Janus Motorcycles, a manufacturer of lightweight hand-built bikes, has a unique reason for sourcing its engines from China. Founder Richard Worsham explains that he wanted a suitable engine for Janus’ bikes that would align with their vision of simplicity and reliability.

Worsham explored the possibility of using typical American-made motorcycle engines, such as the big V Twin engines from Harley Davidson or Indian, or even a modified version from S&S Cycle. However, these engines did not match the lightweight and minimalist design that Janus was aiming for.

Instead, Janus opted for a 229cc motor originally designed by Honda in the 1970s. Worsham highlighted the importance of having an engine that is simple, reliable, and easy to service. By choosing a long-established engine design, Janus ensures that parts availability will not be an issue, as manufacturers have been producing parts for this particular engine for several decades.

Ultimately, Janus’ decision to source engines from China was based on finding the right engine for their specific needs and providing their customers with a dependable and easily maintainable product.