8 Retro Motorcycles that you've probably never heard of
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- I spent about 2 years researching what there was available for new retro motorcycles beyond just what triumph and royal enfield had to offer. Here are those motorcycles!
One Correction! The Mutt engine is actually a Suzuki engine, not a Chinese engine
Check out part 2 in this series!
• I found even more Retr...
Check out the bikes!
AJS Motorcycles
www.ajsmotorcy...
Metisse Motorcycles
www.metisse-mot...
Cleveland Cyclewerks
clevelandcycle...
Falcon LA
www.falconmotor...
Ural
www.imz-ural.com/
Janus Motorcycles
www.janusmotor...
Mutt Motorcycles
muttmotorcycle...
MV Agusta Superveloce
www.mvagusta.c...
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Thumbnail photo from the Mutt website
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Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
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![How Royal Enfield made the best [selling] retro motorcycle in the world](/img/n.gif)
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You should also check some retro bikes available in India like Bajaj avenger cruise, Yezdi roadster and Jawa classic. They are amazing bikes and it would be great if you include them in your list someday
CCM in the U.K. make some beautiful retro bikes.Very expensive but they are works of art.
I wish these were available in the U.S. .
I loved this video. Not only did I learn about retro bikes from this list but I loved your candid presentation. It was genuine. My favorite on this list is Janus motorcycles. I'm obsessed. Thank you.
I know. Not only does he research and cover them thoroughly , he’s hella knowledgeable.
Enjoyed my 1967 Triumph Daytona, a 500 cc version of the Bonneville, immensely. A great ride in an era before the road ships dominated the industry.
I had a 72 custom Triumph 500 twin. Miss the sound of that machine but not the oil stained right boot and vibration at high speed.
Metisse motorcycles started by 2 brothers, Don and Derek Rickman in New Milton, a small own in the south of England. They had a motorcycle shop and I bought a BSA Shooting Star, 500cc twin from the shop and the salesman was Derek Rickman. Seeing these bikes featured her brings back many memories of the 2 brothers dominating the local scramblers meetings in the 196os. Happy days.
Very interesting
Interesting view on the Retro market. A bike with a kickstarter used to save my life many times. As you mention in the video lots of the manufacturers are just not competitive in their price range.
Huge Janus fan and the Halcyon 450 is gonna be my next purchase but so many other cool bikes here. Mutt Motorcycles look awesome. Great video thanks
Yeah, the Janus Halcyon 450 would really be a favourite. Unfortunately they aren't matching euro 4 or 5 standards so they won't be available where I live. But I've got a Royal Enfield classic 500 and a Ural classic retro - so that should do for the moment :-)
Over 13 grand for that 450
@@JosipRadnik1 you might check the feedback on Janus bikes. Super unreliable . A waste of money.
Cheap chinese engine, so no.
The honda cb1100f hits the retro nail squarely on the head. Perfect blend of modern tech with old school looks. Great performance and legendary reliability.
I'm with you Mike. I also like the retro Kawaski 900
Mike Pierce : maybe you mean CB1100EX, with spooked wheels ? I.ve buyed one , used , but iam very happy
Just bought a salvaged rebuilt 2014 CB1100 3 days ago. I can't get over how much I love the styling, the power, the smooth feel... all around a fantastic bike. It was in the intro to this video so I thought it would make the list lol
"Engine sourced from China" Chinese bikes have such a bad reputation here in the UK that many bike mechanics refuse to work on them.
The one in the Janus is one of the most reliable engines on the planet.
Really? Mad
That's just dumb. British bikes are worse in so many ways lol
Ironic
In india we hate china the most currently
And Pakistan in modern day is the sidekick of china
Hell if I was looking for an old British 125 I'd get a refurbished Douglas. That some vintage swag in your collection right there.
I always fallen in love ! ❤️ With British motorcycles and I have heard almost all the bikes u named
A.J.S ,MATCHLESS ,NORTON, TRIUMPH , BSA ,VINCENT n many just Cox of a mechanic who restored my Yezdi roadking from India Im lucky I rode few like AJS and old Triumph ❤️
I had a 76 Triumph Bonneville but it seemed that, at the time, the Norton 850 was the bike to have.
I currently have a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 😇
It's pretty awesome
Bart, old Triumph motorcycle dude here, excellent overview of GREAT real moto-motorcycles !
I own a mutt fsr 250, love it , from Sydney Australia
Ural gained such a reputation in England in the 70s and 80s that it was named the "urinal".
Francis-Barnett...check them out. They too use that same Suzuki engine, among some other Chinese built mills. Interesting machines. I can't remember how I even stumbled across their site a couple years ago. I think I was purposely looking for relatively unkown modern classics.
Nice presentation. I particularly liked the way you didn’t try to conceal how expensive some of these bikes are. It’s nice when people are really honest about stuff…👍👏
Freddie Dobbs has done some great reviews of Mutt.
Great summary of some amazing bikes. There were several that had not heard of before. I will be looking at a few of these. Excellent list-
I own a Fat Sabbath (Mutt), first bike and no regrets.
The Matisse company was around in the sixties. It was a dirt bike utilising a factory-supplied triumph engine. It was a winning combination on the scrambling scene. The frame, the suspension and the steering geometry well suited to riding fast over rough terrain.
I remember when I was around 14,
I saw an Agusta very similar to the new one in first place. It of course was back in 1974. And even though I was young and not into bikes like I am now, it still left a long lasting impression as it was unlike anything else on the road at that time.
I hadn't heard of Falcon, but I know of all the others. Some that you might have added to this list included Mash motorcycles from France almost all of whose range is retro-styled. Then there's the reborn Benelli Imperiale, the Genuine 400C , the UM Renegade, and many, many others including a bunch of retro custom-styled 125 vee-twins and vertical twins from China and sold in most of the world. One point about CCW and Mash, they both sell nearly identical bikes which they both claim to have designed, but whether they are badged as Mash or Cleveland Cycle Werks, most of them are built in China by Shineray.
Sounds similar to what bicycle makers have doing in recent years, they don’t actually make anything themselves, but buy bits and pieces here and there in China, if it says made in America, they actually do only the final “screwdriver assembly” here.. the main product being produced is the marketing of some kind of image that you buy, as much as the thing itself…. although they can and do fill market niches that for whatever reason large brands don’t see as interesting…
Yes you have mentioned the CCM in you next retro motorcycles video,just watched it....thanks👍
Another great video bart
PS you need to put your target Keywords early in your description it helps loads with your SEO
Stay upright bart
I own a Bonneville T100. Corrects all the failings of the original but keeps all the good stuff. Smooth, powerful, graceful. I'd do it again.
Still waiting on Honda to come out with a new scrambler CL, with the 2 high pipes on one side. like they had in the late 60's to the mid 70's. I want another new one. I loved that bike. Basically a CB with a few mods, but it made a difference.
Well done, you. You pronounced Giacomo correctly. That's such a rare thing, especially from Seppos.
Old motorcycles are al beautiful !
I read and watch everything motorcycles and didn’t believe you could have one I didn’t know. But you got me with Cleveland Cycle Works.
By the way, you’re very good at making videos. You’ll have thousands of subscribers.
Thanks! Glad I got you with that one lol. You had seen so the other ones?
@@bartmotorcycle yes, I’ve seen all the others, but I’m serious about reading and watching everything about motorcycles. It’s an obsession. If you get a chance, check out my UA-cam channel called Hidden Twisties. Hopefully I can get my production quality and in-camera work to be as good as yours.
You're right, I hadn't heard of Falcon or Mutt, but coming from New Zealand, we were familiar with all the others.
2001 Yamaha road star 1600cc twin, many available about 3-4k. Very reliable and great for the long highway.
the Kawaski w800 deserved a place.... this Japanese make is the most underrated modern retro bike.
I love retro styled bikes. The drag is, the ones I like seem to be hard to find in the U.S. Is it possible to get a Mutt, or and AJS Motorcycle shipped to the U.S.?
Good video. I really like the off-brand bikes but since most people stick with the mainstream here's a few that you might consider as well. Moto Guzzi V7, Kawasaki w800, Honda CB 1100.
Sweat I really like what Janus is doing
Cleveland Cyclewerks is for sale. Not sure these bikes are being built anymore.
Yeah, just looked at their [age. Too bad. neat little bikes.
Great video and as far as not knowing all your listed bikes the Falcon was the only one which is a first for me. Starting with the AJS was a no brainer for someone like me coming from a Motorcycling family and having ridden from the 60s myself. Ending with that beautiful MV Augusta was the highlight but here in Australia as well as being rare with very light dealer network you can double your listed price tag before the insane on road costs and the fact I’m an old fella I think I’d have to pass. Great video once again.
I'd add CCM and Norton to round this list out to 10.
AJS had a fantastic two stroke mx open class in the 70's
Ajs was quite common in New Zealand during the 50s and 60s
They came from Plumstead, where I come from.
Great List! You could also add Brixton and Mash
I think Brixton and Mash aren't very well known in the US
You got me I did not hear of several of them.
I'm familiar with the Janus and very interested in it but now I got to take a peek at the mutt
yeah the Mutts are super cool! I was seriously considering one
Last I heard they are not imported into the USA
@bart i watched a vid recently. R u fluump. If u r, then i am so happy cuz ive literally watched all of ur vids. glad ur still in youtube and gd luck
Those Janus look dope. Those as an electric and I'd be sold
that Torronto joke...
Janus motorcycles use an Italian designed engine that are manufactured in China. The engines are based on a Honda design , the Halcyon 450 is based on the Honda XR 400 engine which is a proven rock solid design. Janus motorcycles are great bike I wish I had one.
Very good! I live in England and didn't even know about AJS and Metisse! 😱 👍🏼
Probably because you're not an old dude. Like me.
@@savage22bolt32 😆 65, maybe that's not old? 😆
@@BriKinsella I'm just a couple of years older. Keep the rubber side down!
You don't stop riding when you get old, you get old when you stop riding.
@@BriKinsella 65 and hadn't come across AJS before? . . Very popular brand. Maybe didn't hit the highs of Enfield, Triumph, BSA etc but done not too badly.
@@mark3427 I obviously knew of AJS but hadn't realised the name was being used to produce bikes now 🙂
channel is friggin underrated❤️
Ural with sidecar is updated Retro with power to trailer 2 of those bikes to roads with Twisties .
riding a hack is a mental mind set change and learning curve
Great to see The AJS bikes from the past coming back. Perhaps they'll make something highway worthy, powerwise, if that 125 catches on. By the way, the Janus bikes are named after the Roman god of looking forward and back simultaneously. And the pronunciation of that god is JAY nus.
Good luck with actually getting hold of a Mk5 '100bhp' Metisse, and putting it on the road - for any money! And good luck with keeping a Ural running without daily maintenance. There's nothing cool about sitting by the side of the road, broken down!
That thing is never going to be an AJS, it's just another Honda CG 125 clone. Looks very pretty though 👍
I love Janus motorcycles, very cool and classy looking bikes (though a tad pricey).
They're definitely a unique take on "retro." I like them because they don't just look like 60s bikes
@@bartmotorcycle love the karate kid music
Just a few misc. comments:
1. AJS was quite significant in terms of the old Brit bikes. Had no idea that they have been brought back to the market. Very cool!!
2. Old guys like me all know what an avid rider and dirt racer Steve McQueen was. I have read that his favorite dirt bike was a custom Matisse.
3. Dumb or not, unless they have changed a lot of things, you actually cannot easily remove the sidecar from the Ural. The side wheel on the sidecar is mechanically attached to the engine.
Thanks for your comment. Didn't know that about the ural! And yeah the old ajs bikes were beautiful
@@bartmotorcycle This comment about the Urals only applies to the models with sidecar wheel drive. It may be that they are the only ones imported into the US at the moment, the 750s with rear wheel drive only make good solos, or you can fit different sidecars if one takes your fancy.
Check out CCM in the UK.
Honorable mention should go to the US Genuine G400C and Europe's Mash 500.
A 399cc single built after the Honda CB400SS of the 90's.
When I was a kid, we would refer to AJS as "All Junk and Spares". I never owned nor rode one and looking back, I don't know where that expression came from, but the AJS was always very agreeable to my eye. So, it's not surprising that I like these. Such a shame they are only available as a 125.
My uncle's many years ago found an old AJS from the 30s which they had great difficulty in getting running. They told everyone that the initials stood for Ah Jaysus, Start.
Love your videos man 👍
Janus for the win
The Clevelands have been notorious for having issues with their welding quality, and yes I have seen all of these bikes before.
Back in the day the AJS's initials were commonly referred to as, *All Junk, and Scrap* . Not nice, but that said the bikes were popular and performed rather well. We had a few in our club, and they never gave of any serious issues...
"Mk" is the short version or "Mark, so those 2 metisse motorcycles you mentioned are the Mark 5 and Mark 3. Mark is used to denote a version update based on the original design.
nah. it's deffo the 'em kay' 5 ;-)
+1 for mentioning janus, they're the shit
I actually own a black ajs Cadwell it's awesome. I'd love it if ajs made some larger machines for when I do my a2 license as id love to keep my Cadwell and actually be able to go on the Motorway.
I had a 2005 Ural Patrol that I purchased brand new in 2005. It turned out to be "THE WORST" piece of junk I ever owned in my life, and I've owned a lot of motorcycles.
BSA new Gold Star is also a good looking retro bike.
I’ve never heard of most of these companies ! TY I’m only want or have “retro” bikes so this was seriously eye opening
A Genuine G400c has a clone efi version the XR400 400cc single with kick start and e start on a cafe bike for $4000 new. They have all metal parts including fenders and side panels. Csc also makes the sg250 and the sg 400 and are both pretty sweet little bikes. I just bought a 2019 dongfang cafe bike the df250rtd for $600 2nd hand. It's not fast maybe 70 mph top speed. But I always have people come up and ask me what it is because they have never seen anything like it.
I agree. They should all be equipped with kick start. As a back up at least. Or if you want, ditch the heavy battery and starter motor * there are ways of doing this
Mutt was the only one I haven't heard of. I've worked in the industry though
Great video, plenty of food for thought
AJS back in the day "all joints squeak"
The kawasaki W800 is a beautiful retro bike that is well worth a look also.
Janice 450 uses an Italian fuel injected 445 cc based on the old Honda 400
AJS yep I knew of that brand. Metisse ditto. Old British brands. I have ridden a Ural. Scary.
Yoo I'm in SEA and I'm riding the GPX Legend 250 twin (looks very similar to MUTT). They look great don't they.
Can’t believe you have my Ajs in the list. Cool. How about Paton, CCM? Does godet egli still exist ?
This vid is kind of crazy....In beginning is mentioned Triumph and Royal Enfield (and agree, most know classic bikes) and then full video of small bikes, all build around small China engine... Just from top of my head, you missed "grown up" retro bikes: Kawasaki W800, Kawasaki Z650RS (kind of retro), Benelli Imperiale 400, CFMOTO 700CL-X Heritage (neo retro), Moto Guzzi V7/V9 series, Moto Morini Milano, Brixton announced new 1200 CC retro bike...and yep, Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 is super new retro bike...look, I have nothing against this little bikes 125-200 CC, but in my opinion, they are different category then RE and Triumph....
I'd love a Mutt Mastiff 250. The Mutt range is powered by Suzuki GN125/250cc engines. Probably copies and doubtless built in China.
I recently watch3d a video about the new Urals and they are actually built from surplus soviet military parts. They are the same bikes used by the soviet military in ww2.
Hey you forgot ROYAL ENFIELD!!
a fantastic bike at a very reasonable price.
It's frustrating being shown cool bikes and then being told either that you can't get it in the USA, or "Well, you can figure it out if you want it bad enough."
Steve McQueen has been my fiIm hero as Long as I can remember. Imagine my surprise to see that the Legendary Metisse are actually avaiIabIe. Now to dig up the price and have my dreams shattered...
Also the Fantic Caballero has a rather retro design
So many bikes, so little time. I would consider going to Russia and picking up a Ural. I need an adventure.
I know them all !!! love them all !!
I watched the whole video in hope, that the MZ (east german) will show up, because you can get factory new parts for it on a level where you can build a whole new bike by yourself :D
Some of the new Jawa's are pretty cool looking. They're only 300cc bikes, but there's a couple models that look like the old 50's/60's Jawas. I'm not sure why an American dealership hasn't partnered with Jawa to import some of their bikes, the same way they've done with Royal Enfield. Maybe they don't meet the American emissions standards. They've got a maroon and chrome bike that's really pretty.
i owned a Californian Jawa 350 sidecar unit late 70 -early 80s . it was temperamental in lower 30s F and lower 90sF but ran till it got Run over 😮💨.
5:56, the rest is original? So why is it exactly the same frame as the Cleveland you just showed?
Great video. 👍
I noticed the CSC 250cc and 400cc cafe racers were left out of your video. Too bad, they are affordable and have engines from a well respected and proven manufacturer
I'm surprised the lexmoto vendetta 250 didn't make the list
seeing as I was born in 1951, I've seen and owned most of them and some that aren't listed here.
Slight correction...The Janus motorcycle is not suppose to mimic "American" motorcycles from the 1930s. Nope, they're supposed to mimic a certain other British brand, the Brough Superior which were known as "The Rolls-Royce of motorcycles" during that era. And yes, the Janus m/c is kind'a cool, but until they place a V-Twin into that retro bike's frame and regardless its displacement, sorry, that little single cylinder engine ain't cuttin' it for me.
there is also bike from Thailand... GPX Legend Twin II ...twin cylinder 234cc engine..18Hp
thanks for showing me options no one can afford
Cleveland Cyclewerks looked affordable, but it seems they are gone now.
Ural still have dirt floors in their factory.
Urals are expensive because you are supposed to buy 2 of them, one for riding and another to tow behind you for parts, because it will break constantly as you go.
I’d heard of all of these, but probably because I’m from the other side of The Pond 🚣🏼
But I hope you’ll look into a great little bespoke motorbike company called Langen 🏍
I think the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is an absolute stunner and much better than the Chinese engined bikes
Gotta love the Moto-Guzzi V7 and if going Oriental it’s hard to fault the very underrated and undervalued Honda CB1100 in either EX or RS versions 👍🏻
I have a Mash TT40 caferacer. French designed and Chinese build. Love the damn thing. Engine is a clone from a Honda engine used in the xr400r, gb400tt, cb400ss and another few. Simple and it looks retro because they use 18" wheels. Somethjng they don't in the more expensive retro's.
Pity you didn't mention the range of Francis Barnett motorcycles' made in England.