Janus Halcyon 450 engine | Parts talk 

Certainly Janus occupies a specific place in the industry that other companies do not. Well done.

I’ve never even ridden a motorcycle but the Janus lineup sparked an interest that has become all-consuming for me. I want to get a Gryffin. It’ll probably be more than a year before I can get it. In the mean time I watch all these videos you guys put out so I can keep learning what I’m getting into, how to ride, how to take care of everything. I appreciate the full-service attitude you guys have about this hobby/culture

I am loving my 250 Halcyon (JM791) so I bought one for my son. (JM847) This video makes me want to get a 450 ordered.

You're following the right pattern for a growing company. Start small and slowly work upward in the power range. After the 450 CC I can well imagine the next model will be a 650cc to 750cc motor. I just waiting for when you decide to make an era correct sidecar that looks the period of the 1920's- 30's.

These really are beautiful machines and you need to see them in person and ride them to get an understanding of what they're about.

How about a Janus Gryffin 450 Scrambler/Adventure multipurpose hybrid bike?? Take the cool old school looks of the Gryffin with it's rear luggage rack. Add the 450cc engine, made so it could rode as a naked scrambler. Or quickly converted into a useful adventure bike by adding some cool, old school looking army green canvas saddle bags & canvas bag for the rear rack. The bags could left on 24/7 & simply strapped down when empty, to keep them from flapping around in the wind. Add an adjustable windscreen & hand guards that match & don't take long to install or remove.... It already has the bottom engine guard (maybe add some small side engine crash guards also) Now you'd have an Adventure/Scrambler hybrid that looks good & can rode around naked. But can also be quickly converted for a road trip, 3 season riding or just a trip to the grocery store. With the 3 canvas storage bags & a backpack it could hold a lot of groceries. With gas prices so high, I'd ride as much as possible, a 6 speed/OD would be nice.

Coolest looking bikes out there. But in my option way to much money. For what these are you can get the royal Enfields for thousands less.

As long as you use a Chinese made engine......no matter how well its made....the market will be limited.

I wonder it the XR650 motor will fit in the frame?

The 450 looks like the perfect sidecar rig, do you guys build a sidecar to match the motorcycle styling?

I wonder who will be the first to bring out a big bore, hop up kit for it? Like 500 or 550 cc.

SWM just needs a new logo and modern brand marketing. Their engines are great and fit a niche.... 5-10yo modern legacy motors at a huge price discount. They just need a modern classy racing looking logo and some better website design.

Sorry I owned an Ft 500 stock was slower than a 250 one bike I loathed.

450 is to small, 650-750, is middle weight

The Halcyon 450 with the SWM single stroke 445 cc engine is the perfect fit for me! I'm an older guy 👴 👦 with no need or desire to go over 85mph. I decided upon Janus because it was sheer genius how they've reimagined the motorcycle 🏍 and helped to recapture the original ethos of the joy of 🏍 🛵 🏍 🛵 motorcycle riding!

they are beautiful but.....still made in China!

SWM Six Days 500 rider here, sharing the same engine. It's amazing how versatile it is, and how it ended up being used in a specialty build because of its qualities. If you ever decide to go larger, Shineray also makes a larger 650 cc version, presumably also based on an older Honda Design (XR650/Dominator). In Europe, SWM has updated the engine for Euro 5 regulations with lower compression (9.5 vs 10) but also added a sixth gear for better cruising and more even spacing.

Thanks Richard! I appreciate the thoughts. Part of the reason you knocked it out of the park with this engine is that it is a single cylinder just like the historic bikes from Britain in the 20's and 30's which this bike looks a lot like and handles like. Further, anything more than a 600 would be a mistake so this being a 450 was perfect! A single "thumper" when above 500cc you can really feel it and hard to balance. So with the perfect size motor and power to maintain a highway speed of at least 63 mph in my case, this perfectly fits the bill. My only concern is the shipping crisis but no need to comment as no one knows where that is going. Just hoping mine has this engine when it was built. Again, thanks for the videos and keeping up the excitement in anticipation of getting my own.

V Twin!!!

I wonder if I could swap in a XR-650 engine.

The ideal motorcycle size remains a 650cc or so. 🎉 Topping out at 100 mph, able to cruise at 55-65 mph. ❤

I can totally appreciate the design and meticulous build quality of Janus motorcycles. And they are beautiful things, no question. But after the stunning first impression of the bike as a whole, my eye is inextricably drawn to that 70's- 80's Honda-derived engine. In my humble opinion, that old engine doesn't suit the look of the Janus design. If the engine was left unpainted (without the matt black on the outer cases and cylinder barrel) the engine outers could be polished up to gain more of the retro look that the Janus is trying to emulate from the 1920's and 30's. Better still, have your own engines made. That is the future. I hope. Love the bikes. Ride safe. Love and peace

I wonder how easy a swap an XR 650 would be...

Where’s the engine made in? That is the dealbreaker for me.

I have always said they should never have bothered with the 250 nor 2450 version they should have bought Suzuki 650 Savage Motors and put them in their bikes. They would have something they could comfortably travel on the highway with without it screaming at the top of its lungs or busting a gut. It is more expensive than a BMW scrambler. For that price they could put a Sportster motor in it. Give it that old-time V-Twin Harley look with a real Harley engine

These are by far the most beautiful motorcycles on the road, and it's not even close. Unfortunately that bespoke-quality pricetag is a monster. I can't wait to pick one up on the used market one day!

Chinese Shineray brand '80's Honda 450 knock-off. Hey, I bought a Chinese Pagani Breitling homage watch, but I didn't pay Breitling prices.

Great information explaining the history of the engine and the reason you chose it. Honda is dead reliable with most of there motorcycle engines. When I was a teenager I owned a 1979 Honda Twistar 185cc. My first street bike. Bought it used for $500 with 35000 km on it . I rode that bike everywhere. I out grew it and it was still running when I parked it in my dad's barn.

Ordered my 450 a few weeks back. Can’t wait to get it. Awesome post - never knew it was a hemi style. Thx

In my opinion Janus needs to import their frames and other parts also. get the price down to a comfortable level where the average person can justify the price. It's an interesting nich market and people today really don't care how much of it is hand made in the United States. That is not a major selling point in that market. Knowing we can get Honda parts to repair the motor is all we need to know and the rest of the bike can be repaired most anywhere by anyone.

I know nothing about engines but it looks and sounds like a mini masterpiece, almost jewel like. Could a customer have this engine black chromed? That would look stunning.

So it's a Chinese Knock-Off.

Great looking bike. Very impressed with the simple design and upright ride. I would love to see this bike in a 650 or 800cc (max) and maybe a parallel twin configuration. I did a lot of interstate riding, and a 800cc twin would provide the necessary HP and tours for that. But very nice bike indeed!

I really love the 250 simple basic. But like a little more grunt. Any chance to acquire a 450 with a carburettor and rear suspension with overall light weight,Thanks ❤

Do you even ride that thing lol, looks really good for 80hrs, now get some heat cycles in and get it ready to rip.

The Janus bikes are very attractive but despite the Italian heritage, this is a Chinese knockoff engine. I’ve owned husqvarna bikes from the Italian era, and this engine bares no resemblance. As long as the Janus bikes are powered by Chinese copies of Japanese engines, I’m not interested. Sorry.

What many of you dont know is that the Chinese has a different way they deliver. If they ask the buyer let us say the company of this bike how much they expect to sell and the buyer say 10k USD. They would find parts that would match the price range and still have profit for the buyer. Unlike western ones you buy what goes out of the production line. In short they had the flexibility to meet customer needs. Too bad the customers started ordering chinese products that they can sell to end buyers not to last.

I cant seam to find engine parts? where would I get engine parts? Head and Piston very important to be to have replacements your website is super slow, are you self hosting it? always drives me nuts

You see, I dont mind if the engine is a ripped off Honda engine, What I do mind is that someone saw it fit not to include a kick starter, when you can clearly see the kick start lever hole blanked off. The bike is purporting to be a vintage motor bike circa 1920s , so how many bikes do you know in that era had electric starters! All wrong , just a failed attempt at being a vintage bike!

You guys make a brilliant motorcycle, full of style and nostalgia; but this mentioning of names like Honda and Husqvarna, looks fishy in my opinion. You guys use a Chinese knockoff engine, MADE IN CHINA. Nothing to do with Honda or Husqvarna. You are just waiting for a lawsuit to happen!

This is so great to know the 450 is a Husqvarna, Honda clone, what could be better ?

I can't hear "halcyon" without thinking about the galactic starcruiser hotel disaster

Would love a 450 Griffin!

China has 250 CC V Twins . It would be great if Janus went to 250 CC and 400 CC V Twins .

I love the motorcycle, however, the engine is made in the WONG country :)

Maga Viral American Nice Honda Italian heritage reliability important $$$😊

If you put this 450cc in the Gryffin, it'll be my next bike :) PLEEAAASE!! :)

Is SWM using this engine in any of their current bikes?

Love the engine, now just put the Janus logo on the round cover to make it your own.

Have you measured the oil temps with oil cooler verses without. Thank you.

Y’all Make me feel Good about really Loving my 250 HAWK…! With its Chinese clone motor…..! 4000 Miles and runs and performs like a sewing machine………👍🏻

Love what you guys are doing!

Mr Rich, has it going on ,full of history, i. Enjoy watching this clip Richard is full of history with a good memory of it thank you,,,,,,,👍🇺🇸

That honda design hasn't been bettered for a reliable air cooled 4T engine. I've had it in a few XLs and it is so reliable and easy to maintain. I always had carburated versions. Some with electric starters and some kick only. 1st 2nd kick to fire up when you have the knack. You should offer a carburettor conversion for people who don't want EFI

Next step, 750 cc, for easy, comfortable highway travel, interstate model. Nice saddle for two. Couple models of it, one for touring maybe. V-twin?

Love the blacked out motor and silver fins

You are building wonderful bikes. The engine fits to your bikes perfectly. It is reliable, relatively comfortable, has nice sound, looks vintage enough and spareparts are in masses available. Also it is cost efficient, which not at least make your 450ccm bike affordable despite all those individual options. Couldn`t you export them to Europe?

Love the bikes, I understand the lightweight bike concept. But you need to drop in a bigger bike. Something around 900cc. That's what I'm waiting for.

Just got a good view from the pilot's seat in minute 2:36 of video; the bars remind me of what I had on the 45" Harleys I used to own, always liked those. Also like the dual exhaust for a single, very British! Kudos on the fuel injection, have it in the car, scooter & snowblower; the mower(?) just bought battery powered one (my donation to the environment).

A 450cc is a good balance. Can a passenger be comfortable. If so do you have a back rest? Do you have windshield for the bike? Do you have some sort of trunk bag?

The art of naming all the brands and countries in Europe for a motor made in China. Bravo! 👍

The ft500 ascot did not use the rfvc engine as you stated in the video, but used the older generation one cilinder engine.

I'm of the opinion your base model should have been a 450, progressing to 650, 900. As you said the 250 had to be full throttle to keep up with modern day traffic.

Chinese or Italian?

Very informative.

I always appreciate the depth and breath of the topics covered!

If I need repairs could a honda dealer help me?

Pronounced "Hooskvarna".

Let’s just pause and say Thank You to California for leading the way in US air standards.

Ridge rear is a a really bad idea if you want your back to work in your 50s or 60s. $13,500. US dollars for a $3000. Chinese bike.

I keep praying for a way to get one of these but keep getting set back by car repairs and now it’s heavy farming season for us which means what money it’s all being sucked up in fuel costs and machinery. Fingers crossed I can work it out because this is the bike for me if I can make it happen

Instead of a garbage made in China engine why not a Briggs and Stratton V twin with a comet variable speed clutch. It would look better,sound better be faster and be all American .

Why would anyone want this?