Originally founded at the tail-end of the 1800s, the Norton Motorcycle Company was once an incredibly competitive force in high-level motorsport racing, with the company bagging five 350cc and seven 500cc wins at the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy between 1949 and 1961. And while it’s been just over 60 years since Norton’s last win at the TT, the revived British marque is now looking to re-establish its dominance on the Mountain Course with the debut of the now-boutique firm’s completely re-engineered V4SV Superbike.
At the heart of the V4SV is a completely in-house-designed, liquid-cooled, 1,200cc 70° V4 engine with chain-driven cams, a full drive-by-wire system, titanium inlet valves, a trio of engine maps (Wet, Road, and Sport), and a six-axis IMU-equipped, lean-angle-sensitive traction control system. Mated to a slipper clutch and a bi-directional quick-shifter, the 1.2-liter V4 is good for 185hp and 92ft-lbs of torque. Derived from modern IoM TT race bikes, the V4SV is constructed around a hand-TIG-welded and hand-polished tubular aluminum frame with five-axis CNC-machined outriggers and headstock, and a TT-developed, braced, and underslung single-sided billet swingarm. The framework can also have its geometry manually adjusted, with the ability to dial in the bike’s rake angle, steering offset, and swingarm pivot.
Boasting a dry weight of 425lbs, the motorcycle wears a full suite of exposed carbon fiber bodywork. Running gear on the superbike is all GP-grade equipment and includes carbon fiber BST wheels, top-of-the-line Brembo Monobloc calipers, and a fully adjustable Öhlins NIX30 fork and TTXGP mono-shock that’s been tuned specifically for the V4SV. Other highlights of Norton’s new superbike model include a keyless ignition system with an electronic steering lock, a 6” full-color TFT display, an onboard rearview camera, an Öhlins steering damper, billet rear-sets, all LED lighting, a custom a billet triple tree, and a 4-gallon Kevlar-reinforced carbon fiber fuel cell housed beneath the seat. The only British-designed and built superbike currently available, the V4SV is being produced at Norton’s all-new multi-million-dollar headquarters in Solihull.
Offered in Carbon or Manx Silver color options, the 2023 Norton V4SV Superbike is available for preorder now, with pricing starting at £44,000 (~$53,500). Norton is also producing a Manx-spec version of the superbike with less high-end componentry and a more affordable MSRP.
