Introducing the Norton Manx R: A 206hp V4-powered superbike

Norton Motorcycles has unveiled the Manx R, the first of six new models that will form the backbone of the company’s rebirth under TVS Motor Company ownership.

Unveiled at EICMA, the Manx R is a 1,200cc V4-powered supersport model designed to re-establish Norton in the high-performance road bike market. Norton describes the bike as “built for the road, bred for the track”, with power coming from a 72-degree, liquid-cooled V4 engine producing 203bhp at 11,500rpm and 95lb ft of torque. — but Norton says it’s about more than just numbers.

The bike makers are describing the new bike as more than an upgrade on the old V4SV. Navijo Mance, Executive Director at Norton Motorcycles, and the man behind its testing and development, said. “The Manx R’s V4 powerplant is all-new, a muscular and gutsy engine specifically developed with an operating range that brings any road alive.” Mance adds that Norton engineers analysed more than 18,000 miles of real-world riding data before deciding that “true on-road performance lives below 11,000rpm”, and that the bike’s torque delivery has been tuned to make the most of that.

Weighing in at 204kg dry, the Manx R targets a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio, and features a six-speed gearbox with slipper clutch, quickshifter and blipper. The gearbox of the Manx R features closely stacked ratios with a taller-than-usual final-drive ratio, something that Norton claims is more about maximising midrange than chasing top speed.

Under the skin, the chassis reflects Norton’s shift from hand-built frames to precision casting. The aluminium monocoque frame and single-sided billet swingarm are stated to be machined to micron tolerances, part of what Norton Chief Technical Officer, and former MV Agusta chief engineer, Brian Gillen, calls a “road-first” philosophy. “The Manx R’s chassis is engineered for feel,” he explains. “We’ve tuned it for precise road feedback, not just lap times. It’s about giving riders genuine confidence on real roads.”

Suspension comes in the form of a semi-active system co-developed with Marzocchi and utilising bespoke, fully adjustable units. As with any top-spec semi-active system, it should be gathering data from around the bike as it's being ridden and adjusting the damping accordingly. Further details on how the system can be tailored to the rider - and if it can be switched off for a more analogue feel - are expected to arrive at EICMA. Speaking at the pre-EICMA presentation, Gillen describes the system as “incredibly natural and intuitive on the road, as if the Manx R is built around the rider.”

Brembo’s new Hypure brakes make their Norton debut, with dual 330mm front discs and a 245mm rear, with both ends supported by cornering ABS from Bosch. The 17-inch carbon fibre wheels are shod with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa V4SP tyres, with a 120/70 front and 200/55 rear.

Visually, the Manx R takes a minimalist approach, compact, muscular, and devoid of wings or unnecessary clutter. Simon Skinner, Norton’s Head of Design, says this “less-is-more” approach came from giving equal weight to both engineers and designers. “Form doesn’t have to follow function, or vice versa,” he says. “At Norton, both are as important as each other.” The result is a bike with clean surfaces, hidden fixings, and what Skinner calls “technical sculpture”, which translates to every functional element designed to work as well as it looks.

Tech and connectivity are handled through an 8-inch touchscreen TFT that offers GoPro control, smartphone pairing, smartwatch integration, and even Alexa voice control. The system runs on Bosch’s 10.3 platform, with rider aids including cornering cruise control, wheelie control, slide control, launch control, and two customisable track modes. Each system can be tuned and turned off to suit rider preference.

The Manx R is set to be built at Norton’s Solihull factory, with pricing yet to be announced. It represents the clearest sign yet that Norton’s comeback under TVS is moving beyond promises and prototypes.

For a company once defined by crisis, the Manx R feels like the first real product of its new life. A motorcycle designed not just to look good in the showroom, but to prove that Norton, at long last, is back to building motorcycles that can live up to the name on the fuel tank.

Alongside the Manx R, Norton has also confirmed the existence of three other models, the Manx (a super naked) and the Atlas and Atlas GT, which are two adventure bikes. Details and specs for both of those new models are set to be announced during the EICMA show. And that might not be all we have from the Solihull-based brand. Norton is touring a third model line, with two all-new bikes, to be announced in Spring 2026.

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