Motorcycle specifications Vanguard1900 Roadster 2018 Merging elements

It would seem that, in the world of high-end motorcycles, there's no room for complacency. Global brands are no longer shy of exuberance (Honda RC213V-S, Ducati 1299 Superleggera, Kawasaki H2R, Harley-Davidson CVO...), and smaller manufacturers are vying for luxury (Midual Type 1, Brough Superior SS100, Ariel ACE R, Norton V4-SS, Avinton Pearl, Motus, NCR, etc...).
A newcomer has entered the fray, with a wealth of assets and creativity in its metal. The brand-new Vanguard is preparing a rather eccentric and totally stunning machine for 2018. The Roadster, with its simplistic yet judicious name, is a son of New York and an ode to the motorcycle passion.

Why New York? Because the company is based in Brooklyn. In the heart of the Big Apple, the idea grew of an extravagant, high-quality machine, as violent as a Confederate, but four times less expensive. The Vanguard 1900 Roadster was the first result. A sculpture, an exercise rather than a motorcycle. A pure machine where each part seems to be part of another. A factory of emotions, where even the engine looks modern. But as with any block called upon to illustrate a mechanical demonstration, it must meet certain codes: it must be twin, tumbled and cooled with fins and, above all, no water.
A job for the S&S, an emblematic figure in motorcycle motorization in the USA. At 1917 cm3, this twin is one of the biggest on the market. Power and torque are interesting, but far from the norm. What interests him is the character, the construction and the palpitations it conveys.

But it's not the only thing that will attract attention. The quality of assembly will be a treat for all enthusiasts. Every corner, every detail makes the Vanguard an exceptional machine. A frame? No need, the engine will hold everything. Certain mechanical parts are exposed through judiciously placed windows. For example, you can see the timing gear at the bottom of the engine, the cardan shaft in the transmission, and even the shock absorber, which is enclosed (and very well protected) in a metal cage.
As another example, the exhaust has been fully integrated into the lower section under the engine. And what a sensation it is to see the rear section, which is also strikingly stylish, bearing the delicate passenger footrests that disappear into it. Pay attention to the brake and clutch jars molded into the controls, to the enormous monobar concluded by a full rim, to that long, lanky profile escaped from a science-fiction film. And on the Roadster, there's no such thing as a face. Only a few LEDs shine when needed.

Style wherever possible. There's no need for a speedometer or any other cockpit; a tablet placed on the false tank takes care of the info, and the rear view, since the mirrors have disappeared. Cameras will do the job. The front end has not been caught up in this frenzy of work. Its goal is efficiency. As a result, a large 48 mm diameter Öhlins inverted fork works well with a set of Brembo calipers. The tees that trap the tubes are far from conventional. Metzeler takes care of the tires, with a choice of 200 or 240 at the rear.

200 units are already available for pre-order. At a price well above that of any motorcycle that anyone rides often or sometimes. And yet, the $30,000 price tag is no exaggeration for such technical and architectural madness. Some products of this kind cost far more. Two other models should follow the Roadster, based on the same platform: a Cruiser and a Racer. Aesthetes, and not only aesthetes, will appreciate this.
But.... The brand's managers ran into difficulties that brought development to a halt. As a result, the Vanguard Roadster joins the list of projects that will never find their destiny.

M.B - Photos contructeur