PATON S1-R LIGHT WEIGHT TRACK TEST
R I D E R E V I E W
P90
Michael's two-time TT winner is
derived from the appealing but pricey
Paton S1-R Lightweight streetbike
that's literally a racer with lights, and
is currently available in Europe for
24,900 ($27,960) + tax – yes, that's
more than a Ducati Panigale V4 S!
This is derived from the lower-spec
S1 Strada, production of which began
back in 2014, since when 'over 50'
bikes have been sold to customers
around the world, according to Paton.
However, the less costly older
model I rode in prototype form five
years ago had a conventional fork,
non-radial brakes and wire wheels, and
was powered by a totally stock Ka-
wasaki ER6 engine. That's now been
discontinued in favor of the uprated
S1-R Lightweight which the Paton race
team brought to the 2.2-mile Cremona
circuit south of Milan for me to sample
alongside Dunlop's two-time TT win-
ner—still encrusted with Manx flies!
finishing just 1.229 seconds ahead of
Kawasaki rider Jamie Coward in a two-lap
race shortened by weather conditions, with
Italian teammate Stefano Bonetti—fresh
from winning the 2019 North West 200 on
his Paton—sixth. This time around there
were five Patons in the top 12 finishers.
(Above) Cathcart
describes the handling
of the Paton S1-R
as sublime. (Below)
The Paton S1-R uses
a plethora of exotic
Italian aftermarket
goods to make the
final machine.
