Norton Manx R — First Look

Norton has been quietly talking about its resurgence for a few years now, thanks to backing from Indian firm TVS, but at EICMA 2025, the historic British marque has firmly announced its return with the Manx R, the first of six new models meant to reestablish the brand as a serious player in the industry. Designed and engineered under the reborn company’s new leadership, with TVS funding, the Manx R is an all-new machine from the ground up — including a fresh V4 engine, a new chassis, and a design philosophy that blends British craftsmanship with modern superbike performance, and a bend toward real-world convenience.

Design

The Manx R’s look is deliberately clean — almost minimalistic compared to today’s busy superbikes. Norton calls it a “reductive design,” stripping away unnecessary creases, decals, and body clutter. You won't find any wings here — just smooth lines. The result is a compact and tightly packaged motorcycle that still carries a clear sense of purpose. Every exposed component is styled to be part of the visual statement, more like the inner workings of a fine watch than a purely mechanical object. For the contingent of motorcyclists who long for a throwback to when sportbikes were clean and pure, the Manx R is for you.

The Manx name isn’t new to Norton fans, but this bike isn’t a nostalgic reissue. Instead, it aims to express “modern Norton-ness” — a mix of drama, proportion, and simplicity that connects design and engineering from the earliest stages. The company says the Manx R sets the tone for a family of upcoming models that will share this same unified design direction.

Simon Skinner, Norton's Head of Design, describes his design philosophy like this:

"Our unique design strategy has been created to give every Norton a family continuity while allowing each model to have its own unique character. This creative vision remains true to the innovative DNA that made Norton one of the most revered two-wheel brands throughout history. This is Nortonness.

There are four key principles that guide us through the creation of all models: modern, Integrated, dramatic and connected. The most obvious and influential is modernity, our interpretation of modernity is one of reductivity. This principle stands out in a marketplace that is becoming ever more visually complex.

The harmony needed between design and engineering to allow the execution of the design strategy is captured in integration. One function cannot lead the other, they must push forward together.

All Nortons should have a sense of drama, this is vital to create an emotional response. The Motorcycle should have forward movement regardless of the category. Finally we have connected, which is how the emotion of the design is carried forward into the riding experience, through materials, colours, touch points and intuitive HMI. Looking at a Norton should elevate the spirit."

Engine and Performance

For the past few years, during Norton's soft relaunch, the company had effectively been borrowing Aprilia's RSV4 and rebadging it around its own bodywork. Those days are now over, as at the heart of the Manx R is an all-new 1,200cc, 72-degree liquid-cooled V4 producing a claimed 206 hp at 11,500 rpm and 130 Nm (96 lb-ft) of torque at 9,000 rpm. We'd have to assume Norton engineers studied the Aprilia V4 engine closely when designing this one, though details about Norton's V4 are slim. What we do know is that, rather than chasing sky-high revs, Norton says it focused on real-world power delivery. The development team analyzed tens of thousands of miles of riding data to understand how riders actually use power on the road and built the Manx R’s torque curve around that. This engine delivers the bulk of its torque between 5,000rpm - 10,000rpm, where real-world riders need it most.

A ride-by-wire system controls each cylinder bank independently, helping fine-tune throttle response. The engine pairs with a six-speed gearbox featuring a slipper clutch, and bi-directional quickshifter. The internal ratios are closely spaced together, though the final drive ratio of 2.41:1 is intentionally tall to help keep the engine in the fat part of its torque curve. Five riding modes (Rain, Road, Sport, and two customizable Track settings) tailor the bike’s character for various conditions, and settings are saved even after the bike is keyed off.

Chassis and Suspension

Brian Gillen, long-time head of R&D at MV Agusta, has joined the Norton team as its Chief Technical Officer and brings with him a wealth of knowledge when it comes to developing a motorcycle, including superbikes. But instead of a hard-edged track weapon, the Manx R goes in a slightly different direction. Its cast-aluminum frame represents a shift from racetrack stiffness to real-world balance. The design aims for precision and feel rather than lap times, with controlled flex built in for feedback and comfort.

“The Manx R’s chassis is engineered for feel. The cast frame has been meticulously tuned to deliver precise road feedback, giving riders a real sense of connection with the road for genuine confidence on every journey. By focusing on demanding road dynamics rather than just racetrack extremes, Norton delivers a chassis that always feels intuitive and rewarding.” - Brian Gillen

Suspension comes from Marzocchi, featuring semi-active electronic damping that adjusts compression and rebound in real time. The system continuously adapts to throttle, braking, and lean angle inputs, giving the bike a more planted and intuitive feel on public roads. Riders can switch between comfort and sport-oriented damping through the riding modes.

Brakes and Wheels

Braking is handled by Brembo’s new HYPURE calipers. The setup uses dual 330 mm front discs and a single 245 mm rear rotor, paired with lean-sensitive ABS. Lightweight 17-inch carbon fiber BST wheels are wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa V4SP tires.

Electronics and Connectivity

In keeping with the modernity theme, the Manx R’s tech suite stays focused on enhancing the ride without overwhelming the rider. The system is built around Bosch’s latest 10.3 platform with a six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit, or IMU. As you'd expect, it offers the usual aids — traction control, cornering ABS, wheelie control, and slide control — but also a few new aids not seen on past sportbikes, like slope-dependent control (details of this are not clear), optimal gear shift suggestion, and maybe most interesting of all: cornering cruise control that lets the rider keep a steady speed through bends.

A large 8-inch TFT touchscreen handles everything from riding data to GoPro control, smartphone pairing, and custom ride profiles. Riders can manage functions through a companion app, which also supports live bike tracking, remote immobilization, and theft alerts.

The Big Picture

The Manx R marks Norton’s first serious step into its next chapter. Norton is treading a line between honoring its past while moving ahead into the future. It's almost like starting from scratch, and like most new companies looking to make a name for itself, it starts with a halo product. In this case, the Manx R. It's almost like the anti-superbike superbike in that road and real-world performance comes first. With its new V4 powerplant, clean design language, and focus on practical livability, the Manx R gives us a glimpse of what a 21st-century Norton can be — fast, functional, and distinctly British.