2016 Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer Mk II

2016 Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer Mk II sits toward the sporting end of the reborn Commando range, wearing clip-ons and rearsets instead of the standard model's more upright stance. This is a hand-built parallel twin that rewards deliberate riding rather than commuting duty — the pushrod engine with hydraulic roller lifters delivers its punch in a broad, usable midrange rather than up top, so you're working the throttle and the gearbox in a way that feels mechanical and involving instead of anesthetized. Ownership means accepting some quirks: this is a small-batch British bike built with real hand-finishing, not a mass-market Japanese twin, and it demands an owner who enjoys that tradeoff. The 2016 model carried over without significant mechanical changes from the prior year — buyers comparing it to a 2015 example should focus on mileage, service history, and condition rather than spec differences. Buyers tend to be experienced riders moving on from modern retro twins who want something with more character and mechanical presence, often with an eye toward long-term collector value given Norton's limited production numbers during this era.