New Norton Superlight twin makes 105 hp

Norton has added a scorching hot sportbike to its vertical twin lineup with the introduction of the Superlight.

The Superlight is powered by the same parallel twin that’s in the Atlas Ranger and Atlas Nomad models which debuted in the middle of last week. In this machine, it’s said to be tuned to make 105 hp (the scrambler-style models make about 85 hp). The Superlight’s version of the parallel twin has a 270° crank, 81 mm bore, 61.5 mm stroke, 13:4:1 compression ratio, and chain driven DOHC setup. It’s a 650, like the Nomad and Ranger. It’s also supposed to be the same engine we’re going to see in the Aprilia RS660, according to Internet gossip—we’ll see about that one.

Dry weight is 158 kg, and max torque is 75 Nm. As you can see from the photo, there’s a single-sided swingarm setup.

While the Nomad and Ranger models were aimed more towards a standard consumer, the Superlight is aimed at hardcore high-speed usage, with top shelf components that drive up the price. Carbon-fibre wheels, bodywork and fuel tank, aluminum frame, fully adjustable Ohlins NIX30 forks and TTXGP shock, Brembo M50 calipers and 330 mm front discs, Ohlins steering damper, up/down quickshifter, adjustable swingarm pivot, six-axis IMU, ABS, traction control—all this stuff gets expensive, which means the Superlight carries a  £20,000 price tag in the EU, which works out to about $34,000 CAD.

Not that we’re too worried about it, though, as we’ve yet to see Norton make a serious assault on the Canadian market. Still, this machine does look like a proper terror on the street, and we’re sure John McGuinness will be a serious threat when he takes it to the Irish roadracing circuit, particularly the Isle of Man TT.