Norton bikes are back

Norton. It’s a name etched into the metal of British motorcycling. For 127 years it’s stood for game-changing engineering, must-have design and sense-tingling performance. From road-racing gods to road-going icons, its story is one of trailblazing achievement – and unfinished business.

That business – and that same energy – is now firmly back on the agenda, with an all-new range spearheaded by four new models (with two more to come by 2030), new engines, new tech superpowers, a sharp new look, new logo, and even more brainpower. And this isn’t just talk – behind the scenes, Norton is really powering up.

Parent company TVS – one of the world’s biggest bike builders – has invested over £200m in a brand-new factory and R&D hub in Solihull, grown the workforce by 25% and readied a global network of over 200 showrooms and support sites. In other words, it’s gone big – backed up by some serious players. Think of it as when VW bought Bentley and transformed its fortunes, while protecting its much-loved Britishness.

Leading the resurgence is a name more familiar to fans of four wheels: Gerry McGovern OBE. Among the world’s most influential car designers, he’s best known for transforming Land Rover into a luxury brand and overseeing the design and evolution of icons like the Range Rover and Defender. Now he’s bringing that automotive artistry to two wheels.

 “Motorcycles and cars are different,” McGovern says, “yet they share fundamental values. Chief among them is the ability to stir emotion. Though their design languages differ, both can become objects of desire. They also share essential principles – proportion, stance and drama.”

It’s a powerful meeting of worlds: bringing car-like quality, looks, luxury and technical integrity to motorcycling – machines crafted with the same obsession you’d expect from supercar manufacturers. The result? Four brand-new models, each redefining its segment, blending over a century of knowhow with forward-thinking intelligence.

Let’s start with the new Manx R. It’s inspired by Norton’s historic domination of the Isle of Man TT, but this isn’t some retro imitation. Carbon-fibre components boost both performance and feel, it’s packed with tech including adaptive suspension, and a power-to-weight ratio of less than one kilogram per horsepower – making it devastatingly fast.

The explosive speed comes from an all-new 1,200cc V4 engine – one of the largest capacity engines in the supersport segment. Developed in-house by a team whose experience rivals history’s greatest engine builders (Enzo Ferrari would tip his fedora), it produces 206 hp at a relatively low 11,500 rpm and a punchy 130 Nm of torque at an intentionally low 9,000 rpm – offering unrivalled useability and muscle in the real-world.

Then there’s the suspension. Using powerful real-time sensors, the system instantly adjusts both front and rear units – constantly adapting to throttle and braking inputs, cornering angles and road conditions. It’s one of the technologies that allows this to be the hardest-stopping supersports bike out there, whether you’re a knee-down pro or an enthusiastic amateur. And five selectable riding modes allow each rider to tailor this and all the other characteristics on the fly.