As Italian as they come
Hop aboard, and the quality of the mount is immediately obvious, about average for the 2-wheel offerings out there. The engine emits the kind of throaty snarl typical of the brand’s twin-cylinders, and the charismatic mill definitely makes its presence known at very low rpm and at idle, but it mellows out completely at cruising speeds.

The engine emits the kind of throaty snarl typical of the brand’s twin-cylinders. (Photo: Pascal Bastien/Moto123.com)

Seemingly indefatigable, it has no trouble at all hustling the Norge along. There’s a slight slump between 4,000 and 5,000 rpm, but from there on it playfully rockets forward, gluing a smile to your face.

As previously mentioned, the new riding position is extremely natural and has you leaning slightly forward with your feet set back just a little, allowing you to easily lift your tush off the saddle to better absorb the road’s irregularities.

The bike’s cushy seat and ergonomic controls enhance the experience, as a good GT should. What’s more, the windscreen can be adjusted via a button near the left grip and offers excellent protection no matter the size of the rider, eliminating most of the turbulence normally associated with shields too much on the vertical.

Agility is also on the menu. You find yourself aggressively attacking winding roads as if you were astride a standard naked bike. Its weight, nearly 40 kilos less than some of its four-cylinder rivals, and its well-calibrated fork are no strangers to the phenomenon. On a narrow country road – left, right, gas, brake, lean in – the Norge serves up the kind of thrills you rarely experience on this type of machine.

Such a well-balanced ride is a pure delight. You keep coming back for more, pushing the bike so hard the ABS kicks in, which, by the way, does a great job, offering a degree of safety no one can – or should – do without on a motorcycle of this size.

The windscreen can be adjusted via a button near the left grip and offers excellent protection no matter the size of the rider. (Photo: Pascal Bastien/Moto123.com)