NORTON COMMANDO 961 SPORT

961cc Petrol Class 2

#1212 of 5426 overall #31 of 34 NORTONs #743 of 2787 other bikes

89.2%

first-time pass rate

4.3%

failed outright

2,656

median miles at test

510

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2016–2025

The COMMANDO 961 SPORT's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.9 points since 2016, 92.3% to 86.4%.

What fails on a COMMANDO 961 SPORT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	20	37.7	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	15	28.3	1.5×
lighting and signalling	10	18.9	0.1×
tyres and wheels	2	3.8	0.1×
suspension	1	1.9	0.3×
tyres	1	1.9	0.3×
Identification of the vehicle	1	1.9	0.8×
wheels	1	1.9	3.3×
audible warning (Horn)	1	1.9	1.1×
steering and suspension	1	1.9	0.1×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the COMMANDO 961 SPORT beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the COMMANDO 961 SPORT.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2013 (92.8% pass). Weakest: 2018 (83.7%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

NORTON COMMANDO 961 SPORT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the NORTON COMMANDO 961 SPORT reliable?

The NORTON COMMANDO 961 SPORT is more reliable than average for its class: 89.2% of its 510 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1212 of 5426 models.

What does a COMMANDO 961 SPORT fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 38% of all defects recorded against failed COMMANDO 961 SPORT tests.

What is the best year of COMMANDO 961 SPORT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2013-registered examples do best (92.8%) and 2018 worst (83.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.