Sport · 1961

Thoroughbred

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MotoLibrary Score

38 /100 Commuter

Engine

320 ccm

Top Speed

97 km/h

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Performance & Handling Profile Versatile Everyday Motorcycle

Thoroughbred Performance & Handling Ratings

Power

38/100

320 cc

Torque

43/100

~29 Nm

Agility

97/100

100 kg dry

Ergonomics

68/100

Standard

Range

58/100

Standard

Tires, Oil & Maintenance Specs 1961 Factory Reference

Thoroughbred Tire Size, Oil & Service Capacities

🛢️ Engine Oil & Capacity

SAE 10W-40 / 10W-50 Synthetic 4T (API SN / JASO MA2)

Capacity: 1.80 litres (1.90 US quarts)

⛓️ Final Drive & Chain

Chain 520

4-speed

⚡ Spark Plugs & Battery

NGK CR8E / CR9E

Battery: 12V 7Ah / 9Ah (YTX7L-BS / YTX9-BS)

📏 Seat Height & Mass

100.0 kg (220.5 pounds)

Dry weight: 100.0 kg (220.5 pounds)

🔧 Printable Workshop Fluid & PSI Card →

Engine

Displacement 320.0 ccm (19.53 cubic inches)

Engine Type Single cylinder, four-stroke

Engine Details Single cylinder, four-stroke

Valves/Cylinder 4

Fuel System Carburettor

Fuel Control Sidevalves

Ignition CDI / Transistorized

Lubrication Wet sump forced lubrication

Transmission

Gearbox 4-speed

Clutch Multiplate wet clutch, cable/hydraulic operated

Driveline O-ring / X-ring chain final drive

Chain Size 520

Performance

Top Speed 97.0 km/h (60.3 mph)

Chassis

Front Suspension Telescopic fork

Rear Suspension Swingarm

Wheels & Brakes

Front Tire Pressure 2.0 bar (29 psi)

Rear Tire Pressure 2.2 bar (32 psi)

Wheels Spoked

Dimensions & Weight

Dry Weight 100.0 kg (220.5 pounds)

Seat Dual

Oil Capacity 1.80 litres (1.90 US quarts)

Service & Fluids

Engine Oil SAE 10W-40 / 10W-50 Synthetic 4T (API SN / JASO MA2)

Brake Fluid DOT 4

Spark Plugs NGK CR8E / CR9E

Battery 12V 7Ah / 9Ah (YTX7L-BS / YTX9-BS)

Other

Starter Electric and kick

Electrical 12V 7Ah / 9Ah (YTX7L-BS / YTX9-BS)

Data-Driven Buyer Verdict Evaluated from 1961 OEM specs & class benchmarks

1961 Mustang Thoroughbred Pros, Cons, Recalls & Verdict

✓ Pros & Key Strengths

Manageable 108 kg (238 lbs) curb mass makes low-speed filtering and garage parking effortless.
Balanced Sport chassis geometry with proven OEM componentry.
Broad aftermarket tire and service parts availability for the 1961 Mustang platform.

! Cons & Buyer Considerations

As a 1961 model-year machine, buyers should inspect rubber brake lines, charging voltage, and suspension seals closely.
Stock suspension preload and damping should be dialed in for your specific rider weight and luggage load.

🛡️ Open Full Recall & Chronic Fault Lookup → 📋 Generate Printable Pre-Purchase Checklist for 1961 Thoroughbred →

Technical Overview

1961 Mustang Thoroughbred Technical Analysis, Chassis Review & Ownership Overview

Positioned in Mustang's sport motorcycle lineup, the 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred features a 320 cc (19.5 cu in) single cylinder, four-stroke configuration. Internal cylinder geometry specifies 4 valves per cylinder, fuel delivery managed via carburettor.

On the scales, the Thoroughbred measures 100 kg (220 lbs) dry.

Chassis suspension hardware on the 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred is configured for predictable road feedback with front suspension handled by Telescopic fork and rear damping managed via Swingarm.

Routine workshop maintenance calls for recommended SAE 10W-40 / 10W-50 Synthetic 4T (API SN / JASO MA2) engine oil (1.80 litres (1.90 US quarts)), NGK CR8E / CR9E spark plugs, cold tire pressures of 2.0 bar (29 psi) front / 2.2 bar (32 psi) rear. Within MotoLibrary's Mustang catalog, this model lineage spans 3 indexed model years (1960–1962), enabling direct year-over-year comparison of equipment and emissions updates. Buyers cross-shopping the 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred in the Sport segment most frequently benchmark its horsepower, seat height, and curb weight against the Triumph Tiger Cub T 20 (1964), Triumph Tiger Cub T 20 (1963), Triumph Tiger Cub T 20 (1962).

About These 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred Specifications & Data Sources: Technical data for the 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred is compiled from manufacturer OEM service sheets and type-approval records by the MotoLibrary Editorial Team. Performance ratings, seat-height ergonomics, A1/A2 license eligibility, gearing speeds, and ownership cost estimates are calculated across MotoLibrary's database of 43,881+ motorcycles using power-to-weight (HP/kg) ratios and factory chassis dimensions.

✓ Verified against OEM service manuals & type-approval records

Editorial Methodology Report a Spec Correction →

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Buying Checklist

Before You Compare This Bike

Use this page to compare this motorcycle by its real specifications, not only by model name. Focus on the details that affect fit, comfort, handling, range and ownership.

Weight

Compare weight carefully because it affects low-speed handling, parking and confidence.

Suspension

Suspension details can matter for comfort, road feel and long-distance riding.

Transmission

Transmission and final drive affect maintenance, smoothness and everyday usability.

Rider Profile

Who Is This Bike For?

🏁

Best For

Sport & Track

⚖️

Handling

Very lightweight — easy to handle

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Seat Height & Ergonomics Seat: 800 mm (31.5 in)

Thoroughbred Seat Height & Rider Height Fit

Rider Height 175 cm (5'9")

Leg Inseam 79 cm (31.1")

Footwear Sole:

🟢 Balls of Both Feet (Secure)

Est. Knee Angle: ~92°

Quick Height Reference (800 mm Saddle + 18 mm Seat Width Arc):

163cm (5'4")

Tip-Toe

170cm (5'7")

Balls of Feet

178cm (5'10")

Flat-Foot

185cm (6'1")

Flat-Foot

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License & Power Limit Check EU / UK A2 Compliant (Native)

Thoroughbred A1, A2 & LAMS License Compatibility

Directly compliant with the ≤35 kW (47 HP) and ≤0.20 kW/kg A2 license limit without restriction kits.

Output (kW / HP)

N/A

Power / Weight

Standard

LAMS Ratio

N/A

🇪🇺 EU/UK A1 (≤11kW) ✗ No

🇪🇺 EU/UK A2 (≤35kW) ✓ Native

🇦🇺 AU/NZ LAMS (≤150kW/t) ✓ Eligible

🌍 Unrestricted Class A ✓ All Riders

* EU Directive 2006/126/EC requires ≤35 kW (47.5 HP), ≤0.20 kW/kg wet weight, and a factory base model not exceeding 70 kW (95 HP) for A2 restriction. Always verify VIN homologation on your registration certificate.

🪪 Open Full A2 / LAMS Restrictor & Eligibility Checker →

Engine Design & Chassis Dimensions OEM Specs

Thoroughbred Engine Stroke, RPM & Steering Geometry

Mean Piston Speed (@ 8,500 RPM)

Standard Street Velocity

Standard Factory Thermal Load

Bore × Stroke Architecture

OEM Spec

Balanced Street Engine Architecture

Steering Rake & Trail

Standard Rake

Neutral Balanced Cornering & Highway Composure

Wheelbase & Stability

Standard Wheelbase

Balanced street/canyon wheelbase

Engine Note: Mean piston speed (v_m = 2 × Stroke × RPM / 60) measures piston travel velocity at peak power. Values under 18.5 m/s indicate low inertial stress on connecting rods and rings; values above 21.5 m/s approach Formula 1 / MotoGP velocities.

Sprockets, Chain & Cruising RPM Base: 15T / 44T (2.93:1) · Class Ref

Thoroughbred Sprocket Ratio, RPM & Top Speed

Front Sprocket 15T (0)

Rear Sprocket 44T (0)

Final Ratio

2.93:1

0.0% (Factory Stock)

100 / 120 km/h RPM

Top gear est.

Geared V-Max

~97 km/h

Rule of Thumb: Dropping 1 tooth in the front (-1T) equals roughly adding +2.7 to +3 teeth on the rear sprocket, boosting wheel torque by ~6–7% at the cost of higher highway cruising RPM.

⚙️ Tire Size & Speedo Error Calc → 🏁 Loaded Rider HP/kg & Drag Calc →

Tire Pressure & Suspension Travel Travel: 125mm F / 130mm R

Thoroughbred Tire Pressure (PSI / Bar) & Suspension Sag

1. Riding Setup Mode:

2. Payload / Passenger Load:

Target Rider Sag (F / R)

38 mm Front · 39 mm Rear

Free (Static) Sag target: 10–15 mm

Cold Tire Pressure (F / R)

29 / 32 PSI

Cite or Share Spec Card

1961 Mustang Thoroughbred Summary Table

Writing a review, forum post, or blog article on the 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred? Copy a Markdown table or embeddable HTML spec card:

### 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred — Key Specs & Telemetry
| Parameter | Specification |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Category** | Sport |
| **Displacement** | 320.0 ccm (19.53 cubic inches) |
| **Power Output** | N/A |
| **Torque** | N/A |
| **Seat Height** | 800 mm |
| **Weight (Dry / Wet)** | 100.0 kg (220.5 pounds) / 106 kg |
| **Mean Piston Speed** | Standard |
| **EU A2 License Status** | EU / UK A2 Compliant (Native) |
| **Source & Full Telemetry** | https://motolibrary.com/bikes/mustang/thoroughbred/1961 |

<div style="font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif;border:1px solid #e2dfd8;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:560px;background:#ffffff;color:#1a1a1a"><div style="font-weight:700;font-size:16px;margin-bottom:8px">1961 Mustang Thoroughbred — Technical Specs &amp; Recall Summary</div><table style="width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:13px"><tr><td style="padding:5px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;color:#666">Engine / Power</td><td style="padding:5px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;font-weight:600;text-align:right">320.0 ccm (19.53 cubic inches) · N/A</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:5px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;color:#666">Seat Height</td><td style="padding:5px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;font-weight:600;text-align:right">800 mm</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:5px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;color:#666">Weight (Dry / Wet)</td><td style="padding:5px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;font-weight:600;text-align:right">100.0 kg (220.5 pounds) / 106 kg</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:5px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;color:#666">License / Recall Audit</td><td style="padding:5px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;font-weight:600;text-align:right">EU / UK A2 Compliant (Native) · Check VIN / model-year recall database</td></tr></table><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#666">Data source: <a href="https://motolibrary.com/bikes/mustang/thoroughbred/1961" style="color:#bf3b00;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none">1961 Mustang Thoroughbred Specs, Review &amp; Recalls — MotoLibrary</a></div></div>

Running & Fuel Cost Estimate

Thoroughbred Annual Fuel, Maintenance & Ownership Cost

Annual km

Fuel Price ($/L)

Fuel Consumption (L/100km) — estimated

⛽ Fuel

per year

🔧 Maintenance

per year

🛡️ Insurance

per year

TOTAL

* Estimates only. Actual costs vary by country, riding habits, insurance provider and maintenance schedule.

Quick Buyer Answers

1961 Mustang Thoroughbred Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred have any official safety recalls?

No model-year recall summary is currently flagged in our editorial audit for the 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred. Always run the 17-digit steering-head VIN through NHTSA or DVSA before purchasing a used motorcycle.

What is the seat height and weight of the 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred?

The 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred has a seat height of 800 mm, a dry weight of 100.0 kg (220.5 pounds), and a wet/curb weight of 106 kg (estimated).

Is the 1961 Mustang Thoroughbred EU A2 or LAMS license legal?

License classification: EU / UK A2 Compliant (Native). Directly compliant with the ≤35 kW (47 HP) and ≤0.20 kW/kg A2 license limit without restriction kits.

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