India-bound Norton Manx R: All You Need to Know

TVS-owned Norton Motorcycles is set to make its India debut soon. The British brand’s maiden product for India will be the Manx R, which we recently rode in Spain and the review will go live tomorrow, 20 May. While we wait for the India launch of the Manx R, let’s check out what the motorcycle has on offer as a package.

What is it?

With the Manx R, Norton intended to make a motorcycle that was as suitable for the road as the racetrack. Unlike most other litre-class sportbikes, which are capable at the track but may feel like a chore to ride on the streets, the Manx R is meant to be different – one that is not just track-focused but also easy and fun on the road. And this vision is supposed to reflect in every aspect, including design, seating ergonomics, engine, technology, and the hardware package.

Torque-rich Engine

Powering the Norton Manx R is a 1,200cc, V4 engine with a unique 72-degree firing order. With a peak output of 206bhp, it doesn’t win the horsepower game against its contenders. However, the peak torque output 130Nm is more than any other litre-class sportbike. And Norton says the engine is tuned to deliver a strong mid-range while not compromising on the explosive top-end that sportbikes stand for. Interestingly, this engine is assembled by TVS in Hosur while the rest of the motorcycle is put together at Norton’s Solihull factory in the UK.

Top-notch Components

Built around a cast-aluminium monocoque frame, the Manx R’s chassis has been designed with more inclination towards street use than the track, as it has more flex than a typical superbike. While the base model gets a manually adjustable suspension setup, the Apex, Signature, and First Edition trims come equipped with semi-active Marazocchi suspension with dedicated damping characteristics for each mode and the ability to monitor and adapt to the road surface and riding style in real time.

Brembo’s top-notch Hypure calipers handle the braking duties while carbon-fibre wheels reduce the unsprung mass. The Signature variant weighs 203kg (wet, without fuel) while the standard (cast wheels) and Apex (forged wheels) trims weigh 207kg and 210kg, respectively. Notably, the Signature trim also gets full carbon-fibre bodywork, dedicated ‘Signature’ lighting and screen start-up animation, and comes with a single seat.

Tech Fest

On the technology front, the Manx R is on par with its rivals and gets all the rider aids one expects on a superbike. There are three preset ride modes, two customisable track modes, wheelie control, cornering ABS, slide control, cornering cruise control, multi-level traction control, launch control, hill hold control, and combined brake system. All these features can be monitored and tweaked through a massive eight-inch touchscreen display, which is developed in Bangalore by TVS.

India Launch and Expected Price

While TVS and Norton have been tight-lipped about the India launch timeline of the Manx R, we believe it will happen in a couple of months. Now, it remains to be seen how competitively Norton prices the Manx R in India. The Signature trim we rode will certainly not be cheap, as it costs £38,750 (approximately Rs. 50 lakh) in the UK, which is significantly more than the already expensive Ducati Panigale V4 S. However, the base model is just around £2,000 more than the BMW S 1000 RR. We hope TVS and Norton price the Manx R more attractively in India than in the UK.