Performance Bikes — March 2018

48 PERFORMANCEBIKES.CO.UK|MARCH 2018

HENPBROADTESTERMichael Rutter crossed the

linetowinthe2017LightweightTTatanaverage

speedof118.645mph,itmarkedanhistoric

comeback for Paton, and Rutter’s first petrol-

poweredwinontheIsleofManfor19years.

Afteryearsploughingtheirownfurrowas

500GP’s most plucky privateers, the Italian firm

fadedfromtop-lineracingwhenGPswentfour-

stroke, concentrating on making replicas of their 1968

Italianchampionship-winning500twinforpeoplelikeJohn

McGuinnesstoraceattheClassicTT,andbuildingtheirfirst

road bike, the S1 Stradale, which was launched in 2014.

Melding the style of their historic racers with the modern

engine of a Kawasaki ER-6 made for a delicious café racer.

With sensuous, bug-eyed styling, the kind of build quality you

only get with a hand-made bike, and proper sportsbike

geometry and wire wheels, it was a good-looking, niche bike

for the few bearded wonders who

actually know how to ride.

But it also had huge potential in the

TT’s burgeoning Lightweight class.

Formulated for twin-cylinder bikes up to

650cc, the category is defined by highly

modified ER-6s, but the Paton offered

the potential of the same power in a

lighter, more purpose-built chassis.

The bike showed well right from its

debut. In the hands of Olie Linsdell in

2014 it finished sixth, and the next year

our own example of classic face/modern performance,

Michael Rutter, put it on the podium. But it was 2017 that

was to be Paton’s year. Armed with an updated version of

their road bike dubbed the S1-R Lightweight, it now boasted

Öhlins suspension, Brembo monoblock calipers and

lightweight wheels.

It all meant that the Paton was lighter and better equipped

than its opposition. Rutter duly took advantage, led from the

start and took a fastest lap of 120.362mph. It was majestic to

watch–alessonincorner speed and momentum

preservation, a display of a rider still at the top of his game

taking advantage of the best bike in the field.

Fast forward a few months and the TT-winning Paton is

back in Italy, basking in the sunshine at the Circuito Cremona,

a short drive from their Milanese base. In the golden light of

DAVE KNEEN/PACEMAKER PRESS

Paton is owned by SC

Project. This is their

titanium masterpiece

Rutter at Ginger
Hall en route to
victory at the 2017
Lightweight TT

RUNNING GEAR

Öhlins FGRT 204 43mm forks

are as good as it gets in the

Supertwins class. Bolted to

them are Brembo M4-108

monoblocks which bite on to

TK Moto2 discs. At the rear

are Öhlins TTX30 twin

shocks. OZ Piega wheels are

the lightest in the Supertwins

class, too.

BODYWORK

An option for the road bike,

the carbon-fibre bodywork

is light and strong, too.

Rutter runs a taller screen

than standard.