Sub-500 cc Norton bike for developing markets (including India) under development – Report

British two-wheeler brand Norton Motorcycles is reportedly working on a sub-500 cc bike for developing markets, including India. The upcoming product, most likely to be christened 'Commando Cub', will be the most affordable Norton Motorcycle till now.

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Kinetic Group is very optimistic about the Norton Commando Cub. The company expects to sell 25,000 units per annum. While the exact displacement details are yet to be announced, the upcoming product will reportedly close to the 500 cc mark. The rival list for the Commando Cub will include the Royal Enfield 650 Twins, Leoncino 500 and the upcoming Bajaj-Triumph product.

While the official launch timeline is not available, the source report suggests that the year will be 2021. The new Commando Cub will be sold through Kinetic Group’s Motoroyale showrooms. Ajinkya Firodia, MD, Kinetic Group, confirmed that the bike will be manufactured in India, which should result in a very affordable price tag.

In terms of styling, the upcoming Norton Commando Cub will draw inspiration from the Commando range of products – the Commando 961 California and the Commando 961 Sport MK I. Thus, expect café-racer/retro motorcycle-inspired styling cues on the upcoming budget Norton product. The hardware specifications, however, will ensure a premium look, and the Commando Cub will most likely come equipped with inverted front forks and an adjustable rear monoshock to perform the shock absorption tasks.

Braking department may comprise single discs on both wheels, while the safety net will likely be dual-channel ABS.

In India, the Commando Cub will be preceded by the Norton 650 Atlas (reportedly arriving by March 2020). Revealed in November last year, the Norton Atlas is available in two variants in the international markets – Ranger and Nomad. Indian market will most likely get both options. The Atlas Nomad is aimed to be a road-focused bike, while the Atlas Ranger is designed to go off-roading.

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The off-road spec model comes with a 19-inch front wheel. The Nomad, on the other hand, uses 18-inch wheels on both ends. The Range also features extended suspension travel on both ends and tall seat height than the Nomad. Both variants use a 650 cc parallel twin-cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled engine with fuel injection and 270-degree firing order that pumps out 84 BHP of max power and 64 Nm of peak torque.

[Source: AutocarIndia.com]