It’s not a streetfighter, it’s a cafe racer. Plan your posture accordingly for the Norton V4CR. (Norton/)

Time was, English motorcycles only let you down after you’d thrown a leg over one. But in the last 10 years, Norton added Ponzi schemes, fraudulent pensions, and minor parts theft in the list of ways English streetbikes could disappoint. At long last, Lucas electrical parts are blameless.

Stuart Garner’s reign as CEO of Norton provided more than enough fodder for critics and/or stand-up comedians who specialize in motorcycle humor. Think Dennis Poore, but in reverse.

But the real story begins now. In what’s becoming a standard turn for classic English (and American) marques, the story travels through India.

Norton’s new owner, TVS Motor Company, has emphasized squaring old accounts and delivering undelivered products in rebuilding Norton. The phrase  “despite no legal obligation to replace or fix the original machine” has been a constant refrain. But credit due, TVS is putting significant resources into rebuilding both Norton’s ride and reputation.

Related: 2022 Norton V4SV First Look Preview

Air intake, radiator cowling, and minimal seat real estate all add up to the new V4CR. (Norton/)

The future of Norton is the V4 platform, which already produced the V4SS, one of the few bikes to make it off the Garner-era production line in modest numbers. The 200 hp V4SS recently beat the V4V, with a slightly more civilized 185 hp. The TL;DR? Norton means luxury, handcrafted motorcycles.

Now we have the V4CR, a naked cafe racer variant. A prototype, it’s the first to be designed, engineered, and built at Norton’s new UK headquarters. The previous headquarters doubled as a palatial estate for Stuart Garner, so it’s quite the upgrade. Apologies, let’s keep going.

At its heart there’s a 1,200cc 72-degree V-4 liquid-cooled powerplant. Differing from the V4V, it features a polished billet aluminum swingarm and frame plus carbon fiber body panels. The carbon fiber tank is carried over from the V4V. A shorter rear frame and tailsection speak to the cafe racer inspiration.

Attractively brutish air intakes and radiator cowling add a pleasing menace to the V4CR, as does the angular chin of the bellypan. Clip-ons and rearward pegs are what they are—a nod to the cafe racer ergonomics. Fair enough. The word “streetfighter” doesn’t appear once on Norton’s site. In your face, Ducati Streetfighter V4.

Round headlight, clip-ons, and rearset pegs give the V4CR an aggressive three-point stance. (Norton/)

Underneath these stylistic revisions and a choice of Manx Silver or simple black Carbon livery, the frame, engine, and suspension are the same as the V4V. The tubular aluminum frame joins Öhlins suspension with a single-sided swingarm. Brembo brakes tame the Oz Racing forged alloy wheels.

The most intriguing feature of all? The crossed “t” of Norton’s venerable logo, little changed since 1913. When that appears on a warehouse’s worth of bikes set for delivery, the motorcycling world will be better for it. If buyers believe and newly minted CEO Robert Hentschel’s plans come together, Norton will get the last laugh.

Godspeed, V4CR.

2022 Norton V4CR Technical Specs and Price

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com