Ever since the soccer mom pulled out in front of me in 2017 I have not had a bike. I wanted one but have been a bit scared to get back on one

I have been putting a lot of thought in to what me next bike would be and have been coming up with little

Then I see this







Anyone here have any experience with them??

Link https://www.janusmotorcycles.com/



BEAUTIFUL

I have no experience with this company, however I like the first one. Love the nostalgic look.

If I ever get one, I will name it "Hugh".

Well, its retro cool. But I could not find out if its a real hardtail or not. That would be a deal killer for me. Parts and service would be a concern too.

Nice looking bikes, but I don’t know if my back could take the beating of a hard tail.

Top one you can see the tail is built on a swing arm and the single shock is mounted horizontal on a link under the seat.

Cool looking bikes, but definitely appear to be more suited to short distance jaunts.

For an upright/'standard' style like that, I'd be looking in the Bonneville lineup, specifically the Street or Speed Twin. Local dealer has a few & though I've not ridden one, they look great to me.

quote:

definitely appear to be more suited to short distance jaunts.

Which is the way I like to ride, local and solo. One of my favorite things was to drive to work but after my accident, I won't be riding in rush hour traffic. Weekends and maybe an evening in the country

Yeah buddy! Their frames are hand made with pride in Goshen Indiana!

I have not ridden one but a few years back I got to meet the owner of a Janus motorcycle at one of the larger vintage motorcycle rallies/shows in my area. We chatted for a bit when I discovered the bike was not nearly as old as I first assumed. I can’t remember the owner saying anything negative about the bike other than the steep cost relative to small displacement new and used motorcycles from Japan. The bike got a TON of attention at the show.

The engines are (as far as I know unless something has changed) Chinese clones of Honda engines and this is a BIG POINT OF CONTENTION among those discussing this brand. Prior to 2020 the engines didn’t bother me because if they sourced Japanese or Austrian engines that price tag would be even harder to accept than it is already. I am no longer as accepting of the Chinese made engine.

Very retro, but I don't fit in skinny jeans or on bikes with narrow rear tires LOL Be a fun to put around cruiser, they are making one with a bigger engine (Chinese).

The Halcyon 450 has the cantilever shock rear suspension, the Halcyon 250 is a hardtail with sprung seat.

450 Specs: FRAME & SUSPENSION
All-new frame, Janus leading-link forks, and proprietary cantilever rear swing arm with twin under-seat IKON shocks.

250 specs: Suspension
Proprietary dual progressive shock leading-link forks (front); hardtail with updated coil spring sprung seat (rear)

You'd hope they could source a USA engine, Japanese ok, china?...

Especially with the tag on page 1 of:

"American Manufacturing pride at it's Best"

Otherwise cool looking design...

Rather reminds me of the red Indian behind the Norton here. Wish I had a better picture. This from the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway Museum.

Janus is a little over an hour away from me here in Indiana. Love the idea of them.

What a great look!! I could see having one in my garage parked next to my HD Springer.

Reminds me of an Enfield. Nice looking bikes.

At first I thought "Bitchin'!," then I read...

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
The engines are (as far as I know unless something has changed) Chinese clones of Honda engines ...

... and that ended even my casual interest.

I've been looking at these for some time now. If the engines were US made it would be a lot harder to resist. I do like the style, though.

Very good info on this brand including the engine

From the link:

Where are Janus Motorcycles Built?

Janus Motorcycles are built in Indiana and you will find the majority of Janus parts are built in house or sourced from domestic suppliers. Only half a dozen or so parts are sourced from outside the USA.

Janus’ transparency when it comes to where they source their parts is very refreshing as even the biggest manufacturers often shroud this information with mystery.

Where Is The Janus Motorcycle Engine Made?

China.

There is no way to skate around the fact that the engines in Janus Motorcycles are made in China, then imported to Indiana.

I can see the skeptics immediately rolling their eyes and some of you might even be about to click off this post now, but on behalf of Janus and all other Chinese engine based bikes, hold on a second.

I did over 6,000miles on a 125cc Chinese engine last year and not once did it falter. It managed to get me round the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia in Wales, twice on road trips with full luggage, and did a couple of 300-400mile days in a row. So, it shouldn’t be a turn off that a Janus engine is from the same place as your TV or phone.

The engine they finally decided on is found worldwide and is one of the most widely used on the planet. Being a simple air cooled, 2 valve, single cylinder design means it best matches those early motorcycles that the Janus designed bikes are modelled on.

The fact is, Janus design and build motorcycles for the true soul of motorcycling which equates to enjoyment, freedom, simplicity. They therefore located an engine that is simplistic in design, easy to maintain, provides enough power, and fit’s in with the company’s goals.

Maintenance on the engine is simple with one spark plug, one carb, two-valve adjustments and easy oil changes. The EPA certificate ensures its working ability for over 9,000km of testing.

Janus simply challenges the skeptics to “come and try it” and I too, would tell you not to knock it until you have.

So, we know where they are produced and what they are made up of, let’s have a look at the current model line-up.



Ok, I get why they are doing this but it still sucks. This was the #1 problem people had with this brand BEFORE China fucked up the entire planet. I don’t see this issue or focus on it doing anything but getting worse.

They need to find another way to get engines. It is a huge problem when an American motorcycle company can’t even fucking make their own engines or source one at a good price from anywhere else but China. What about Italy, Austria or Japan? The engine is the heart of the bike, sourcing it from China kills this brand for me.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:

Where Is The Janus Motorcycle Engine Made?

China.

There is no way to skate around the fact that the engines in Janus Motorcycles are made in China, then imported to Indiana.

I can see the skeptics immediately rolling their eyes and some of you might even be about to click off this post now, but on behalf of Janus and all other Chinese engine based bikes, hold on a second.

I did over 6,000miles on a 125cc Chinese engine last year and ...

The reliability and longevity aren't the issues for me. I know good products can be made in China. The problem, for me, is "Made in China."

I have a couple problems with that Janus, one the Chinese engine and probably transmission already mentioned. Two is the styling, it has both some 20's and 30's elements but also some 80's and 90's that just isn't quite right for a retro. The fat barreled, single cylinder motor, is shaped like a 1980's Japanese motor not a classic American or British. There's also the hipster fatty front tire, and the twin chrome instruments. But the seat, leather tool box, tank, and other elements hark back to the 1920's.

Personally I think Royal Enfield's 350 Bullet is a much better looking retro. This classic British company was bought out by an Indian company years back and have continued manufacturing, only there in India where they make everything themselves. The tires are the right proportion as is the tall, wasp waist engine (notice the kick start). Build quality has improved over the years and they are reportedly very well sorted out now. If I had one I'd put a solo seat on it with a rear fender rack behind which'd fix its worst styling fault and it's not like I'd be carrying a passenger on a 350 anyway.

https://www.royalenfield.com/i.../bullet-350/#gallery



RE also makes 650 Twins that look almost exactly like 1960's BSA Lightnings.

They have some dandy prices, sure would make it easy to get back on.

$15k for a done up Janus 450. Makes it a tough sell.
You could get on almost any Bonneville for that & have double the displacement (or more), FI, etc.