then enjoy the brisk acceleration of the new Norton, which weighs 175 kilograms, over and over again, to use the full torque for short intermediate sprints.

The chassis of the Norton Dominator 961 turns out to be a congenial engine partner for any country road fun. The Ohlins spring elements guide the wheels tightly, but not uncomfortably. The radial Brembo brake calipers, which combine smooth deceleration with fine controllability, are also beyond any doubt. And since the mono damper in the rear of the Dominator is 20 millimeters longer than the stereo damper of the Commando, the Norton Bulldog bends nicely around corners of all kinds without sacrificing stability. The bottom line is that the Dominator is pleasantly similar to the limited Domiracer types. Unfortunately, this also applies to the still ambitious price.

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