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RIDE REVIEW I 2026 NORTON MANX R
with a torque-assisted slipper
clutch, quickshifter and rev-
matching system. Norton gave
the V4 a tall 2.41:1 final drive
ratio to let riders fully exploit
the engine's torque curve on the
street, which is paired to the en-
gine's gruff, deep exhaust note
that was a core objective in the
Manx R's design brief.
CHASSIS
& BODY
The Manx R employs a twin-spar
aluminum chassis cast from
five elements, then welded and
CNC-machined into a single
integrated assembly. This gave
the Norton designers more
precise control of stiffness and
flex characteristics while also
centralizing mass by directly
The Manx R runs twin fuel in
-
jectors per cylinder and indepen-
dently controlled 38mm throttle
bodies, and the system also
supports rear cylinder deactiva-
tion in high-temperature condi-
tions, such as stop-start traffic.
The compact exhaust system
that exits under the bike near
the rider's right foot uses twin
catalysts, a back-pressure valve
and a triple oxygen sensor ar
-
rangement to handle the emis-
sions regulations.
The V4 runs a balance shaft to
reduce vibrations and noise, com
-
pact bucket valve gear, ramped
cylinder heads and tightly pack-
aged intake architecture.
Power is delivered to the
Pirelli Supercorsa SP through a
close-ratio six-speed gearbox
ventional inline four-cylinder en-
gine, the Manx R's 72-degree V4
fires at alternating intervals of
180°, 270°, 180°, and 90° across
the 720-degree four-stroke
cycle, whereas Ducati uses a
0°, 90°, 290°, and 380° firing
sequence in the Desmosedici
Stradale big bang engine.
Norton claims this uneven
pulse spacing gives the rear
tire slightly more recovery time
between power strokes, helping
maintain grip when accelerating
hard out of corners.
The configuration also allows
Norton to achieve this character
without using staggered crank
pins or a wider V-angle, helping
retain the compact packaging
advantages of the 72-degree
V4 layout.
Despite the rather
pronounced bend in the
rider's knees, long ride
comfort is surprisingly
good on the Manx R.
