It’s May 2023, and it’s been a while since we last checked in with the astonishing Crighton CR700W. If you recall, this rotary-powered lightweight monster was built by none other than Brian Crighton—the engineer behind Norton’s rotary racing glory days in the 1980s and ‘90s.
He and his talented team first introduced the CR700W to the world back in 2021. It’s powered by a 690cc twin-rotor engine that makes a claimed 220 horsepower at 10,500 rpm, while also producing 105 pound-feet of torque at 9,500 rpm. Total bike weight is about 285.5 pounds. Trick bits include a superbike suspension by Bitubo, Brembo brakes, and lightweight carbon-fiber wheels made by BST to help reduce unsprung weight. If you’re wondering about rider aids, there are none. Zero. Zip. Zilch.
