P80
RIDE REVIEW I 2027 NORTON ATLAS APEX
The Atlas isn't necessarily
aimed at newer riders, but you
can't help escape that feeling
when you ride it. The engine
character is docile and easy to
get along with, especially when
you take it off-piste and stick
the ECU in Enduro mode. Here,
the Atlas is a gem of a bike,
delivering its torque smoothly
and cleanly and making slippery
passes all but second nature.
The six-speed transmission is
decent, though the quickshifter
needs a little refinement. Shifts
are light, but you need to be de
-
liberate when selecting the cog.
Light-footed gear changes are
not appreciated by the system
and, on a couple of occasions,
resulted in the next gear not
being selected. Use the system
with a bit of gusto, however, and
you'll be fine.
The engine is housed within
a steel trellis frame, with the
powerplant forming part of
the structural package, while
a cast-aluminum, twin-sided
swingarm controls the back end.
Suspension comes from KYB,
with a fully adjustable 43mm
inverted fork at the front and a
rebound- and preload-adjustable
rear monoshock at the rear. Both
ends provide 7.1 inches of wheel
travel, which is adequate for dirt
road riding, but not much else.
The Atlas rolls on a 19-inch
front wheel and 17-inch rear,
giving it the conventional wheel
arrangement for a middleweight
adventure motorcycle. Ground
clearance is a claimed 8.7
inches, while the wheelbase
measures 57.7 inches. Seat
height is 33.3 inches, which may
seem a little on the tall side for
It's a neat-looking
motorcycle, even
if the exhaust
muffler looks a
little stumpy.
