Motorcycle specifications Norton961 Commando California 2018 A luxury tour

When you think of Norton, of the new generation of Norton motorcycles, you know that the terrain is not that of the average motorcyclist. Reserved for connoisseurs, expensive, expressive and offbeat, the small British manufacturer's machines are sold at the pace of a strong brand image. Proud of its illustrious name, the Commando 961 has never ceased to charm the masses. The various versions all resemble café-racers, with a more or less pronounced identity. The California version doesn't see it that way. On its handlebars, the roadster style reigns supreme, with the English touch as a halo.

and there's the handlebar. It's the one that's going to change a lot about driving the Commando. Bigger, higher and wider, it raises the rider's torso to a much more relaxed position. You don't drive this Norton, you take it for a spin.
And it's got a flirtatious feel. The chrome is clearly visible. The whole front end benefits, from the fork covers to the meters, tees and headlight. Don't forget to take a look at the back, as the chain guard is part of the stripe.

norton presents its Commando California as an easy-to-ride motorcycle. Easy, certainly, but first and foremost top-of-the-range. All the damping is done by Öhlins, the brakes are from Brembo and there are a few carbon parts (front mudguard, plate holder...).
In addition to its fundamentally appealing waspish lines, the Commando is one of those motorcycles that you love for things that many enthusiasts wouldn't understand. For those who bend low to judge the spoked rims, who strain their ears to be flooded by the roar of this 80-strong air-cooled twin. Precisely, the engine. No technical changes, but a touch of style: the cylinder block is painted black, while the cylinder head retains a metallic grey finish.
This California is part of Norton's tribute to the 50th anniversary of the original Commando. In a nod to the occasion, only 50 examples will be produced. A fine way to ride the English way, the old-fashioned way, the aesthete way. But it comes at a price, and more than that. A way to appreciate.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos