Norton reveals Atlas, Atlas GT ADV bikes
The 206hp Manx R stole the show, but Norton has two middleweight adventure bikes planned.
Alongside its roaring 206hp Manx R V4-powered superbike, Norton revealed a few more conventional models at EICMA this week, namely the Atlas and Atlas GT adventure bikes.
In total, four new models were revealed by the resurrected brand, indicating a new focus, and a step away from nostalgia. The fourth model, by the way, is the Manx supernaked – same power outputs as the Manx R but without the fairing.
Whereas full details have been shared about the Manx R – and, by extension, we can guess a lot about the Manx – information about the Atlas and Atlas GT is a little harder to find. Details such as peak power outputs and price have not been made available, but here’s what we do know.
Firstly, the Atlas and Atlas GT appear to be effectively the same bike but with different wheels. The Atlas has 19-inch front and 17-inch rear spoked wheels, whereas the Atlas GT is equipped with 17-inch alloys front and rear. The spoked wheels are such that we’d expect tubeless tyres on the Atlas.
Norton refers to the Atlas as the “British Army knife,” claiming it “represents a fusion of rugged capability with modern design, crafted to elevate everyday exploration and enable extraordinary adventures.”
Whereas it says that the Atlas GT “embodies the perfect blend of roadgoing versatility and sophisticated design, created to be the ultimate companion for both daily commutes and epic tours.”
About that design. We can’t help spotting a similarity to the Honda XL650V Transalp – an adventure all-rounder produced from 1987-2007. The Atlas and Atlas GT aren’t exact replicas, of course, but it feels like the spirit is there. That’s not a bad thing, but we suspect that the look of these adventure machines – markedly different from that of competitors – will stand out and may divide opinion.
On this subject, Norton Head of Design Simon Skinner says: “The middleweight adventure bike category is defined by practicality more than anything else. Our challenge was to apply our design strategy to enhance the emotional content while retaining this rationality.”
Both bikes are driven by a 585cc parallel twin with a 270-degree crank. Again, Norton hasn’t published any figures but randomly looking at a different adventure bike of similar capacity, the 554cc QJMotor SRT 600 S, that bike claims 55 bhp and 40 lb-ft of torque.
The presence of Bybre brake calipers (Bybre is Brembo’s budget brand) makes us think that the Atlas and Atlas GT could be pitched against such Chinese competitors.
Like the best of the Chinese motorcycles, the Norton is packed with rider aids and tech. That includes full LED lighting and cornering lights, USB-C port, keyless start, heated grips and seat, cruise control, cornering ABS, traction control, slide control, launch control, hill-start assist, and wheelie control.
Much of this is monitored and controlled via an 8-inch TFT screen that Norton says will enable “a suite of navigation, communication and media options” via an app.
We saw both bikes in person at EICMA and the interest there was intense, with people swarming around the bikes so closely that it was difficult to get a full view. That bodes well for Norton; if the price is right, it could be on to a winner.
Norton says that the bikes will appear in dealerships “from the beginning of 2026 season.”
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Chris Cope is a fourth-generation journalist, originally from Texas. He has lived in the UK for roughly two decades and has been writing about motorcycles for most of that time. He has written for dozens of publications and websites in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
