2007 Norton 961 SS Commando

The 2007 Norton 961 SS Commando marks the revival of Norton as a genuine road-going marque, sitting at the top of a very short lineup as the brand's return to production after decades in limbo. This is a hand-built parallel twin with a traditional air-cooled look and a distinctly analog riding character, rewarding riders who want feedback through the bars and seat rather than electronic intervention. It pulls hard in the midrange, making it a bike best suited to back roads and short, spirited rides rather than long motorway slogs, and ownership means accepting a certain amount of mechanical fussiness in exchange for a machine that feels handmade because it largely is. The 2007 model carried over without significant mechanical changes from the prior year — buyers comparing it to a 2006 example should focus on mileage, service history, and condition rather than spec differences. Buyers tend to be experienced riders with a soft spot for British engineering history, often stepping away from mass-produced nakeds in search of something with more character and story. Given the low production numbers surrounding Norton's relaunch, the 2007 961 SS Commando also draws interest from collectors watching early-revival machines closely.