The story of Mac Motorcycles began in 2009 under the leadership of Ellis Pitt. In collaboration with the British studio Xenophya Design (Mark Wells and Ian Wride), the project aims to create lightweight, minimalist motorcycles, stripped of all unnecessary technology. The aesthetic inspiration draws from the world of bobbers, flat-trackers, and café racers. Originally, the motorcycles were designed around the Buell Blast’s 492 cm³ air-cooled single-cylinder engine. Four concepts were then unveiled: the Spud, the Peashooter, the Roarer, and the Ruby.
The Setback
Shortly after the concepts were unveiled, the project suffered a major setback. In late 2009, Harley-Davidson decided to shut down its Buell subsidiary. The supply of Blast engines dried up, forcing Mac Motorcycles to suspend development. The company had to search for a new engine, which meant completely rethinking the engineering and chassis designs.
Renaissance and New Engine (2017–2021)
The project truly got back on track at the end of 2017 with the arrival of Ian Oliver as director, an engineer who had spent ten years designing powertrains at Jaguar. The team selected a new engine: a 600 cm³ liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine manufactured in Italy by SWM, derived from a proven Husqvarna block. This choice forced the company to completely redesign its tubular steel frame and overhaul its supply chain. In November 2021, the brand made a notable return to the EICMA show in Milan, presenting an updated version of the Ruby equipped with this new engine (producing between 52 and 57 chevaux) and an aluminum fuel tank manufactured by Acerbis.
Official Launch (2025–2026)
In October 2025, founder Ellis Pitt stepped down from management, leaving Ian Oliver solely in charge of the company. On May 8, 2026, after more than a decade of development, Mac Motorcycles officially launched its commercial operations. The company is based in a restored barn near the Wentworth Castle Estate in South Yorkshire, where the motorcycles are hand-assembled in small batches. The production lineup focuses on two models priced around £15,500: The Ruby: A café racer with sporty lines. The Rex: A neo-retro roadster offering a more upright riding position thanks to raised handlebars.
M.Bi
