[AzCal Retred]

SWM 450 engine, dry sump with external tank, earls fork, lots of retro cool!

Janus Halcyon 450 Spec Walkthrough [Prototype]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GU1qsAE2tQ&t=1s

Introducing the Halcyon 450
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G1tlJXl7OY

https://advrider.com/janus-halcyon-450-hand-made-in-the-us-mostly/

[Bilgemaster]

That's a real pretty motorcycle, but also a real motorcycle at last--one you could take onto a highway from time to time. Well done!

When these Janus guys open up about their bikes, I kind of want to buy one. When Harley bloviates whatever predigested corporate-speak pablum they're oozing forth this quarter, I just wanna short their HOG stock.

[Nitrowing]

$13'500 
I want carbon fibre and titanium for that money (and heated grips, stereo, coffee maker...)

[cyrusb]

All that workmanship and they infect it with a Chinese engine? WTF are they thinking?

[Richard230]

All that workmanship and they infect it with a Chinese engine? WTF are they thinking?

I was wondering about that. The engine did look like a Chinese clone of a 1980's Suzuki 450 twin to me. 

[Karl Fenn]

Well the Chinese do clone a lot of engines not just in bikes but plant equipment as well, in the mainstay they are crap.

[zimmemr]

All that workmanship and they infect it with a Chinese engine? WTF are they thinking?

They were thinking cheap and available.

[AzCal Retred]

It's an old but well proven Honda XR400/450 design clone. Regular manufacturers aren't too keen to sell their new/current engines to competitors. But it's plenty good enough to push the Halcyon to extra-legal speeds continuously.

The actual question is why they didn't use the now discontinued Enfield 500cc UCE motor. THAT would have been more "period correct", although maybe about 15 HP short of the Honda clone. However, as an Enfield I.B. pilot, I am a bit taken aback at the emphasis on Chinese quality control issues...?!? I'm just glad to have a good parts supply.

[axman88]

I'm with Nitrowing, $13.5K is too much pain in the wallet.  I was never too inclined to buy the idea of sourcing labor to build engine powered vehicles from guys (Amish) who drive horse and buggy anyways.

If I wanted to buy a retro bike from a US company that uses Chinese engines, I'd be more inclined to think about the Cleveland Motowerks Ace 400.  MSRP is a MUCH more reasonable, $4795, a bit over 1/3 of the Janus cost:  https://clevelandcyclewerks.com/ace 

The actual question is why they didn't use the now discontinued Enfield 500cc UCE motor.

I don't know, but perhaps because RE has the sense to not compete against themselves in a market where they are looking to make inroads and doesn't offer their engines to other marques?

If I wanted to buy a motorcycle with an Indian made engine, from a US manufacturer, I'd be looking at the Harley Davidson Street.

[AzCal Retred]

Janus is a niche marketing company. A Janus means style is your intent, not absolute performance, and you aren't particularly worried about money. They do a very nice job if that's what you are looking for, one of those "If you have to ask you can't afford it" things. I like the leading link, the 250 carries one as well. More lottery tickets I guess!

If you can't take $2,000 cash & find a wonderful, practical, functional machine on Craigs List, you aren't looking very hard. Lots of great bikes there for the mechanically inclined under $1000 also.

[Nitrowing]

However, as an Enfield I.B. pilot, I am a bit taken aback at the emphasis on Chinese quality control issues...?!?

Yeah, this! I'd be hard pressed to choose over Indian versus Chinese in the 'shoddiest' stakes 

[Bilgemaster]

Indeed Halcyon is what you might call a "boutique brand" for hipster types with deep pockets. There's nothing wrong with that. So was Brough Superior in its day, and they also began by using others' engines. The fact that Halcyon uses a Chinese Shineray-built motor also doesn't unduly disturb me. Sure, it might be nice if they cobbled together their own power plant, or maybe reached out to an American manufacturer on the ropes like Briggs & Stratton, who actually did make motorcycle engines back in the '20s. Sure, either course might be gratifying, but would surely add an unimaginable layer of regulatory bullshit and cost to the project. So a "Shineray" motor it shall be for now, I suppose.

Shineray does sell its own bikes under various name badges like "Magician", since one might presumably require a degree from Hogwarts to find any parts for it. In fact, if a Halcyon's just too "fancy" for you, for a mere $1,495 online at Walmart, at https://www.walmart.com/ip/Adult-bike-250cc-Moto-Bike-Street-Legal/827669624, you can join this clearly enthused gentleman in the Coven with their headlamps directed ever heavenward in solemn appreciation and celebration of the inevitable and glorious victory of the proletariat! And don't forget to double your hoodies for double the fun!:

"Lord forgive me! What have I done?"

[AzCal Retred]

A 52 tooth rear sprocket and voila, a poor man's TL250 trials mount!

[AzCal Retred]

Janus factory video on the 450 Halcyon:

Halcyon 450 Development Ep. 1 | Origins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUcoTXBcy6k

Testing the Halcyon 450 prototype in Tucson, AZ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj3DgwJ9vOM

[AzCal Retred]

More articles about the 450.

Leaked Janus Halcyon 450 Shows How To Do Vintage-Look Motorcycles Better Than Harley-Davidson
https://jalopnik.com/leaked-janus-halcyon-450-shows-how-to-do-vintage-look-m-1846340159

https://www.rideapart.com/news/489455/janus-motorcycle-goes-large-halcyon-450/
The first ten Halcyon 450s, hand-signed and numbered, are being sold in a private auction for current Janus customers only, with bidding starting at $17,500. This auction ends at midnight on March 5, 2021. After that, Janus will officially reveal the Halcyon 450 to the general public, priced at $13,500.

https://www.thegentlemanracer.com/2021/03/the-halcyon-450.html

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/halcyon-450-first-fuel-injected-janus-motorcycle/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janus_Motorcycles