Norton V4 Video Teaser
In 2008 when UK business guru Stuart Garner bought the rights for Norton Motorcycle Company, the first plan of action was developing the new 961cc Commando, and getting it to market.
Once this was accomplished, other projects got underway, including the first-ever 1200cc V4—the aptly named Norton V4. This bike is creating quite the buzz, though Norton, based out of Donington Hall, remained hush and released minimal details.
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Until now. Norton has released the above teaser video of the bike hand built in Donington. Besides some in-house photos, the only other information we get from the video is that the bike was developed at the Isle of Man TT, is hand built, and will be officially unveiled November 19. The unveiling will occur during the Birmingham NEC Show.
The engine is based on Aprilia’s 1000cc RSV4 V4, but instead of the narrow 65 degree angle, it’ll be larger at 72. It’ll arrive with an aluminum chassis, Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes, BST carbon wheels, full-color TFT dash, and carbon bodywork. That’s all we know for now.
Speaking of the TT, Norton has been a player since its first TT win in 1907 when Rem Fowler rode a twin cylinder Norton to victory in the first race back in 1907. Since then many legendary names have competed for the world-famous marque including Stanley Woods, Geoff Duke, Alec Bennett, Jimmy Guthrie, Freddie Frith, Harold Daniell, Artie Bell, Reg Armstrong and Ray Amm who all took Norton to TT race victories.
Apart from Hislop’s win in 1992, Norton’s previous wins came in 1961 when two of Britain’s greatest ever riders – Mike Hailwood and Phil Read – won the Senior and Junior races respectively, Norton reports.
During this year’s Isle of Man TT, Aussie David Johnson set the fastest-time ever on a Norton SG5 prototype—130.872mph en route to seventh in the RST Superbike TT.