rate and the height of front-wheel
lift under acceleration.
Rear-wheel slide control is
designed to assist stability
during aggressive braking and
corner entry. Cornering cruise
control, an uncommon feature in
the superbike category, allows
cruise control functionality while
leaned over in corners.
The electronics package also
includes launch control, hill hold
control, an up-and-down quick
-
shifter with auto-blip, and a gear
shift indicator light designed to
help riders maximize the use of
the engine's torque curve.
An eight-inch TFT touch
-
screen serves as the interface
for the motorcycle's electronic
systems and connectivity
features. Bluetooth integration
allows phone and multimedia
control, while GoPro compat
-
ibility enables direct camera
operation through the display.
Norton's smartphone app also
provides access to ride data, live
tracking and security functions,
including remote immobilization
and theft alerts.
Additional features include
keyless ignition, LED lighting, dy
-
namic brake lights and service
reminders.
ON ROAD
& TRACK
Got all that? Trying to get at least
a little of the plethora of infor-
mation coming from the Norton
engineers into my noggin before
the ride was a bit of a challenge
as there was so much to take in.
At first glance, the Manx R's
stance is not too dissimilar to
that of an Aprilia RSV4, although
not quite as extreme. The Manx
R's handlebars are slightly
higher, and the seat about half
an inch lower, but the Manx R
has a generous gap between the
seat and the footpeg, allowing
plenty of blood flow and making
a two-hour ride a rather simple
exercise.
Fire the Manx R up, and you're
greeted with one of the best
sounds in motorcycling: a piping
mad V4 with all that power and
torque, but get moving, and its
personality changes fast.
Switchgear is clean and
uncluttered, but takes a bit of
getting used to in operating
the Norton's vitals.
VOLUME ISSUE JUNE , P121
