Gryffin 450 Scrambler #001 rolls out of the Indiana workshop…
Janus Motorcycles is one of the most intriguing motorcycle companies of the 21st century. Based in the rural countryside of Goshen, Indiana, they aren’t a custom workshop but a small-batch manufacturer of 250-450cc motorcycles whose classic, even antique style harks back to the early days of motorcycling. The company builds about 300 bikes per year, leveraging the traditional skills of Amish and Mennonite craftspeople and carriage-makers from their local community to produce handcrafted components and accessories. The bikes are available in highly customizable liveries and setups.
We’ve been impressed with the passion of the Janus team ever since we met them and did a test-ride during one of the early Victory Moto Shows in Savannah, Georgia. Last year around this time, we reported that Janus would be launching a new model, the Gryffin 450 scrambler, and we were able to feature the original prototype.
Now the first production model has arrived — Gryffin 450 serial #001 — and we’re thrilled to showcase it today!
“The Gryffin 450 uses the same simple, reliable, and enduro-inspired SWM 445cc, 30hp power plant as their popular Halcyon 450. With a 21″ front wheel and 17″ rear, high exhaust, and adventure-minded details, the Gryffin 450 is designed to be an ultra-lightweight scrambler that is configurable for adventure riding, trails, and general on- and off-road riding. It draws inspiration from classic scramblers of the 50s and 60s.” -Janus
The SWM “Classic 440” engine is actually a redesign of the Honda XR400 enduro engine — a tough, practical, proven air-cooled single-cylinder design whose “thumper” character meshes well with a classic scrambler like this one.
The engine is produced overseas, as developing and producing a proprietary American-made engine wouldn’t be cost-effective for the company or end consumer, but Janus has done extensive research and testing to ensure the SWM is the right engine to serve as the thumping heart of their 450 models.
The Gryffin 450 was inspired by the lightweight, rugged designs of the do-it-all four-stroke scramblers of the 70s, machines like the Yamaha XT500 and Honda CL450. The bike weighs in at around 330 pounds, which compares well to the 342-lb XT500 and 400-lb CL450, as well as Triumph’s new 395-lb Scrambler 400. Suspension travel is 5.5″ front and rear — also right in line with those vintage models.
What we love most about the Gryffin 450, and the Janus models across the board, is how they bring riders back to the visceral experience of two-wheeled travel. In a time when motorcycles have become increasingly digital in nature, loaded with ride-by-wire throttles and electronic rider aids, these Janus machines circle back to the purity of two wheels, an engine, and an open road.
“Our motorcycles are built for the rambler, for those who find joy not just in destinations, but in the winding roads, detours, and the unexpected along the way. We’re very proud to launch the Gryffin 450 in earnest and can’t wait to see how the line grows.” -Richard Worsham, co-founder of Janus Motorcycles.
Gryffin 450 #001 went to new owner Joel Yanda of Kansas City, who’s no stranger to the Janus experience.
“You can’t go anywhere on a Janus bike without getting attention from a lot of people. I just love the old-school look of the Gryffin 450 and can’t wait to hit the trails.”
Though the Gryffin 450 prioritizes the experience of riding over raw numbers, it specs out quite well compared to many of the British and Japanese scramblers of yesteryear — the very machines that inspired it.
“Powered by a lightweight 450cc engine, designed with timeless aesthetics, and featuring a highly-customizable options menu, it’s an invitation to rediscover the forgotten art of riding: engaging fully with the machine, the road, and the world around you.” -Janus
Gryffin 450 Specs
Engine & Transmission
Air/oil-cooled, 4-stroke, single cylinder
Displacement: 445cc
Compression ratio: 10:1
Starting: Electric
Single overhead camshaft, 4 valve
Dry sump with gerotor pump, cartridge filter, and oil cooler
Electronic ignition
Electronic fuel injection
Transmission ratio: 2.667
Clutch: wet, multi-plate
Chassis
Type: Frame: DOM tubular steel double cradle
Suspension
Front: Proprietary leading-link fork with dual progressive coil-over Ikon shocks – 5.5” of travel
Rear: Proprietary swing-arm with dual progressive coil-over Ikon shocks – 5.5” of travel
Brakes
Front: 280mm disc with two-piston Brembo floating caliper
Rear: 220mm disc with single-piston Brembo floating caliper
Running Gear
Wheels: CNC machined aluminum hubs with aluminum alloy rims and stainless steel straight-pull spokes
Tires: Front 2.75 x 21, Back 4.60 x 17
Instrumentation
Digital tachometer, speedometer and odometer, with LCD screen and indicator lights
Performance, Size, and Capacities
Maximum Power: 30 hp @ 7,500 rpm
Maximum Speed: 90mph
Dimensions: 83″ long and 31″ wide. Height without mirrors: 41 inches
Seat Height: 32″
Wheelbase: 53 inches
Fuel Capacity: 2.2 gal
Dry Weight: 330 pounds
Follow the Builder
Web: janusmotorcycles.com
Instagram: @janusmotorcycle
Facebook: Janus Motorcycles
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The similar model Halcyon has an MSRP of $12,995. For that much, you could get a Triumph Speed 400 and the Triumph Scrambler 400…and have money left over for a nice bicycle. For a bike with a Chinese clone engine. No thank you.
Isn’t the SWM engine manufactured in Varese, Italy, although Shineray provided funding for SWM’s resurrection? And those Triumphs are built entirely in India. More on the SWM engine –> https://janusmotorcycles.com/2021/09/02/the-janus-450-engine-part-one/
I stand corrected.
Yes as stated above, the price puts it out of my reach . Amish craftsmanship is much applauded. But the motor is still a chinese clone. . So no go here.
Motorcyclists, by & large are of a romantic nature. An existance that combines the cerebral appreciation of mechanical engineering with an emotional recognition of machines as art… and riding as release from judgement. Janus builds such machines. Any comparison to other bikes built by souless corporate types without design vision and attention to the smallest detail is just shallow marketing and pricing worship. I’ve owned a Thruxton and an Enfield Continental, neither of which had anything close to the soul of my old Laverda… or my new Janus.