New British bike firm crafts a classy cafe racer
British startup Langen Motorcycles has released a classic-style 250cc two-stroke machine, imaginatively called the Two Stroke.
Nominative determinism aside, the bike looks pretty cool. A collaboration between Manchester and Maranello, it was designed, engineered, and will be assembled in Britain; the engine comes from Italy.
The V-twin is built by Vins, which was founded by former Ferrari engineer Vincenzo Mattia and took five years to develop to an extraordinary specification. The block is CNC-machined, the engine is fed by a combination of fuel injection and ECU-controlled oil injection, with carbon-fiber reed valves, and electronic exhaust valves. The net result is a power output of 76 hp. Remember that’s from just 250cc, so it equates to a specific output of over 300 hp per liter. The bike weighs just 251 pounds, so you’re getting over 600 hp per ton.
The frame is handmade from laser-cut aluminum, with bonded and machined connection points. Ohlins front forks, K-Tech rear shocks, Hel Performance brakes, and Dunlop tires round out the package. The fuel tank and minimal bodywork is carbon fiber. The gearbox can be customized to suit the buyer.
The Two Stroke will be built to order with the initial run of 100 machines destined for the U.K. in 2021 and priced at the equivalent of $44,000. A further 150 bikes will be built for export in 2022.
