Janus Motorcycles have decided to change one of the most important pieces of your Halcyon 450. The “small American brand”, known for manufacturing classic-looking, low-displacement motorcycles and artisanal production in Goshen, Indiana, will replace the engine it used until now with a new one supplied by Hartford Industriala Taiwanese manufacturer with experience in both engines and precision machining.
The change comes after 5 years using the 450 platform of SWM. According to her own explanation Janussupply problems, increased transportation costs from China through Italy, new US tariffs and trade uncertainty have led the company to look for a more stable alternative. And as we are telling you, the choice has been Hartford.
The Janus Halcyon 450 has a new engine
The Halcyon 450 It is probably the motorcycle that best represents the philosophy of Janus. It is a motorcycle with a clearly classic aesthetic, with a handmade construction and a very different philosophy from that of today’s big brands. The new engine maintains precisely that philosophy. It is still a 450 cc single-cylinder, air and oil cooled and with electronic injection. As we see, Janus has not sought to convert the Halcyon on a sports bike or radically increase its performance.
For now, Janus has not communicated new official figures for power, torque or consumption of the Hartford 450. The priority of the change, therefore, is not to achieve more benefits, but to maintain the character of the Halcyon and improve its manufacturing.
An engine designed specifically for the new platform
The change does not consist of removing an engine and placing another in the same chassis. Janus ensures that the new Halcyon equipped with the Hartford 450 It has been developed as a new platform. The engine mounting points, the integration with the chassis, the electrical system and the power supply are different compared to previous versions, so the new engine cannot be installed directly in a Halcyon 450 ancient
The first prototype began testing during the spring, and Janus has worked directly with the engineers of Hartford in Taiwan to carry out engine tuning, dyno testing and adaptation of all the bike’s systems. Obviously, the company has also carried out the corresponding homologation and emissions tests for the US market.
This is the Janus Halcyon 450
Although the engine is the great novelty, the essence of the Halcyon remains intact. The bike uses a tubular steel chassis and an extremely classic configuration. Its body is made up of metal elements made by hand, while the tank incorporates handcrafted details and the decoration can be customized for each client. The cycle part also maintains a simple approach. The Halcyon 450 use brakes Brembo front and back, metal sleeves Spiegler and a seat Sargent made specifically for Janus.
An American motorcycle with an Asian heart
Here is the most curious part of the story. Janus It manufactures its motorcycles in the United States, but has never produced its own engines. For a very small volume company, developing a modern 450 cc engine from scratch, homologating it for the United States and then maintaining its own supply chain would be an investment that is difficult to justify and maintain.
That’s why Janus turn to specialized manufacturers. HartfordFurthermore, he is not a newcomer to the world of propellant manufacturing. The Taiwanese company has its roots in the machine tool and CNC machining sector, and later developed its own business as a motorcycle and engine manufacturer. It currently offers different engines, including 450 cc engines.
For Janusthe change has less to do with converting the Halcyon on a motorcycle «more american» than with achieving a more stable supply chain. The company assures that the relationship with Hartford It offers you greater long-term confidence and greater development capacity of the 450 platform. It also aims to reduce problems derived from long transportation times and the trade situation between the United States and China. By the way, this engine will also be equipped with the screambler Gryffin 450.
