My first motorcycle was a 1973 Honda 350. To this day it's the most satisfying motorcycle experience of my life. No frills, just rubber on the road.

I love the look of these bikes. Kudos to Janus for bringing this vintage styling back. Sweet little machine!

Man, I can't stop watching Janus videos, but from Europe they're totally out of my reach, hopefully someday they will grow enough to come here

Lifan is a respected motorcycle and car maker. That 250 engine is literally everywhere in China from racing bikes to 3-wheeled delivery vehicles.

I think they’re a little pricey for what they are in my opinion

I ride with my buddy who has a Sportster with the peanut tank so we have to stop every hundred miles for him to fill up anyways. Plus it's nice to stretch and have a soda and use the bathroom and have a smoke and then get back on the road.

I quit riding street motorcycles about 12 years ago. Last bike I had was a 1980 Yamaha XS1100G..a monster of a bike gave it to my son-in-law when I quit riding. Never lost my love of motorcycles now getting the itch to get back on a bike but now gravitate towards smaller more manageable sized motorcycle just for putting around locally. Love the 'classic' style of the Royal Enfields and now these Janus motorcycles. The Janus bikes are really tempting and the fact they are made in the USA (albeit with some offshore made parts) is a plus. I really hope the Janus bikes are a success there is a market for smaller classic style quality motorcycles.

Thanks for providing your perspectives on the 250. I also have a Ural and understand UDF but have say that the Halcyon (a 450 in my case) attracts much more attention from other motorcycles. Sure, the Ural and side car are easy to recognize as different from afar because of the form factor, and the form factor of the halcyon doesn't stand out as much from far away. But get up close and most everyone notices the vintage styling. I've put almost 1,000 miles on mine in 4 weeks and really like it so far. Just a very cool motorcycle.

They did a great job with the retro look. They are great bikes for riding around locally and probably great on gas. They are good looking bikes.

Good to hear you ride it in the rain Where you said the chain rubs on the fender either brush on a little paint or maybe use insulation tape to see if it is still rubbing Could you remove the speedometer bracket and bend it in a vice to change it's angle ? You would then probably have to repaint, and maybe it would affect the speedo cable Or make a your own bracket from aluminium or steel plate

Nice video! Casual and informative. Nice photography as well. Thanks for making the video!

Hey, it's the older brother from the ShootFastFun YT channel! Hey man, good to see you! I used to tune into that channel all the time! Good to see you're still at it, even if it's motorcycles these days. Nice to see you're riding a Janus. I've been curious about those bikes for some time now. Thanks for giving us an update on it. 👍

Great video! You sound just like your dad. I always thought they were really cool bikes.

These are made in Goshen, IN about an hour north of us. I'd like to check them out sometime.

good honest review 🤗

You also have an early model and I've seen they have a little more issues and Janus will send you free parts if they have updated them. I have a later model and love it. No issues at all!

A thousand miles! Nothing should have gone wrong. I put ten thousand miles on my Benelli Tnt135 last season with zero troubles. I've had BMW's with well over one humdred thousand miles with only routine maintenance. For a bike that expensive it better last awhile

Gorgeous bike

The chain rubbing the the rear fender might be due to misalignment of the rear wheel from a previous chain adjustment. Easy way to check this is to clamp 2 straight boards to the outsides of the rear tire that are long enough to go slightly past the front wheel. if one touches the outside of the front wheel but the other does not, you will have to redo the chain adjustment.

Very good review. Thank you!

For the price there are many other choices out there.

Once I have enough money saved I plan to get one of these in the British racing green that they offer, I'll also probably try and replace one of the saddlebags with a homemade jerry can mount because without a gas gauge I'll probably forget to stop for gas every now and then

Quite an interesting and different bike. Of course if you buy a bike like that, you can't pretend you get the same feeling of a modern-style bike. This is not intended for long trips (I mean: unless you're prepared for that. The bike itself will bring you wherever you want, except maybe for rough terrain, but the pilot's patience and endurance must to be at highest levels LOL). Of course you need to take care of her; it's a beautiful handmade lady that requires extra care - and of course I can't imagine an easier bike to put your hands on: everything exposed, everything simple, you don't need to tear down half bike to reach the carburetor or the spark plug, for example. Since I use to have very long trips (I mean: up to 15,000 km per trip), this is not my kind of bike. I mean: I wish to have money and space to get it, but one more bike in my garage is more than what my wife is ready to accept LOL, but I would prefer thousands of times this bike than, for example, an heavy, expensive and sincerely useless modern Harley Davidson. Oh, and I love that blue too!

Steering locks have needed a little "back and forth" with every bike I've ever owned -- both old and new. This is not unique to the Janus.

Having owned and ridden many miles on old Harley's and Indians which were hardtails with springer seats I was instructed to weigh myself. Take that number and divide by 2 and go to the hardware store and obtain 2 springs that were rated for that amount. Remove the original springs and replace with the new ones. The front forks greatly resemble the old Greeves front forks. Therefore the bike should handle superbly. After the spring job the comfort level should be more than adequate.

It looks like this would be a nice bike for _putting around town_ {I e., just short trips}.

My 2018 Kawasaki had a steering lock that was almost ompossible to lock and unlock. So don't feel too bad about yours.

Dude, sorry I missed meeting you at Barber in Oct, I almost sat on your bike until Kyle warned me that it's not a demo. ;) Hope to see you on the road, at the owners rally or at Barber 2023.

Thank you for a really good and pretty thorough video! One question - What is the approximate real-scenario top riding speed of the Halcyon 250 (assume a 200 lb. rider)? I understand this is a small cc bike that is not meant for the highway. I'm asking in the context of back roads that are linked by two-lane (one-lane each direction, double yellow line in the center) connector roads with Route numbers and a 50 mph speed limit. Will the Halcyon 250 get up to and maintain 55 mph on these roads for 10 miles so one doesn't end up with a chain of frustrated cars trailing behind wanting to pass? Thanks.

They're proud of their products. For the money, I'm choosing the Enfield 350. I mean, you could buy two Enfield classics for the price of one of these

All solid points.

I wanna chop it and extend those forks. Reminds me of early harleys and i love that

My 650 Triumph is a hardtail with a sprung solo seat and it is 70 Mi an hour comfortable all-day ride. For what they charge for the B they could have put a bigger motor in it even to start with.

Some of my BSA 250 singles came stock from the factory with no air cleaners at all

Thank you

Those complaints are pretty standard for something brand new on overall good review

Just went on their web site.......Man you can really customize it, and price is good.

Next level retro. Love the look. Most of the metalwork is done by Amish craftsmen. A shame they'll never be seen here now that we've got compulsory ABS on new bikes.

Nice bike.

Great looking bike. I like it

Thanks bud

You wonder why they didn't use a more retro design of face of the speedo? Simple idea would make it more historic look..

Just bought one it’s a freaking beauty

The Janus bikes are about an artistic concept. They're nice to look at. With experience, customer concerns can be identified and solutions can be found.

Thanks, Grt job 32

The very fact, mes amis, that you can motor through srop signs, has got me sold !

Great model by Sir Hugh Janus 1924-1995

My condolences.

You have an interesting dialect. Where's it from? I love the design of these bikes. My only issue is the aesthetics of the engine. The black makes it look a bit cheap. I wish they would make one with a nickel plated parallel or v twin, Like a Norton or Brough style.

This bike needs the new Enfield Classic 350 engine as it looks more vintage than the Chinese one.

Why don't they re-pop the old 45's. Harley or Indian?

That's a nice color combination with the paint, pinstripes and leather. I'd love one, but I'm a 300 lb guy! Good looking bike tho.

Not my thing and the price seems outrageous.

They are hand pinstripes, which is very cool. They are old fashion looking. But doesn’t your right knee cover up the J in Janus? I definitely go with the new technology battery rather than lead acid.

For the leather after it’s been oiled a few times… Vaseline!! And white wax or saddle soap! Either or!

I like it lovely little bike. I would change the engine for something more vintage, but there is nothing wrong with Lifan engines.

Great review! Like the bike!

Cool enough bike. Is this fellow a southern American from Finland? Nice guy. Excellent accent

Where did you get that lead pig?

That’s normal with the fork lock. I have to do that on my Kawi Vulcan. Nice bike, but overpriced for me even though I understand the cost because of lack of assembly lining etc.

How much does the bike cost?

I like that

Thats a pretty cool looking bike, specially from China. Im sure theyre cheap too, probably $1500 - $2500 ?

They should put the 650 cc single cylinder engine from the old yamaha mt03s in this bike.

I have owned a Janus halcyon 250 for about 6 months. The bike is so different that anything you can buy new today. Ultra lightweight (250 lbs). Old school upright riding position, hard tail. The engine is a Honda design, modified by Husqvarna engineers at an Itallian company SWM and manufactured by a high quality manufacturer in China. Yes I wish the engine looked and sounded like my old Norton or airhead Harley but again weight and modern technology. Royal Enfields are more confortable but heavy and just another modern motorcycle. This is in a class by itself. Impossible to understand ulness you ride one, or a bike from 1920..... visceral

for the money that could be cobbled at home using existing real Honda and retro tank from India. and have money left over for a nice used bike 650++

Just curious what accent this is?

1000 miles in 7 mths? Where you pushing the bike instead of riding it? If you did the 1000 miles in 7 days I'd consider it a very relaxed usage.

For the price that they are asking for, i would expect an engine that is an actual Honda instead of a clone.

Why riding it so little?

1000 miles and the real problem been stopping for gas ?

It's a novelty. It's not a practical bike with a small capacity fuel tank and a Chinese engine and, moreover, expensive.

I really like the design and I think there’s a market for it but they are asking waaaay to much for the bike s

Too much money, I’ll be getting a Honda trail 125 🙂

He keeps up with us, just saying, but "we" are on Urals...and folks, he would rather ride this than his very nice BMW R75/6...and one last comment, they, like Urals, are not for introverts...

Considering the bike now starts at $8,800 before options, tax, etc, closer to $10,000, I'll pass. So many more nicer bikes out there for the money

Its absolutely gorgeous and you cant get more reliable than Honda

I love how these bikes look but they need to get the prices WAY down for a bike with a chinese engine. If it was an american made engine then the prices would be justified.

Batter finally died!?!? I have a honda with a 12 year old battery that still works. Cant believe Janus wouldn't cover a battery loosing its ability to hold charge after 7 months. Unless you didn't try to charge it with the correct charger

I’m curious about your accent. Where are you from ? Beautiful bike.

It's strictly a boutique bike. It's very neat, but it's a novelty, nothing more.

143 miles a month ? not a lot of time or mileage to give a good eval

I need a bigger tank. You’d barely make it to Las Vegas in it. And Arizona on the 10? No way!

9,000 bucks for a styling statement is an awful lot.

Now knowing the mill is a Chinese Honda rip off, there's no excuse for the high price. Lost interest in Janus now.

I don't see the price you payed for it however Robbie

Get a Yamaha SR 400 for 1/3 the price. Better looking, better handling, better brakes and a durable proven motor.

Janus, for those with more money than brains.

Love the way these bikes look but all I can't think when I see one...OXYMORON...EXPENSIVE/ CHINESE.

Ahhh, the Janus Halcyon. Developed by Hugh Janus.

Why not a 650?

The old-looking motorcycles that appear on the market today are a clear protest against the lack of style and reliability of electronics. Not to mention the ridiculous increase in weight, power and size that manufacturers insist on wanting to sell today.

7500 dollars for a chinese 250 engine with a 90 mile range. Not for me.

FIRST there was UDF = _"Ural Delay Factor."_ NOW there is JDF = _"Janus Delay Factor"_ 😉

7 months = 210 days. 1000 miles in 210 is 4.7 miles per day. That's about right for this bike.

The modern mirrors are horrible on it..

I love those Chinese cg engines

The most important thing about this and any motorcycle is what it looks like.

I could build a 250 cheaper than that, and it would look as good. Nice bikes but times for this type of bike might be tough. People like me love this type of motorcycle but we are rare.

As far as the looks it looks great im still unclear as to why the motorcycle is priced the way it is I find it expensive for what it is you can't really call it vintage because it is not and it's not a classic either. But the concept is there. The Chinese motor is turn off for me . But if you really enjoy the bike and like it then that's the most important thing.