Norton continues to push forward interesting new machines, with details of the new Superlight SS model now breaking out of Europe, with supercharger and lots of carbon-fibre.
The Superlight, in standard form, has aluminum frame and a fairly sensible 650 cc parallel twin engine. The new SS model has swapped that aluminum frame for a carbon-fibre frame, swingarm and subframe.
According to MCN, Norton says the new chassis has the same dimensions as the aluminum unit it was based on, but is 47 per cent lighter. Curb weight is supposed to be 160 kg.
Combine that low weight with the output from the newly supercharged engine, and Norton should have a real weapon here. The supercharged SS is supposed to make 175 hp at 12,500 rpm from its parallel twin, with 125 Nm of torque.
Norton says it can slot the non-supercharged engine into the carbon-fibre frame (but why would you?), and the supercharged engine will fit into the aluminum-framed bike (that seems more likely). Will they make models in those configurations as well? Hard to say—Norton’s been on iffy financial ground for roughly a decade, since it was kinda-sorta reborn, with complaints about deliveries of its earlier 961 Commando model. Now, the company was asking for investment money last week to help it with current deliveries … and then withdrew that request, saying a single investor had ponied up all the needed cash (but they didn’t say who it was. Hrm!).
Find more details of the Superlight SS at Norton’s website. It’s expected to come to market with a £49,995 price tag, which works out to roughly $86,000 CAD.
Is it me or is there lots of companies making bikes for people who can afford to have 5, 6, 7+++ motorcycles these days.
Hey Tony, yes there are lots of unobtanium bikes out there, but they are fun to look at. There are also amazing bikes for very good prices. My sister bought an FX-07 for well under 10K all in and it is an amazing bike. Looks great, handles well, acceleration and top speed amazing, good brakes. She is a new rider, the FZ is light, low enough, easy to manage for her, and a total blast for me. I have been riding for 40 years, lots of great bikes out there now, new and used. It is the relative lack of new riders that is the issue now. Cam