When Norton launched the Manx R earlier this year, its design divided opinion. At its launch in Spain, I fell for the looks, somehow reminiscent of a time when winglets weren't a prerequisite to get a motorcycle into production, while also being modern, verging on a tad futuristic. It appears that I wasn't the only one who had a soft spot for the Manx R's looks, as it has just taken home a design award.
The Manx R just took Bronze in the Automotive and Transportation category at the 2026 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). The fact that the Manx R's design is striking enough to divide opinions didn't make it a shoo-in for an IDEA; in fact, the bike's design took home bronze against the odds. Only a couple of production ICE motorcycles took home any IDEA before, but that was more than two decades ago, and none of them were sportbikes.
