John Marcar recently flew to India to meet TVS Motor—a brand you may not have heard of, despite it being the 4th-largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. Now, TVS is being discovered by two-wheeled enthusiasts globally thanks to its purchase of the beloved British motorcycling icon, Norton.

Good News! Norton is back (again)

If you're a motorcycle enthusiast who even occasionally glances at motorcycle news feeds or magazines, chances are, you'll be very aware that the iconic motorcycle brand Norton is in the process of being reborn. The factory in Solihull has recently been upgraded with new premises, and a series of cryptic Norton social media feeds have alluded to a new model being unveiled to the world in November 2025. But how did we get here? And what does a trip to India have to do with the new release of a bike built in the West Midlands of England?

A brief history of Norton

For many, Norton is so much more than just another motorcycle brand. It's a British institution. Norton is a brand that evokes memories, nostalgia, and racing pride. Like almost everything automotive, British and brilliant, Norton was in its prime in the 1950s-1960s and whilst the brand's story continued long after the swinging 60s, Norton, like many of its British competitors producing equally stunning racing and road bikes, lost out to the new Japanese kids on the block from the 1970s through to the 1990s.

In more recent history, many will be all too aware of some controversies with the Norton brand; no need to go into too much detail here (Google is your friend), but long story short, a chap called Stuart significantly damaged the brand's legacy, reputation, and history with some exceptionally poor financial decisions. That damage took its toll because the brand was still producing stunning road bikes and some superb competitive racers at the time.

Following the 'difficult times' of 2012/2013, Norton tried valiantly to move forward, continuing its overall extremely positive legacy by delivering new bikes to customers, but times were tough and the uptake was slow. By 2019, it looked as if Norton was all but ready to close the doors for good.

India to the rescue (again)

In 2020, a deal was finalised that would see another historic two-wheeled institution, the Indian TVS Motor company, take ownership of Norton, but it would provide more than just a simple purchase and acquisition; this was the start of a multi-million-pound investment and a partnership that would prove to be an Anglo-Indian motorcycling dream come true.

This isn’t the first time India has come to the rescue of a British motor manufacturer (think Jaguar Land Rover and Royal Enfield), but this deal would prove to be particularly exciting.

In 2022, following a slow and challenging start to the partnership, thanks mainly to Covid-19, TVS got the ball rolling once again with an exceptionally generous £100 million investment into the Norton brand. This injection of cash enabled Norton to upgrade its production lines in Solihull and to begin making exciting plans for the brand's future, which we're now about to see unveiled in the Autumn/Winter of 2025.

Who is TVS Motor?

Much like Norton, TVS has an impressive heritage that dates back to the early 1900s. The company started as an innovative bus service offering transportation to customers in smaller towns of India. TVS later expanded into motor manufacturing and formed partnerships with existing brands outside of India. In the late 1970s, TVS decided to embark on motorcycle manufacturing, starting with the TVS 50, a moped that took the Indian market by storm. A few years after the launch of the TVS 50 in 1984, a partnership with Suzuki was formed, and a successful collaboration resulted in the IND-Suzuki AX 100R, which was built until 1989 and proved a big hit in the Indian market.

In 1993, while continuing the partnership with Suzuki, TVS had another stab at its own motorcycle production and launched the TVS Shogun, which featured a striking bikini fairing and a typically (read: brilliantly) early-1990s styling. TVS's partnership with Suzuki continued into the new millennium, with other icons such as the TVS Victor, which proved to be another massive success. In 2001, TVS parted ways with Suzuki, buying out the Japanese brand from its partnership and moving forward with independent two and three-wheeled vehicle production.

The next big partnership for TVS came in 2013 when BMW needed some help producing sub-500cc motorcycles and scooters. At this moment in time, the collaboration between BMW and TVS still continues, with TVS producing the entry-level adventure bike, the BMW GS 310, and the entry-level sports bike, the BMW G 310R, which is also available in India as a TVS model called the Apache 310 RR (more on that a little further down).

Today, TVS is the number 1 seller of both petrol and EV-powered two-wheeled vehicles in India, and in 2024-2025, the company reported a turnover of $4.25 billion USD. This impressive figure is thanks to the success of producing 5.8 million vehicles, including autorickshaws, all of which are distributed from India to more than 90 countries worldwide.

Visiting TVS Factory in Hosur

I was invited to take a look around one of the three factories where TVS produces its bikes. The Hosur factory near Bangalore, in Southern India, was the result of the successful collaboration with Suzuki back in the 1980s. It now works around the clock, producing scooters, motorcycles, and engines for the TVS brand.

During a tour of the facility, I was pleasantly surprised to see fully automated production lines, monitored by state-of-the-art analytical software to ensure minute-by-minute efficiency. Automated robotic trolley units assist production, and elsewhere on the site, robotic dogs and drones assist in the movement of parts between production lines and processes.

The entire factory was a buzz of production efficiency, on par with that of almost all other motor manufacturers I've been privileged to visit around the world. My admiration for the facility would go far beyond the meticulously clean machining rooms and busy conveyors, too, because just outside the factory doors was an unexpected, tranquil delight.

Outside the Hosur factory is a conservation area that houses an array of wildlife, from flying fox bats seen flying through the treetops to vibrant kingfishers that I felt utterly privileged to watch diving into the lakes just metres from the industrial production lines.

As a company, TVS takes conservation and sustainability very seriously and does all it can to balance the environmental impacts of motor production, which is no mean feat given the production volumes it can boast. The conservation area serves to ensure local wildlife species can still thrive and also provides a picturesque escape for employees away from the bustle of the production lines.

TVS/Norton V4 Engine?

Back inside the factory, I was taken to see a brand-new, state-of-the-art engine-building room that held a few exciting clues about the brand's future collaborations with Norton.

Up until recently, TVS has been producing exclusively 125, 200, 225 and 310cc single-cylinder engines, which have powered the models in the range, but soon, the company will start to make new 2 and 4 cylinder engines for bikes with TVS logos, BMW logos, and yes, you guessed it, Norton logos too.

As I walked into the new engine room, on a table to one side of the entrance were three of the new engines: 2 were clearly parallel twins, and one was very definitely a V4. It was the V4 that generated the most interest, as it was the first exciting (admittedly unconfirmed) nod to the future of the TVS/Norton sports bike partnership.

Test Rides

As a final gesture of hospitality from TVS, I was invited the following day to attend a small circuit just outside Bangalore to test 3 of TVS's existing models. The three models I was able to sample were the TVS Ronin 225 - a cafe racer styled city cruiser, the TVS Apache RTR 310 - a naked street-fighter styled sports bike and the TVS Apache 310 RR - the brand’s sports bike, a version of which is used for competition racing in the Indian Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship.

TVS Ronin 225

The first bike I sampled for the track test was the Ronin 225, a retro/cafe racer-style bike designed to be a stylish city commuter. The Ronin offers a comfortable upright riding position, which is ideal for weaving through traffic and around the tight obstacles of a city centre. With a power output of 20.4 PS and 20 Nm of torque, the Ronin is a great geared starter bike or a stress-free commuter bike for city navigation.

Despite its price tag of just ₹159,546.00 (£1,329.00), the Ronin offers plenty of luxuries that you'd expect to see on bikes worth much more, including LED lighting and a digital display cluster. As standard, the Ronin has multiple riding modes and ABS.

Out on the track, the Ronin was a joy to ride. It wouldn't be fair to call it powerful or dynamic, but that's not what the model is about. As a comfortable cruiser with good styling and innovative tech, offering outstanding value for money and a very rewarding riding experience.

Apache RTR 310

My second bike to try on my track day was the aggressive-looking Apache RTR 310. RTR stands for 'Race to Road' and plays on TVS's expertise in producing motor racing bikes for the INMRC (Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship).

The RTR is a streetfighter-style naked superbike which utilises TVS's 310cc single-cylinder engine. The engine delivers 35.6PS and 28.7 Nm of torque. Whilst the power and torque figures may not look enormous by Western comparison, the way that the power is delivered is genuinely remarkable.

The RTR 310 pulls like a bike with twice the power, the engine delivers excellent torque at the low end, and the bike's low weight (just 169 kg) rewards a pleasantly agile feel.

The geometry and racing prowess can be felt in the corners, and an exceptionally clever ABS and traction control system keeps everything in line with minimal fuss or interference.

The rider positioning on the RTR allows for comfortable and versatile riding whilst also giving the visual appearance of a bike worth far more than its pricetag suggests. At just £2,460.00 (converted from ₹286,868.00 for the top-of-the-range version), the RTR is another spectacle of value from TVS.

Of the three bikes I tested on the day, it was the RTR that would prove to be my personal favourite thanks to its overall versatility and styling.

Apache 310 RR

The 3rd and final bike to test was TVS's top-of-the-range halo bike, the Apache 310 RR. The 310 RR is built in collaboration with BMW and is sold outside India as the BMW G 310 R. Like the RTR, the 310 RR is packed with racing pedigree and clever tech to keep total track-riding rookies (like me!) safe on the circuit.

The 310 RR offers the highest power output from the 310cc single-cylinder engine, with 38PS and 29 Nm of torque. The 310 RR is the closest relation to the bikes TVS produces for competition in the INMRC. In addition to the highest power output and racing pedigree, for road use and rider safety, an array of tech features is included as standard to protect riders and minimise the risk of losing control.

The RTR has cornering drag control, cornering ABS, cornering traction control, wheelie control, rear wheel lift-off control, and even slope-dependent control, all of which are most commonly found on top-of-the-range performance bikes with price tags of £20,000+.

For riders wanting the very best from their RR, the bike also features fully adjustable suspension, enabling a tailor-made set of settings for those who want to enjoy some fast road riding or something more dedicated on track.

On the track, the 310 RR was forgiving, impressive, and, most of all, superb fun. To play things safe, I decided to ride with all rider safety aids switched on, and the result was a rewarding yet gratifying riding experience.

The 310 RR weighs just 174 kg, which accentuates its power delivery, handling, and dynamics and overall presents an excellent sports bike package for riders of any experience level.

Just like the Ronin and the RTR, the Apache 310 RR is exceptionally well priced at ₹312,040.00 or £2677.00 GBP once converted.

Are TVS bikes available in the UK?

Currently, no, and that's a real shame because all three of the models I tried in Bangalore would be a welcome addition for both new and experienced riders in the UK. But watch this space… Now that TVS is partnered with Norton, there may be some opportunities to enjoy the delightful small-engined bikes from TVS a little closer to home, hopefully, in the not-too-distant future.

So, what about Norton?

At the time of writing this piece, just next week, Norton will showcase some new models to the world at the EICMA Show in Milan. The unveiling event promises to be the most significant moment in the brand's history, and this new chapter is all possible thanks to TVS's investment and purchase back in 2020. Whatever Norton unveils at EICMA is bound to be special, and that's undoubtedly all thanks to TVS.

My week-long adventure in India was eye-opening and, given the significance and love for our beloved British institutional brand, was all very exciting. TVS Motor has proved to me that it's a powerhouse of production, despite being relatively unknown—at least for now—in the UK.

I'll be attending EICMA specifically to see the new Norton, and you can bet there will be some words and pictures to follow. Make sure you're following @driven.site on Instagram to see it first on the feed.

words by John Marcar
photography TVS Motor

I flew to India to meet TVS: The company that has saved Norton