Anglo-Indian firm Norton has unveiled the final specs and pricing for its new Atlas light-middleweight adventure touring bikes. Here’s what we know about the all-new parallel-twin machines.
Last month, we got all the details – and a first ride – on Norton Motorcycles’ first new bike, the Manx R superbike. This month, we’re getting to know the next bike in the relaunched firm’s range – and it’s a very different kettle of fish.
Rather than a £40k 206bhp super-trick sportsbike, the next model to come from the Sollihull-based manufacturer is a much more sensible, accessible production – the mid-sized Atlas light adventure touring/commuter machines.
When it was first mooted as a twin-cylinder offshoot from the old Norton V4 platform, the bike gained the ‘650’ name – but it’s turned out to be a 585cc capacity machine, with a completely different bore and stroke – so there’s no shared parts with the V4 engine as in the original idea it seems.
It’s a modern design, with the usual DOHC eight-valve cylinder head, 78×61.2mm bore and stroke, and the fashionable 270° crank firing order, as seen on the likes of the Yamaha Tracer 7 motor. There are twin oil pumps and a high flow cooling system which claim to improve durability and reliability, and a knock sensor which should help running with indifferent fuel quality, should you come across that.
There’s not much else to say about the motor design from the technical details though: six-speed gearbox, wet clutch, plasma sprayed cylinder bores and chain final drive are all standard fare, as is the ride-by-wire fuel injection system and the 12.2:1 compression ratio.
Peak power is a claimed 69bhp@9,300rpm, which puts it around the Yamaha Tracer 700 performance level, albeit from a smaller capacity, so expect a slightly revvier delivery perhaps. Peak torque sits at 57Nm, and that comes in at 7,500rpm, so a little higher in the rev range than on a bigger motor (the Yamaha CP2 700 engine has peak torque at 6,500rpm).
This slightly-vanilla engine lives in a broadly unremarkable chassis: a steel tube trellis frame with a cast aluminium dual-sided rear swingarm, using quite decent running gear.
Brakes are from Brembo’s ‘ByBre’ sub-brand with dual 310mm front discs and radial calipers, and suspension is from KYB: fully-adjustable 43mm USD front forks and a rear monoshock with rebound damping adjustability and remote rear preload adjuster.
That’s a fairly high suspension spec to be fair: not all bikes in this class go to the bother of full damping adjustability up front.
The Atlas has more of an off-road bent than the GT version (full spec of which is being released a little later), so you have a decent 180mm of wheel travel both ends (the GT has 140mm), and the option of wire-spoked or cast aluminium wheels, with a 19-inch front rim (the GT has a road-friendly 17” front). Tyres are from Norton owner TVS’s own brand – Eurogrip – using dual-purpose Explo R Plus fitments with a 110/80 ZR19 front and 150/70 17 rear.
All-up kerb weight without fuel is a decent 188kg on the Atlas – about on par with something like a Yamaha Ténéré 700 or Tracer 700, and lighter than a Versys 650.
Norton’s given the new Atlas a very decent electronics package for the sector, with an IMU-assisted set of rider aids. There’s cornering ABS and traction control, and a handy brake Hill Hold assist function on the Apex model, plus electronically linked brakes.
The cruise control also uses the cornering facility, there’s a handy up/down quickshifter, and five rider power modes too – Urban, Rain, Sport, Tour and Enduro. Finally, there’s wheelie and slide control which may seem a little less relevant here than they are on the Manx R superbike…
There’s a few touches of electronic touring luxury as well: a massive 8” TFT colour touchscreen dash is way ahead of the competition, and is similar to the one on the Manx R. It has all the usual functions: Bluetooth, navigation, media control and trip computer, and is controlled via switchgear that has programmable buttons.
Ignition, steering lock, seat and fuel cap are all keyless – a premium touch in this class – and there is a Norton phone app to access extra functions too. The bike also has over-the-air digital update functionality for software updates over time.
The bodywork has the same ‘look’ as the other bikes in the Norton range, and you can decide for yourself how you feel about that. The colour schemes are the same sort of plain monochrome finishes as well, which offers a much more mature/classy look than something like a bright lime-green Kawasaki Versys, but is maybe a little staid.
The Atlas has a fairly tall 845mm seat height, though the GT version will be lower at 815mm, and there’s a manual adjustable windscreen on the Apex model.
A fairly impressive spec in places then, based around a standard-looking set of performance figures. The styling is still a little out-there, but as with the Manx R, we expect it will grow on us and look better in the flesh. The final factor to consider is the pricing: the new Atlas range starts at £8,250 which is competitive in the sector against Japanese machinery – though a little steeper than some of the new Chinese brands.
The Apex model with some extra kit is £9,450, which is perhaps the model which most buyers will plump for. We’ll hold back on a final verdict until we get a spin on a bike, but in the meantime, the new Norton Atlas looks like a pretty solid option for a light middleweight adventure machine.
More info: www.nortonmotorcycles.com.
2026 Norton Atlas specs
POWERTRAIN & CHASSIS
ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled 585cc DOHC 270º crank parallel twin
Bore & stroke: 78mm x 61.2mm
Compression ratio: 12.2:1
Fuel injection: Multi-point sequential fuel injection system, ride-by-wire throttle
PERFORMANCE
Max power: 69BHP (51.5kW)@9,300 rpm
Max torque: 57.5Nm (42ft-lb)@7,300 rpm
EXHAUST
Steel 2-into-1 system with upswept silencer
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox: six-speed with bi-directional up/down Quick Shift
Clutch: Cable-operated Assist & Slip multiplate wet clutch
Primary drive: Constant mesh; Ratio: 40:81
Final drive: X-ring 116 Chain, 16T Front Sprocket, 47T Rear Sprocket
Gear ratios: 1st: 16.445, 2nd: 12.268, 3rd: 9.447, 4th: 7.647, 5th: 6.514, 6th: 5.678
CHASSIS
Frame: Steel trellis
Swingarm: Cast aluminium
Seat: One-piece rider & pillion seat
SUSPENSION
Front Suspension: KYB 43mm USD forks, 180mm wheel travel, fully adjustable
Rear Suspension: KYB monoshock RSU, 180mm wheel travel, adjustable tension damping with hydraulic preload adjustment
BRAKES
Front Brakes: 2x 310mm semi-floating discs, radially-mounted Bybre calipers
Rear Brake: 270mm rear disc, Bybre caliper
WHEELS & TYRES
Front Wheel: Cast alloy / Spoked steel, 19” x 2.50”
Front Tyre: Eurogrip Explo R Plus, 110/80 ZR19
Rear Wheel: Cast alloy / Spoked steel, 17” x 4.00”
Rear Tyre: Eurogrip Explo R Plus, 150/70 ZR17
DIMENSIONS
Wet weight, no fuel: 188 kg
Fuel tank capacity: 15.4 litres / 3.39 Gallons (Imperial) / 4.07 Gallons (US)
Seat height: 845 mm
Ground clearance: 220 mm
Wheelbase: 1465 mm
Rake: 25.7 º
Trail: 101.7 mm
SERVICE & WARRANTY
Service interval: 12 months / 6,000 miles / 10,000 kilometres
Warranty: 36 months – Unlimited kms (UK, EU) / 30,000 miles (USA) / 50,000 kilometres (India)
CONSUMPTION & EMISSIONS
Fuel consumption: 23 kmpl / 65 mpg (Imperial) / 54 mpg (US)
Emissions / CO2: EURO5+, Bharat Stage VI, California & US
ATLAS: FEATURES
DESIGN
Adjustable brake and clutch levers
Aluminium footpegs with removable rubber insert
Plastic protective cover
LIGHTING
LED twin-projector headlamps with dynamic light intensity & signature DRL (Daytime Running Lights)
LED front indicators integrated into handguards
LED 3-in-1 multi-function taillight & rear indicators
INSTRUMENTS
Full-colour 8” touchscreen TFT display, 720p resolution
Multi-way connectivity (Bluetooth & Wi-Fi)
Multimedia control (music & calls)
Navigation control (turn-by-turn)
Go Pro control
Over-the-air software (S-OTA) & firmware (F-OTA) updates
Ride telematics
Norton Rider app integration
ELECTRONICS
Keyless ignition with electronic steering lock, seat lock & fuel filler cap
USB-C charger
RIDE MODES
Urban, Rain, Sport, Tour, Enduro
ELECTRONIC RIDER AIDS
Bosch 10.3MB 6-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), including…
N-DTC – Drag Torque Control
N-ABS – Anti-Lock Braking System
N-TEC – Tractive Effort Control
N-DCC – Dynamic Cruise Control
N-TWC – Total Wheelie Control
N-RLC – Rear Lift Control
N-RSC – Rear Slide Control
COLOUR OPTIONS
Matrix Black
Trophy Silver
Verona Green (cost option)
Sinopia Orange (cost option)
ACCESSORY OPTIONS
There’s a full range of factory accessories available:
- Integrated heated rider seat
- Integrated heated grips
- Touring windscreen
- Brass coated chain
- LED cornering lights
- LED puddle light
- Norton Bobbin kit
- Norton all-weather bike cover
- Rear luggage & pillion handle kit
- Norton 50L (25+25) pannier system (L+R)
- Norton 34L top case system
- Engine guards
- All-terrain sump protection kit
- Front axle spindle protection kit
ATLAS APEX
As Atlas, but with extra kit, and 192kg kerb weight:
DESIGN
Aluminium integrated bash plate
Easy-adjust windscreen
Rear luggage & pillion handle kit
LIGHTING
LED cornering lights
LED puddle lamp
INSTRUMENTS
Full-colour 8” touchscreen TFT display, 720p resolution
Multi-way connectivity (Bluetooth & Wi-Fi)
Multimedia control (music & calls)
Navigation control
Go Pro control
Over-the-air software (S-OTA) & firmware (F-OTA) updates
Ride telematics
Norton Rider app integration
ELECTRONICS
Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
Integrated heated grips
ELECTRONIC RIDER AIDS
N-VHC – Vehicle Hold Control
N-ECB – Electronic Combined Braking
COLOUR OPTIONS
Matrix Black
Trophy Silver
Verona Green
Sinopia Orange
Glacier Blue (cost option)