2006 Norton Commando 961 SS Specs

Norton's 2006 Commando 961 SS Specs arrived as the sole model in the lineup, marking the first production run of Kenny Dreer's effort to bring the Commando name back into the modern era. This is a naked bike built around a parallel-twin engine that leans into torque delivery low in the rev range rather than chasing outright top-end numbers, which makes it a satisfying machine on back roads where you're rolling on and off the throttle rather than stretching toward redline. The riding position and chassis feel are old-school by design, favoring feedback and mechanical connection over electronic intervention, so it rewards riders who actually want to feel the bike working underneath them. The 2006 model carried over without significant mechanical changes from the prior year, as it was the debut year rather than a revision year, so there's no earlier version to compare it against. Buyers today tend to be Norton loyalists and collectors drawn to the brand's Oregon-era revival attempt, who understand the historical footnote this represents given the company's closure later that year, more than riders shopping strictly on performance-per-dollar.