Small-displacement bikes have come a long way from being just “beginner motorcycles.” Once seen as little more than stepping stones to liter-class machines, today’s mid-capacity bikes are stealing the spotlight. And they’re not just for newbies anymore.
For years, the Honda CB500 series basically wrote the rulebook on how to build an approachable, bulletproof, and fun-to-ride parallel-twin motorcycle. Whether it was the CB500X for adventure lovers or the CB500F for naked sportbike fans, these bikes proved that you didn’t need big power to have a big adventure. Now, we're seeing a full-on wave of brands riding the same trend—but with far more flavor and flair.
I mean, just look at the current landscape: the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is tackling rugged terrain with tech like ride-by-wire and TFT displays. The CFMoto Ibex 450 brings serious ADV capability at an almost disruptive price. KTM’s 390 Adventure and Duke series are punching way above their weight class—light, quick, and perfect for daily thrashing or weekend touring. These aren't just beginner bikes anymore. They're multi-role machines that even seasoned riders are having a blast with, especially as traffic, fuel prices, and maintenance costs continue to rise.
And this is exactly why Norton—and by extension, TVS—is getting serious about the 450cc space.
After acquiring Norton in 2020, TVS has kept the brand fairly quiet, focusing on cleaning up the mess left by previous management and refining the lineup. But things are finally moving. Before 2025 wraps up, Norton will officially launch in India, and not just with halo bikes for collectors. We’re talking about mass-market Nortons—bikes that are meant to sell in real numbers.
The backbone of this push? A 450cc parallel-twin engine, co-developed by BMW and TVS, first shown in the BMW F 450 GS at EICMA 2024. And yes, that engine will also find its way into the upcoming Apache RR 450 and a future BMW F 450 R. But perhaps the most exciting twist is that Norton will use this same platform to create a new range of accessible, premium-feel bikes aimed squarely at rivals like Royal Enfield.
Now that’s a move worth watching.
Royal Enfield has already proven that a British heritage brand can flourish under Indian ownership. Their 650 twins are global hits, the Super Meteor has real road presence, and the new Himalayan has become the go-to ADV for many riders looking for value without compromise. You can bet the folks at TVS and Norton are eyeing that playbook closely and thinking: yeah, we want to do that too.
And why not? TVS has the manufacturing scale, the engineering chops (thanks to its long-running partnership with BMW), and now, a legendary brand in Norton with global cachet. If they get the product, pricing, and distribution right, we could very well see Norton go from boutique curiosity to real player in the mid-size game.
The kicker? All of this isn’t just about specs and strategy—it’s about emotion. Riders are no longer obsessed with chasing the biggest numbers. They’re looking for lightweight, do-it-all machines with character. Bikes that are affordable, easy to live with, and still make you grin every time you twist the throttle.
And that’s exactly what the new 450cc class promises. Whether it's for daily commutes, touring across countries, or carving canyons on weekends, these machines are redefining what a "small" bike can be. For Norton and TVS, this could be the beginning of something very big—powered by something surprisingly small.
Sources: NDTV, Cycle World
