Few motorcycle brands have been through the mill as much as Norton.
Once maker of some of the fastest and most desirable bikes on the planet, they fell on hard times in the 1970s and have spent five decades in the doldrums. Now, under the ownership of Indian giants TVS, the company appears to have found stability. The new owners have invested heavily in new R&D and manufacturing facilities in the Midlands, and now they’ve unveiled the first fruits of their labours: a four bike range based around two engines. Full details are still somewhat light on the ground, but we expect them to go on sale in 2026, with even more models set to follow.
The range is headed by a pair of 1200cc V4s, in superbike and supernaked trims. Dubbed ‘all-new’ they’re powered by a totally reengineered version of the powerplant introduced under Norton’s previous owners. The 200bhp machines will be known as the Manx and Manx R – in honour of Norton’s famous race machines of old – while the ‘Atlas’ adventure bikes will utilise a parallel twin engine which appears to be based on the V4.
Full details are still missing, despite TVS holding a press call at the big EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, but what we do know is that the Manx models will most likely be built in the UK and will top the range. The Manx R appears to eschew current sports bike design philosophy, with clean lines and no aerodynamic wings as is the trend with other manufacturers. Expect an engine tuned for tractability and road manners in a high spec chassis that’s dripping with high-end components from big name suppliers like Brembo, Bosch, Marzocchi and Pirelli. The supernaked version, known simply as the Manx, shares the same platform but with a more upright riding position and minimal upper bodywork.
While the Manxes will be the headline grabbing flagship models, the Atlases are likely to be the volume sellers. We’re expecting more affordable machines, most likely assembled by TVS in India, that need to go up against the likes of Aprilia’s Tuareg 660 and Yamaha’s Tenere 700, with two versions to reflect the trend of offering a more road focussed variant alongside a taller and more rugged derivative with off-road capability. It's these mainstream models which are likely to make or break the success of the revived company, and it is expected that some scramblers are on their way to further broaden the brand’s appeal.
All four prototypes shown at Milan’s EICMA show were painted silver, the traditional Norton colour, and sport a clean new logo to represent the company’s rebirth.
Expect to see the bikes on show in the UK at Motorcycle Live, held in Birmingham later this month, with fuller details to emerge in the coming months.
