Page 45 - Australian Motorcycle News (January 2020)

ATLAS 650 NOMAD ATLAS 650 RANGER

Silver Dream Racer Rubber Shifty Style
Silver-on-black is The motor is half of The brakes would While the tyres Norton copped Some metalwork
a classic Norton the firm’s V4 engine not be out of place look like chunky, some criticism of resembles the brand’s

colour scheme that and looks unusual, at the Isle of Man dual-purpose affairs, the gearbox on its former models – and

cleverly echoes the but combines flat and TT; 320mm radial- the Avon Trailriders reborn Commando so you can bet your
brand’s classics, while available torque far mounted Brembo provides plenty of this time around, put bottom bob there will
incorporating modern beyond that of its Monobloc calipers reassuring grip on a lot of effort into a be a large accessory
technology. 650cc rivals. with ABS. the tarmac. slick shifter. catalogue.

where the braced cast aluminium swingarm “Still, I think anyone who knows Nortons really
operating a Marzocchi monoshock adjustable for well from back in the ’60s and ’70s will recognise
rebound damping and spring preload via a rising- some of the shapes on the bike. But the styling is
rate link, gives 150mm of wheel travel for the essentially based around the ergonomics, and the
Nomad, and 200mm for the Ranger. functionality – the very low 15-litre fuel tank, for
Despite its dual-purpose focus, the Ranger example, allows you to stand up on the bike easily
carries the same front end brake package as the if you’re going off-road.
Nomad, which wouldn’t look out of place on a “We have several more variants on this platform
one-litre Superbike. The twin 320mm Brembo already planned, but first we have to get these
fully-floating front discs are gripped by the Italian first two up and running in production.”
firm’s four-piston twin-pad radial Monoblock Norton claims “several hundred” orders are
calipers, with switchable dual-channel already under deposit for the two bikes, with a
Continental ABS. At the rear, there’s a 245mm 70/30 percent split in favour of the Nomad.
disc with twin-piston Brembo caliper, The chance for a first ride on pre-
altogether stopping a bike that weighs 1. What’s the term; production prototype versions of both
178kg dry in either guise, split 50/50 retro/modern? the Norton twin Twins came just north
front to rear. Both bikes use a 17-inch 2. Upswept exhaust of Norton’s 228-year old stately HQ,
rim on their rear wire wheels, with a combines good Donington Hall, where the original
front 19-incher on the Ranger shod with looks with sounds 45,000ft² factory and 10,000ft² welding
Avon’s new Trekrider dual-purpose 3. Norton’s Simon and fabrication shop have recently
rubber. The more tarmac-focused Skinner had another 12,000ft² of covered
Nomad uses the firm’s Trailrider tyres, space added to them to accommodate
5 4. Old school
with an 18-inch front. This results in clocks? Of course volume production of the range of
a 1446mm wheelbase for the Nomad, 5. Half-V4 engine is Twins. Starting with the Atlas Nomad,
versus a rangier 1470mm stride for the, a winner I was immediately thrilled by the
er, Ranger… fruity-sounding aftermarket exhaust
As on the eye-grabbing V4-SS, the 6. Seat combines fitted to the bike, which won’t be Euro5
comfort, grip and
styling of both Atlas models was style legal. Still, it was no louder than a
designed by Simon Skinner himself in Triumph aftermarket pipe on one of its
his home design studio, which actually middleweight triples, but has exactly
transpires to be a rather humdrum location. the same effect, delivering a sporty feel-good
“It was done at home where I’m undisturbed, factor to riding the bike.
and I get fed coffee by my wife, straight onto CAD That’s a sentiment enhanced by the engine’s
on my laptop on my kitchen table,” he says. “What performance with a very welcome split
I wanted to do was to not make a retro bike, but to personality. Below 6000rpm it’s an amiable all-
not make an ultra-modern one, either – I wanted rounder, happy to plonk along at low speeds
to bring in an older generation without alienating in third or fourth gear in traffic or through
younger people. towns and villages, where the accommodating

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