Page 46 - Australian Motorcycle News (January 2020)

ATLAS NOMAD & RANGER

THE

ZONGSHEN

AGREEMENT

The ins and outs of
east meets west
ACCORDING TO NORTON
CEO Stuart Garner, none
of the bigger Western
manufacturers would
work with Zongshen,
because they’d see that
as helping a competitor.
“Yet Norton can 1 2
do so since they’re
a small-capacity 3
engine/mass-market
manufacturer, and
we’re a large-capacity
engine/niche-market
company,” he said. “So
we’re very happy to
work with them, and
vice versa, and working
with us was a perfect
way for them to develop
a premium engine at the
high end of their range.
“We’ve negotiated a
non-brand deal only for
engineering – so they
have no rights to use the
Norton name – under
which we’ve given them
certain design rights
over our 650 engine,
with engineering
support from Norton
under which our
engineers have been
going to China to help
them get that engine suspension’s generous, well-damped, travel time Isolastic mounts to cope with the tingles of
into a new generation of
Zongshen models.” delivered good ride quality over the lumps and Classic-era Commandos.
Several manufacturers bumps of Her Majesty’s highways. I was glad to discover that the Nomad’s
in Italy and elsewhere, But then show the Norton an open handling was capable of harnessing
such as Fantic Motor stretch of road and wind up the revs, this performance – I was about to write
and FB-Mondial, already and from six grand up to the 11,000rpm 1. Suspension travel ‘slightly unexpected’ but this is after all
purchase Zongshen revlimiter it is un-be-liev-ably quick- is 200mm at the one-half of a 200bhp-plus Hypersports
single-cylinder motors accelerating, with the ultra-flat torque back... motor, so it stands to reason it should
to equip their range of curve that slingshots you towards 2. ... and the front deliver thrills. I think what made it
bikes. They are eagerly on the Ranger,
awaiting the chance the horizon. The Norton’s contained versus 150mm on unexpected was the sight of an 18-inch
to purchase Chinese- weight doesn’t hurt, but it’s the fact the Nomad front wheel and Avon’s Trekrider dual-
manufactured versions that it’s much more powerful than any 3. Steering feels purpose rubber – but although this
of the Norton 650 motor of its mainstream 650cc competitors precise on both was the first time I’d ridden a bike with
for their forthcoming from Kawasaki or Suzuki, which makes types of rubber these tyres, I was pretty impressed by
range-topping twin- it so much fun to ride. their level of grip.
cylinder models – From 8000rpm especially, there’s 4. Few are going They delivered sufficient lean angle
although Stuart Garner an extra hit of performance from the to call that motor to scrape the Nomad’s low-mounted
insists that under the ‘pretty’
company’s agreement Norton motor, which propels you even 5. Front end, on the dual-purpose footrests with rubber
with Zongshen, Norton harder towards that horizon. This is a other hand, looks inserts quite badly, to the point that I
has the right to veto very invigorating bike to ride, and the street cool really do think they need to be raised.
supplies to any third single counterbalancer does its job In fact, the Nomad’s a bike with a split
party manufacturer that well – there are no undue vibes at any personality that’s a little incongruous.
it may consider to be a stage in the revband, despite the engine being It’s really an Atlas café racer both in styling and
direct rival. rigidly mounted in the frame, unlike Norton’s old- capability, much more than a putative off-roader

46 amcn.com.au