Norton V4SV Relaunches with Updates and Less Power

What is old is new again might as well be the theme for this week, after the Crighton CR700W reemerged and the Husqvarna Norden 901 finally debut, and that theme continues now with the relaunch of the Norton V4 superbike, which has changed names to the Norton V4SV.

With the company now in the hands of India’s TVS Motor Company, the British firm is starting to make good on some of its previous owner’s promises, and one of those is making the Norton V4 work properly and land into the hands of happy customers.

To do that, the Norton V4SV re-debuts with “only” 185hp /92 lbs•ft on tap, a demotion of 15hp from the claimed stats on the Norton RR, and a bit shy of the current market expectations for a superbike.

Several other dozen changes have come to the Norton V4 design as well, though the bike largely looks the same as before in its Norton V4SV form.

The engine is still a 1,200cc V4 motor with a 72° cylinder head angle. The frame is still a twin-spar aluminum chassis, and features an adjustable rake angle, steering offset, and swingarm pivot.

The bodywork is laid in carbon fiber and in the same shape as the original, though the dry weight is now quoted at a portly 426 lbs( previously 394 lbs).

On the lower spec “Manx” model, there are forged aluminum OZ wheels, while the “Carbon” version gets carbon fiber hoops from BST. Both trim levels get mechanical Öhlins suspension, with NIX30 forks and a TTXGP shock.

Electronics include a six-axis IMU, three riding modes, an up/down quickshifter, LED lighting, and a 6″ TFT dash which is useful with the rearview camera, though there is no cornering ABS.

There is no word yet on pricing or availability, but if previous pricing is a benchmark, then the lower-spec Manx would command a £28,000 price tag, whereas the Carbon version would be set at £44,000.

It remains to be seen if those figures hold true after all of the work TVS has put into the Norton V4 model.

Norton is boasting that the Norton V4SV is the most advanced and highest performing British superbike ever, which is subjectively true.

Though it remains to be seen if customers will be drawn to the bike when offerings from other brands come with more robust spec-sheets and racing pedigrees.