Norton Motorcycles have finally pulled the covers off the full production specs for the highly anticipated Norton Manx R. It looks like the British brand is ready to shake up the superbike market, confirming four distinct trim levels with prices starting at £20,250 on road, that equates to about Rs. 26 lakh! While it’s still a premium bit of kit, that entry price makes it £4,745 cheaper than a base Ducati Panigale V4. It’s also only £2,651 more than the Suzuki GSX-R1000R, despite the Norton packing more power and more advanced electronics on paper.
The Manx R Lineup: From Base to ‘First Edition’
Norton are offering four flavours of the Manx R to suit different budgets and tastes:
- Manx R (£20,250): The entry point features manually adjustable Marzocchi suspension, cast aluminium wheels, and a pillion seat.
- Manx R Apex (£24,750): This version steps things up with semi-active electronic suspension and forged aluminium wheels. It’s a whopping £5,945 less than a Panigale V4S.
- Manx R Signature (£38,750): For those after the exotic, this trim adds carbon fibre bodywork, Rotobox Bullet Pro carbon wheels (worth £1,700), and a special dash start-up sequence.
- Manx R First Edition (Price To be announced): The “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” model. It features a braced aluminium swingarm, titanium fixings, and billet aluminium components throughout.
Bookings are set to open online at the end of May. UK riders can expect bikes from June, while the American market will have to wait until later in the year. No word on the Indian market yet.
A V4 Heart Built for the Road
Every Manx R is powered by the same 1200cc 72° V4 engine. It’s a serious powerhouse, churning out 206 HP at 11,500 rpm and 130 Nm of torque at 9,000 rpm.
What’s clever here is the focus on “real-world” riding. Norton have tuned it so that 77% of that torque is available from just 5,000 rpm. By comparison, the BMW S1000RR and Ducati Panigale V4 hit their peak power and torque much higher up the rev range.
This is also the first Norton engine to hit Euro5+ homologation standards. It features a balancer shaft for smoothness, a six-speed transmission with an up/down quickshifter, and 10,000-mile service intervals supported by a three-year/30,000-mile warranty.
Chassis and Handling
The bike is built around a diecast aluminium twin-spar frame designed for “intuitive” feel rather than bone-shaking track stiffness.
- Weight: The base model weighs 210kg (wet) without its 14.5-litre fuel tank, while the carbon-clad First Edition drops that to 201kg.
- Geometry: You get an 840mm seat height, 1435 mm wheelbase, and a 24.1° rake.
- Stopping Power: Four-piston Brembo Hypure calipers work alongside Bosch Cornering ABS EVO.
- Grip: It comes stock with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa V4 SP tyres—properly sticky rubber for the road.
High-Tech Features
Norton aren’t skimping on the gadgets. The higher-spec models come with an eight-inch touchscreen display, five riding modes, launch control, and keyless ignition. There’s even a gear-shift prompt on the dash, similar to what you’d find in a modern car, to help you find the optimum ratio for different riding styles.
Whether you’re after the “affordable” base model or the titanium-bolted First Edition, the new Manx R marks a massive step forward for the brand. It’s officially time to see if this British V4 can knock the Italian and German giants off their perch.
