In the ICE world, you can’t beat two-strokes for power output in a lightweight package. The problem, of course, has been getting them to burn clean enough to meet modern emissions standards.
A small British company founded by Christofer Ratcliffe, known as Langen Motorcycles, is planning small-scale production of the two-stroke Café racer you see pictured. The 249cc v-twin engine was developed by Vins Motors in Italy and will make a claimed 80 horsepower in production form.
Described as a “track weapon,” it isn’t clear that the new bike would be road legal in major jurisdictions. Nevertheless, the motor features both fuel and oil injection, so emissions should be dramatically lower than the old carbureted two-stroke dirt bike you rode as a kid.
Ratcliffe was Chief Design Engineer at CCM Motorcycles for ten years. He is an enthusiast who has struck out on his own, and we wish him the best of luck. The planned production bike will weigh less than 250 pounds and feature top quality components from Öhlins and Brembo. Take a look at the Langen Motorcycles website for additional details and photos.
Why not usd forks? Would love to see one in the wild
In the middle 90’s I had the opportunity to take a ride on an Aprila RS250. What a hoot. I still smile when I think about it.
I’ve got a Honda NSR250 two-stroke V-Twin sitting in my garage right now.
Amazing bike!!!
Little bitch will do 120MPH and handles ridiculous!.
Sign me up for this bike if the price is right!!!
Like all cool bikes, it will be too expensive.
my commuter is an 82 rd350lc with a rz350 stroker motor this is the bike us two stroke lovers have been dreaming about.
Awsome, I like the way small displacement light weight bikes handle. I had a Yamaha RD 350 that I modified cafe style with after market front forks and wheels from a Canadian water cooled RD 400. The bike handled like a dream and I wish I never sold it. The Langen bike would be a clear step up and as pictured absolutely beautiful as well. I want one!
Tubeless wheels? Should be, they’re lighter. Does it need two shocks and springs? One would be lighter. A 250 lb. bike with 2 320mm or so rotors? One big rotor and one 4 piston Brembo caliper should be more than enough. They’re on the right track though….
I used to have a 220 lb KLX300R with 37 rwhp registered for the street. That thing was such a blast to ride and accelerated almost way too quickly to keep up with myself. I can’t even imagine what it would be like with twice the power! You probably couldn’t use all of it most of the time.
Todd,
KLX 300 was a nice 4T in 1997 but curb weight was 251lbs (wet), hp at crank was claimed 32hp (probably 26 at wheel). So not so sure your numbers are real unless heavily tuned and bike was made of carbon fiber or Titanium.
But a modern twin 250 2T with 80hp and modern EFI would be a ripper.
Yes, fairly decently modified, dyno confirmed. As for weight, that’s what the brochure told me!
Thank you Todd for reminding us what is claimed.
Todd Quote:
“KLX 300 was a nice 4T in 1997 but curb weight was 251lbs (wet), hp at crank was claimed 32hp (probably 26 at wheel).”
My experiences with these pre 1980 bikes are recorded as beyond the top speed, HP and weight experienced. Example is the 1969 Suzuki 250 Hustler I mention record shows top speed as 105-115 mph and 30-32 HP. These figures are exaggerated. 85-95 mph and 29-30 HP is more likely.
Don’t think I ever heard anyone describe a klx300 accelerating like that before. 🙃
If you think that’s fast, you should ride in my Toyota Corolla, it’ll melt your face off.
Future US-licensed version with anywhere near the quoted specific HP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbU3zdAgiX8
Very Funny, however I saw one at WallyWorld today with Iron Horse saddle bags and a full load of toilet paper to go.
Right now it appears to be in the mock-up and cartoon stage. I hope they can make it to the “people are actually buying it” stage.
Another innovation appears to be a linkless chain! Either that or a very skinny belt drive…
Spencer won the 1985 250 World Championship on a Honda 250 V Twin 2 stroike . Spencer said it was the best handling motorcycle he ever rode.
IIRC, some journalist posted an image of the location on Spencer’s GP bike (can’t recall if it was his 500 or 250) where would normally be found the rear brake lever, and where instead was…nothing.
Did he not win both championships sans rear brake?
At a few minutes past midnight I can’t recall a v twin 2 stroke ever. The heck with all the practical comments, this is just a fun idea. Hope it works.
The Suzuki RGV / Aprilia RS 250 comes to mind.
While not a v-twin, the p-twin Yamaha rz350 also comes to mind. No doubt these would’ve morphed into sport-standards had 2t’s lived long enough in the US.
I’m also reminded of the attempt by Roland Sands and others to get a road racing conversion of 450cc motocross bikes off the ground. That things were really neat.
Seems like there are already super too inspired bikes that approach this bike’s figures?
Dave, I always thought the 1985-ish Yam 350 WAS a “sport standard”, along with their predecessors (the RD 350’s and 400’s). I had a ’76 RD 400 for my first bike, which was a perfect role for it. Like many things from that era, I sure do wish it was still in my garage.
These days the RZ would probably be a sports standard but then it was sportbike, had small fairing (and a chin one IIRC).
my 73 RD 350 was just a motorcycle. I don’t think they had classifications for them then.
Bimota V-Due
+1 A friend of mine imported two of those into the US around 2000. Crazy process and crazy bikes. One even got registered in CA somehow.
That was a 500cc v-twin.
Yamaha TZR 250, Honda NSR 250, for street bikes.
All of the TZ250s from 1991 on were V-twins.
RZ350, RD200/250/400, and Suzuki made a few in 1970s. And all the snow mobiles with 2T EFI twins from 600-800 are crazy fast and would make fun street machines if emissions are passable.
Look up the “Tularis”, a super-light track bike built around a Polaris 2-stroke twin engine. It’s pretty cool.
The engine pictured has TZ250 5KE Yamaha cylinders on it which weekend good for around 88-92hp or so in 2006.
It must be light, the rear wheel isn’t even touching the ground!
Good eye, Jim! Helium-filled maybe?
More info would be nice. From the photo it looks like this engine has neither direct combustion chamber injection or even transfer port injection. So I wonder what makes it have low enough emissions to be street legal?
The powerband for a two stroke making over 5/HP per cubic inch is likely to be the width of a gnat’s behind. This bike might present a huge ride-ability challenge on the street.
I’d sure love to give it a test drive, though!
Awesome! Can a 500cc version be far behind?
Fantastic! Price will be the downfall for most of us.
I see the Wakanda Vibranium contract came through for Langen, good for them. But as much as I wish this were true, I’m not that far from Missurruh, and they’re going to have to Show Me.
With boosted Indycars making less specific power, is a naturally aspirated two stroke this strong feasible, especially with more than a half-hour between rebuilds? I remember when folks were applauding when street-legal bikes started making a hundred hp per liter. Now the target is going to be three-hundred-twenty?
God Bless ‘Em if they can make it happen, but I have my, um, doubts.
The 250 two stroke road racers were typically around 90hp.
But you are right in that doing pistons might be something that you become good at. Fortunately you can pull that stunt on a 125cc cylinder pretty quickly.
A good 125 dirt bike rider can do a piston in 45 minutes pretty reliably.
I question the quality of the forks and I would like to see one shock and some linkage. KTM has been trying to make bikes without linkage forever. I buy the ones (300XC) that have linkage on them.
Leave the bodywork off below the tank and I’m in.
Odd that fixing my gripes would actually lighten the bike.
I agree with Mick. Plus, those fork gators just don’t work for me.
Was thinking the same thing Mick. They could probably make the conventional forks work good with such a light bike (and they are lighter) but the rear suspension baffles me. I’d still love to ride it though.
SCHAA-WHINGG!!!
Practical, affordable and efficient;that is why it will not be allowed in California. The market for these bikes will be China and India. Next year you will read in the Daily Star (London newspaper): Langen Motorcycles broke 1 million sold mark.
I’d be willing to bet that if the bike described here were to make it to production, it will not be “Practical, affordable and efficient”.
Practical, affordable and efficient;that is why it will not be allowed in California. The market for these bikes will be China and India. Next year you will read in the Star: Langen Motorcycles broke 1 million sold mark.
“Next year you will read in the Star: Langen Motorcycles broke 1 million sold mark”
or just Langen Motorcycles broke!.
India and China have stricter motorcycle emission standards than California (and EPA).
California motorcycle emission standards are a blend of Euro 1 and Euro 2.
India and China are using the equivalent of Euro 4.
Sorry I got carried away again remembering my 1969 Suzuki T250 Hustler.
In the 70s amateur racer Kevin Peltz rode on the street his race-modified Suzuki 500 Hustler 2T parallel twin w/Kosman gold anodized spoke rims.
Kevin was often first on the Marin Sunday Ride from the start at Mill Valley Tam Junction Arco Station to the “cigarette break” (any kind, “smok’m if you gott’m”) overlooking beautiful Stinson Beach.
China is massively investing in EVs and EV infrastructure. India is massively investing in renewable energy. Both want to get rid of cheap ICE engines as fast as possible. As a track machine this looks fun for someone, but after visiting Cuba where 2 strokes still roam free, the thought of these on the street is not a good thought.