This is the Vanguard Roadster, the first of three bikes currently planned by Vanguard Motorcycles, which is a new manufacturer based out of New York. Vanguard was founded by two individuals previously associated with Confederate Motorcycles, including Confederate’s chief designer for six years, Edward Jacobs. The other founder is “serial entrepreneur” Francois-Xavier Terny.
Confederate has been known for its bold, outside-the-box designs, and the Vanguard Roadster certainly merits similar adjectives. A 1917 cc (117 cubic inch) S&S twin powers the new Roadster, and also serves as a frame element supporting other chassis members.
Whether the overall design excites or repulses you, many of the bike’s elements exhibit stunning creativity and flawless execution. One small detail includes a rear-facing camera that allows the tablet-sized screen on the dash to do the job of traditional rear-view mirrors. Tiny LED lights substitute for a traditional headlight. The reported asking price will be $29,995 U.S. — a comparative bargain for such an outrageous machine. Production is slated to begin in 2018.
Here is the press release from Vanguard:
New York City – December 02 – A new American motorcycle, conceived, designed and built in New York City, is being unveiled: the Vanguard Roadster.
Vanguard is an exciting, entirely new and wholly distinct motorcycle brand, and the Roadster model, with its forward-thinking design and pioneering features, is a product without equivalent. With the potential to bring new perspectives to the motorcycle industry, Vanguard is excited to announce the world premiere of its Roadster at the International Motorcycle Show in New York City starting December 9th.
DESIGN
Form and function have never been more complimentary. The Vanguard Roadster has a striking contemporary silhouette, the result of clear and well-informed design decisions. The lines emerged from breaking everything down into rethinking needs and solutions.
MOTORCYCLES
The Vanguard Roadster is a running prototype, with production slated for 2018. It boasts many unique features including a frameless structural engine, unitized crankcase, integrated exhaust and a tablet-size digital dashboard with rear-view camera. The Roadster is the first of 3 motorcycles built on a common powertrain platform that will cover all riding positions: Roadster, Cruiser and Racer.
PRODUCTION
Vanguard motorcycles will be assembled in New York City at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The modular construction, based on large sub-assemblies, revisits traditional manufacturing methods. Combined with worldwide sourcing and the support of key motorcycle vendors, Vanguard will deliver exceptional value and quality.
SALES
Starting at $29,995, a premium price within reach, the Vanguard Roadster is a strong alternative to current premium motorcycles. Selected dealers are signing up to be the ambassadors of this game-changing brand.
PEOPLE
Vanguard is led by renowned designer Edward Jacobs and serial entrepreneur Francois-Xavier Terny. Together they form a dynamic team of passion and vision.
With a fresh perspective and unique approach, Vanguard promises to be a premium motorcycle brand of revolutionary effect.
Members of the media and the public are invited to see the Vanguard Roadster at its inaugural debut at the International Motorcycle Show in New York, taking place December 9-11 at the Javits Center in Manhattan, booth #438. For more information on Vanguard, go to vanguard.nyc.
\
See more of MD’s great photography:
Judging by the comments on this forum, this thing seems doomed. However, young bike nuts just might go for it; but only if the retail $ goal can be met, which seems unlikely. Like many others, I wish them well, and hope the thing sells. Now, do I like it and would I buy one? To the first part, yes, indeed!! What a fabulously and beautifully integrated design! It is the only “transformer” style design I have ever seen that appeals to me. I offer my highest compliments to Mr. Jacobs for this exquisite example of the designers art. To the second part, I WISH! My retirement income will not allow such extravagance. Beyond that, there are some practical design considerations that will be needed before this thing becomes a viable means of transport.
If you only went by the comments on MD, no motorcycle would ever sell, because they all have major flaws. (Well, except for maybe the Versys 300, if you believe all the guys who say they’ll actually buy one…)
How it can be “revolutionary” with that cave-man V-twin under the tank is way beyond me.
Not sure what all of the ‘hype’ is about. This bike reminds me of the early Hondas. You sat ON THEM and not IN THEM. Sort of like riding a sawhorse with a motor and a seat. A totally uncomfortable ride for anyone older than 16 years of age. Your shoulders take all of the weight like most of the rice rockets you see on the road nowadays. Maybe that is the buyer range they are interested in attracting. If so, they need to drop their prices since a 16 year old won’t be able to afford it.
No brake lines, throttle or clutch cable apparent. Styling exercise at this point. Get back to me when it is an actual motorcycle.
I’m going to buy one. I like every thing about it. I can’t wait to put my hands on it.
Great, great job.
Can someone please tell me the reason that I would have to pay $30,000 for Tron’s little sister?
I would buy one and still have something left to pay tickets.
Looks like modern steampunk put together with lego.
This is the most amazing design I have seen in years. It is the first time that I see the cylinder heads directly integrated in the frame design. ( As opposed to be bolt on)Same thing for the pushrod covers structurally linking the engine and the frame
At least it’s a motorcycle design attempt that doesn’t mind showing off the motor whereas most of the robo-rockets, so beloved by the younger generation, just slap plastic bits ‘helter skelter’ which pretty much hides the motor. Bikes that hide a motor need to find a different name.
I’ve never understood why every American made motorcycle has to have a V-Twin. So wouldn’t that make it a… UAM? Universal American Motorcycle.
The use of V-Twins is dictated by the availability of aftermarket V-Twin engines from manufacturers such as S&S. If you don’t want to manufacture your own engine, using a V-Twin makes sense.
Rotax, Ducati, Honda and Suzuki sell engines. Probably others as well. The only reason to use an air-cooled vtwin is if you want to, though I am sure it is probably easier and much less restrictive to enter into a contract with S&S.
An advantage to the S&S engine is that it allows for clutch and transmission options which give the bike manufacturer more flexibility in design. The “other” V-Twins are unit construction, eliminating any options without major modifications.
Not my cup of tea. I would say that a rear view camera replacing mirrors is a solution to a problem I don’t have. Kind of like when BMW went with power assisted brakes, it was just something to fail, never have I said “it’s just too hard to squeeze the brake lever”, whether 4 piston Brembos or 2 piston off brand calipers.
I think we need something else to talk about. It’s been 4 days now, and this motorcycle seems to be even more disliked than most around here, and that’s saying something!
Ahh, my wish has been granted! Now we can scroll up watch people try to come up with reasons why the Z650 isn’t a great bike…
Thanks, MD!
Z650 is a very nice bike, as is the Versys 300. But this bike? Nope. Nothing at all inspires me about the blocky aluminum frame, completely derivative styling, and what looks like a punishing, terrible ride.
Pass.
Build and detail are beautiful. Design….I like to see some rounded lines. Get you noticed it will.
in theory I don’t mind the cameras but it depends on how the interface is done Mirrors and speedo should always be there and there should be room, it just comes down to how they design it to always look as rear-views are not sexy but they are practical.
But I would still turn my head and look as no camera or mirror will ever be trusted as much as my own eyes when it comes to someone potentialy running me over.
All it needs is a USAF logo and maybe a tasteful rendition of some WW2 bomber nose art.
If this isn’t a rolling conversation piece, I don’t know what is.
I like it. The more I study it, the more I like it.
God, this is hideous.
Ha HA – post anything diverging from the norm on a motorcycle mag, and let the sh*t fly. Maybe they’ll offer a round headlight option so you guys can trim down on the anxiety meds.
So, we should embrace motorcycles that look like an insertable medical device?
This is awesome!!! I’ve always wanted to look like Robocop’s douchey sidekick!
This level of talent should be redirected to something useful.
Useful things are a waste of great talent. Anyway, this is a motocycle forum….
The Vitpilen from Husqvarna shares a similar profile as this bike. Interesting as moto-art, but I don’t get why someone would own this….. Then again, I really never understood the whole chopper thing either ……
If a clean expression of a big American V-twin is your thang….I recommend looking at Avinton. A very cool, clean design that harkens to a Cobra. This harkens to a big steaming pile of CNC’d metal. Still….interesting. Good luck.
Horrible!! Nothing like Confederate motorcycles…For $30K, I can see myself buying a lot of cooler toys than this, Thing!
So I guess the target buyer would be a non-rider with money to throw away.
Hideous.
You what drives me nuts about this? I have a friend that spent years putting together a very solid business plan for a start up. He was turned down cold by every venture capitalist he approached with the idea…but Sh*t like this get’s green lighted every time.
Honestly, if someone proposed that they could produce an American made vtwin cruiser platform at this level of finish and uniqueness and sell it for $30K, you could probably get the attention of a few investors. Regardless of what we may think of the styling and presume about the usability of the bike, it is quite an accomplishment assuming they can pull it off.
A clean finish is easy when they don’t hook up the cables to the ffront breaks. Or I am just outdated and they have completely internalized the break line hookups so you can’t even see a connection at the caliper. And if that is missing I expect other things are as well like somewhere to mount the license plate, best guess is hanging off the right of the tire as it won’t fit above it after you put weight on the seat.
Disclaimer: I in no way have any sort of vested interest either as investor or employee of Vanguard MC Co.
But to your point, you’re right a modular design motorcycle incorporating cylinder heads in frame, axial drive shaft, exhaust recycling, computer interface technology is passe. This board deserves the chance to hear about the prospect of your friend’s prototype electronic pocket fisherman being developed into a commercial product.
My condolences to Vanguard.
+1
I have seen hundreds of new motorcycles presented in MD. By-and-large there is a definite target audience or demographic any bike is designed for. This “creation” has to be the most unattractive, sterile, and uninspiring two wheels and a motor I have ever seen. What demographic does this actually appeal to? I do like new perspectives though. Maybe this will grow on me. But my initial impression is not very positive.
Looks to be a CNC “Advanced Class” Final Exam Test!!!
From the standpoint of Metal Working… It’s a Beautiful Integration of different parts…
From the standpoint of a Functional Motorcycle…. I’m not certain I understand the direction it’s headed in…..
“Sir: move away from the 3-D solid modeling CAD station and put your mouse down where I can see it!”
absolute crap
My thing is that a good industrial design serves its purpose. This design seems to have very little possibility of serving as a market functional motorcycle.
I feel that whoever assembled these parts at this price has tremendous potential. It is an impressive assemblage of nice parts, in my opinion. People don’t expect a lot from a cruiser platform. But you shouldn’t try to find the minimum if you want to make a lot of friends.
I’m still on the fence of wether I like it or hate it. Can’t figure out if there is a battery, oil tank, suspension, or all of the above in the swinging box. I know billet aluminum is almost the same price a steel when you compare cubic feet (half the weight, twice the price per pound) and CNC robots don’t cost any more to run in expensive labour countries as cheap labour countries. If anyone actually rides this they’re going to need an oil cooler. As for fenders, these bikes will probably never see rain. It kind of reminds me of my Moto Guzzi Griso…without the Italian artistic flair. If it rides like the Griso I give it two thumbs up.
No stinkin fenders for crying out loud. I can hear them say “ride it and you’ll buy it”
I have a hard time believing this.
They will have to purchase an engine, trans, suspension, brakes, wheels, tires, wiring, LEDs, camera, tablet, etc.
Then the will spend hours and hours on a CNC mill making the parts, out of very expensive slabs of aluminum. Then the parts are welded, polished & textured.
All of this is taking place in NY, which is an expensive place to do business.
They can do all that,then sell a bike for 30k (and give the dealership their slice of the profit) and make money on each sale? I’m just not believing that the math works.
Worldwide sourcing, large subassemlies, assembled in New York: made in cheap labor countries, fully assembled parts, minimal assembly in New York to meet ‘made in USA’ legislation.
Half the price of competing bikes made, assembled, in the USA.
I like all motorcycles that I can ride. This is more of a work of art and although not my cup of tea the general style is a no go. I do like a lot of chop and cut stuff of there like a 70’s XS 650 trimmed down to the least, the folks doing that get my attention more than this unit. I myself trend towards ADV touring or touring rides but I have a soft spot for anything two wheels. Single track ride for a one track mind I guess.
Cheers to all and safe riding through the Christmas holidays.
If they ever actually make any of them, they will probably go on to become collectors’ items some day decades from now, selling at auction at prices many multiples of their original purchase price. If I had the money, I’d buy one purely as an investment; park it in my living room, keep it at zero miles and never even start it; and put it up for sale in 40 or 50 years. High price appreciation could be similar to what rare and collectible cars are enjoying these days.
Yea-h-h,and I almost bought a DeLorean!!
This is an amazing bike. Setting aside the styling, the engineering is fascinating. How does the swingarm and secondary drive work? How will the heads be cooled, and what did they have to do to them to make the monocoque frame work? Whats going on with the transmission?
Its probably not a bike I’d buy if i had $30k to spend on a motorcycle, but compared to Confederate or the Arch line of bikes, this is much more interesting. If they can actually build and sell these for $30k, I think they’ll sell a lot of them.
I do sort of like it, mostly for the blend of technical simplicity even if that sounds like an oxymoron. It does look a little chunky, but this is a proto type. It is better to applaud their efforts rather than criticize the first glimpse of the results.
You would think a V-twin is the only engine architecture that matters.
What a stupid machine..
Maybe they can add just one more piece of metal beneath the engine so that something’s dragging.
Pretty cool bike other than rear wheel. And I always like the Confederate bikes.
Jay. Leno.
Maybe if it sprouts wings and can fly too!
3 words come to mind: rigid, vibration, why?
Exactly..
Full front and rear suspension (look closer at the rear swing arm from the left side), counter balanced (not difficult to do), because (if you build it they will come).
One word: Bullet!
Interesting as an exercise in industrial design. As a functional motorcycle, well…… it’s an interesting design. How they can sell it for 29K puzzles me.
I am never going to understand.
What if the overall design both excites and repulses me and all in a bad way. Building this abomination at the Navy Yard is just wrong. At least it doesn’t have a dumb-ass name like Confederate.
in a word…? POLARIZING.
but it’s like a CNC programmer’s “wet dream”.
“Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes.”- Steve Jobs
Yeah, but since they had to design a physical motorcycle, they literally could have seen this mistake coming.
Could be this guys big brother.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Motocompo
We all know how this show ends…
It reminds me a little of Yamaha’s MT 01 concept bike from about 15 years ago. I think Yamaha did a much better job of it. Of course, the production version was nothing like the show bike…
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/prototype-spy-concept/Yamaha-2003-MT01a.jpg
Raaaaaaalph…..raaaaaaaaaalph. Excuse me, I just lost my breakfast!
Should have been called the Vanguard “Experience” as that’s what most people call their mistakes.
Dr Frankenstein builds a motorcycle.
Compared to the ridiculous prices Confederate was charging for their bikes, $30k is “reasonable.” And God forgive me for saying so, but compared the even more hideous and absurdly expensive Arch motos, this is at least imaginative.
But the tech is fascinating. How does that swingarm and drive work? Whats the setup for the monocoque? How can they cool the heads?
The rest, like the LEDs and tv are not that unique, but ugly or not, theres some breakthrough engineering at work here.
I’m trying to like this bike, but it is just hideous to my eyes. At least the price is competitive for the segment
What segment would that be? Great engineering and tech that looks like crap and doesn’t make sense. It’s pretty obvious that these are some really smart guys. I just wish they would make a bike that would really show the world that America can make practical motorcycles that are more than just show bikes. To bad Steve Jobs wasn’t into motorcycles.
Steve Jobs was into bikes. He rode a boxer BMW. (or are you being sarcastic?)
This bike is missing a lot, brake hoses, mirrors, license, and who knows what else. The pegs are way too low and would drag catch your foot, break your leg instantly, couldn’t they have used a little silver paint to hide the oil filter? I am attracted to its mechanical look, but maintenance would be horrendously complex. It reminds me of those small motorcycle models made out of nuts, bolts, and spark plugs.
trying to figure the brakes out.
Looks like the lines might be going in reverse from the caliper backwards through the brake mounts into the lower fork axle clamp and up through the inside center of the fork.
Then you see what looks like the brake lines emerging out of the lower triple clamp and going up through the steering head where they must come out of the top of the steering head and connect to the upper triple clamp where the line is integrated through it and into the handlebar to the integrated master cylinder and to the brake lever. I ThInK ???
curious
$30k……. With that I will get myself a new Rav4 and keep my Triumph Speedmaster and Suzuki 650 Burgman. Send me a poster and I will hang it on my garage wall!
These people should be arrested for wasting metal.
Too ordinary for me.
/sarc off
Are brake lines an optional extra?
Brakes are for sissys. At least they include the disks if you do happen to wear panties.
Rolling sculpture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeilxKluTCU
Wait for it..
” The reported asking price will be $29,995 U.S. — a comparative bargain for such an outrageous machine. ” Compared to what? All I see is a $30,000 bun warmer that will hop from bar to bar in total discomfort.
It won’t even do that. It’s purpose built for people who prefer buying and owning motorcycles, rather than riding them.
This is super cool. Just a bit more disposable income and I’d have one of these in my garage.
Somebody spent too much time playing with their Erector Set when they were little.
They’re obviously not interested in selling many of these.
I love top of the line watches. Can’t afford them but they are beautiful. Some of them try to hard. Since im really am to clumsy to wear one. Now if I was given ten million and a month to spend it I might consider it over a Harley CVO IF I wanted to look at it. It isn’t meant to be ridden is it? Anyway it hurts my ass looking at it.
Yikes those are pretty big disks up front.
For the same dough, I’d much rather have a Motus.
Mike
Sounds like Edward Jacob’s design team did all the great work on the confederate and he took the credit. Left to his own devices, the result looks like a mess. Of course I’m just assuming here, but I’ve seen it before in my line of work. “If only I had TOTAL control over the end result…”
There’s no sense of flow, motion, cohesion, or much of an appealing visual design language here at all. Just a mishmash of machined parts and sharp angles. No thanks.
which confederate do you think is better than this?
“I’m friend of Tl 1000. I vas told she was here. Can I see her please…”
One more for the posers out there!
Just cause ya can, don’t mean ya should.
Repulsive at any price.
Looks like a Machinist had a wet dream.
A very BAD wet dream.
I’ll pass on this one.
Seems like what you get for 30k is “strangeness”.
$30K? They would NEVER make a dime at $30K.$50K? maybe.
Brutalism dragging its ass, all I can think.
I’d rather spend $30k on this than a Camry.
I think it’s awesome. Better looking than a Ducati Monster or Diavel. But I’d like to see what it will look like with all the street legal requirements such as fenders, turn signals, and legal exhaust system.
I can’t come up with the words that really express my mehness.
Where there’s a meh, there’s a weh?
Interesting design. Not much ground clearance is there? It looks unfinished without fenders. My take is that it’s an art installation piece not meant to be ridden.
I take back anything bad I said about the GSX250R.
Where’s the rest of it?
That made me laugh!!
Nothing says “$5,000 Periodic Maintenance” like clear plastic covers over your valve gear train. Although, will this motorcycle ever reach the second, or even the first scheduled oil change?
Nope.
It won’t even be filled with oil before being sold. That sticky stuff just messes up the skinny jeans, on display in the Brooklyn hipster shop this thing is destined to serve out it’s life as a prop in.
It’s certainly an intriguing engineering exercise that fuses functional motorcycle components and reshapes or at least extends some of the current models of mating engine/drivetrain layout with structural components. As an engineering piece though, it seems to be a bit of a rush to market. There is nothing evolutionary about the front suspension or braking, which look strangely out of place and perhaps compromised by the design. Nevertheless, I’ll bet this bike catches the eyes of engineers at various MC companies.
its different…respect for going outside the box and not building another boring overpriced motorcycle..$30,000 is reasonable for innovative design…youll always get haters..theyre brains cant handle it ..lol
Saying someone is a “Hater” because they don’t like the way something looks is a bit childish, but then you spell and use punctuation like a child. And end your comment with lol…
yechh. no. nope.
That is seriously stupid looking imo
Oh look, another expensive boutique motorcycle with the selling point “American Made” and an air-cooled pushrod V-twin. At least Motus was able to move away from that layout and make a truly unique engine, but it’s still prohibitively expensive for most. Arch makes some pretty cool bikes, for three times as much, using an S&S V-twin. We really NEED an American motorcycle company that can compete in the volume sales market selling bikes that aren’t cruisers, muscle bikes, and full tourers. Don’t worry about trends like scramblers and cafe racers either. Just make a nice ubiquitous bike that people will want to buy. Take the Honda approach in the 60’s that ended up with the CB750. Motus made their own bike and their own engine and it’s selling. Imagine if am American bike was less than $10k with its own engine and chassis and was designed to compete with the Japanese and European machines. I can’t be the only one who has thought of this.
Hmm, I think you ARE the only one who has thought of this. An american 10k bike. Americans can do cruisers, but they can’t compete with Superbikes – someone will have to get in that market and develop develop develop, even though that is where the glory is, that will take sometime. I think the thing americans Could do is scramblers and multi-stradas. Scramblers are simple and under 10 k, and the Multi market is off the hook and people pay big bucks for them – like the Ducati and KTM, they are the practical dream that people will pay 20k a bike for. People aren’t;t going to pay 20k for a sub performance super bike. KTM has dropped their duperbike for years, and even the jappenese don’t want to spend their money updating theirs. So i think it is Scamblers and Multi’s if someone wants to break into the market.
Reb “Just make a nice ubiquitous bike that people will want to buy.”
I think the big-4 are still trying to figure out what that is.
I think the best bet is Polaris. They have a dealer network, whichbis really the biggest challenge. If the market size were bigger a consumer direct model might be viable (think Tesla).
How can this be prohibitively expensive when there are so many shiny HD’s rolling down the road at this price point or higher?
Because it’s totally impractical. It’s a styling exercise. And I consider $20K+ HD bikes too expensive as well. I’m not saying there aren’t people who are going to buy it, but they’re a small customer base.
Like it.
$29,995 is not within my reach for a motorcycle, and i am debt free and my retirement income is above average.
Looks like it was built with a combination of an old Erector set and Legos. That being said, WTF?
2 questions regarding the rear-view camera & tablet setup; Will the tablet be visible in bright sunlight, and will the image be reversed? Otherwise, a car pulling up on my left side will be shown on the right side of the screen, or am I missing something?
Both are very relevant questions.
Also, if inspections are required in your state, will the folks at the local garage pass that in lieu of mirrors?
State inspectors are going to have to get used to it, because in the very near future it’s going to be common for cars – and eventually, motorcycles – to use cameras instead of mirrors. I believe there are a few production cars with that feature available already, or in the next model year…
You’re missing something. Why would the image be reversed?
Same reason the image on a car’s backup camera is reversed. So it looks the same way it would in a mirror.
Many (not all) backup/security cameras or their monitors have a reversing function built in.
Looks like the Terminator after all its skin is burned off
I’m not convinced.