Motorcycle specifications PatonS1-R Lightweight 2017 At the orders of Lightweight TT

Paton is one of those brands with moments of glory in the past that are reborn after a few moments of torpor. Its machines have accompanied the Continental Circus for decades. For a successful comeback, there are few options. Either prestige tinged with top-of-the-range, or a smashing entry (or comeback?) into competition. And why not a little of one and a hefty dose of the other?

And so the S1-R Lightweight was born. A motorcycle unlike any other. A sports bike not at all like the one you'd expect. Taut, racy, fashionably protruding? Not at all. It's curvaceous, almost difficult to look at, with the face of a gentle monster created by Pixar... The machine surprises, seems timid and almost lost. But his destiny is quite different. Paton has developed a motorcycle capable of competing in the Tourist Trophy. What a challenge, and what a calling card for a comeback. But the surprise doesn't end there.
Winning the TT is largely the preserve of the CBR 1000 SP2, GSX-R 1000, ZX-10R or similar missile. As a result, you'll have to develop an engine packed with watts, or buy one, as Mondial did with the Piega, or Bimota with almost all its models. That's out of the question for Paton, which is aiming for something different. The Italian doesn't want a war machine, as in the past; he wants to succeed with a riding shrew. The S1-R offers almost three times less power than Superbikes, a lighter weight, top-of-the-range peripherals, and entry into the Lightweight TT category - also known as SuperTwin, where machines are limited by their engine. Maximum 650 cm3 twin-cylinder, but with plenty of scope for modification. The Paton S1-R got in on the act, and the competition version piloted by Mickael Rutter quickly set its sights on victory. And it's a high-caliber machine, with just the obligatory civilian equipment, that the small manufacturer is making available to the public - a restricted public, since only 50 units will be available.

So, a twin. How to choose one among the multitude? A tried-and-tested engine was chosen: the block from the Kawasaki ER-6n. After a minor technical overhaul, it's up from 72 to 80 horsepower. With a dry weight of just 158 kilos, this is a nice, usable power-to-weight ratio, and above all, one that imposes smooth, surgical, demanding trajectories. With the Paton, there's no traction control, driving modes, anti-machines or NASA engineering system. Just the right hand, skill and speed. In short, the art of driving.

Beneath its very vintage silhouette, a clear reference to the Patons of the 60s, the S1-R is built with a homemade tubular steel trellis frame. If you look at it a little sideways at first glance, the detail of its parts makes it a little jewel. These include the hand-welded aluminum tank, the 43 mm Öhlins FGRT 204 inverted fork, the TTX30 amortos, also Öhlins, forged aluminum OZ rims, Moto2-derived brake discs pinched by Brembo M4 radial calipers. The thrill of competition is palpable. Oh yes, let's quote again. The Brembo 19 RCS master cylinder, Valtermoto and Rizoma parts, the swingarm made by Febur, and the SC-Project titanium line; the OEM is, incidentally, the brand's new owner since a buyout in October 2016.

All this can be further enhanced at the customer's discretion. A shifter, engine upgrades, carbon parts and various options further personalize and optimize the Paton S1-R Lightweight TT. All with a clear focus on build quality.
After almost 40 years in competition, Giuseppe Pattoni and Lino Tonti's brand has had to leave its world by the back door. To return to one of its most prestigious theaters of operation: the Isle of Man. Since the first S1 Stradale version in 2014, which heralded Paton's return, the project has evolved quite a bit, although the early silhouette retains all its initial singularity.
An idea, a prototype, hard work, conviction and a victory at the TT. The Paton captures the essence of all this. A sporty car full of lightness and passion, far removed from the madness of hypersports to return to more reasonable values on the open road. At a very demanding price, however.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos