Norton sells manufacturing license to Zongshen

Norton has sold a manufacturing licence for its upcoming 650cc parallel-twin engine to Chinese motorcycle manufacturer, Zongshen.

Although the financial details are unknown, Norton has been paid up front and will also get a per-engine royalty from Zongshen. The Chinese manufacturer will use the engine to power a new range of bikes to compete against the 650cc parallel-twins from CF Moto. Zongshen also produces engines for other companies, so it is likely that the engine could feature in a number of machines under a variety of names.

The 650cc parallel-twin has not yet been released but it is basically half of the 1200cc V4 Norton engine it showcased last year, although with a small increase in bore or stroke. The engine is made to rival the Suzuki SV650 and Kawasaki Ninja 650 which share the same engine capacity.

When Norton produces the engine, it will power a new range of motorcycles that will be the entry-level models for the brand. The engine will eventually power Norton’s adventure and sports bikes; meanwhile there also is a rumour about a supercharged version. The manufacturer plans to reveal the bike powered by this 650cc parallel-twin by the end of this year.