V-Twin Viper

V-TWIN VIPER

Its start-up may have been snakebitten, but there's a new power-cruiser on the market. It's called the Viper Diablo, powered by 125 cubic inches (2050cc) of Merch Performance aircooled V-Twin pounding out a claimed 115 bhp at the rear wheel (itself a meaty 240mm Metzeler). Torque is a stout 130 foot-pounds after it makes its way A

through the six-speed Baker gearbox. When the bike broke ground earlier this year, it bore the famed Norton script logo on its aas tank. a move that confused cruiser buyers and infuriated classic-bike fans. Meanwhile, Kenny Dreer's Norton America company, in R&D on a neo-Commando Twin, acquired J rights to the Norton trademark, and had no intention of farming it out to a Harley-style cruiser. Hence the name change to Viper Motorcycles (www.vipermotorcycle.com). The first bikes, priced at $29,995, were schedule to hit showrooms in late May or early June. David Edwards