Langen Lightspeed - A New £44,000 Motorbike - (For those who can)

UK-based motorcycle manufacturer Langen this week unveiled its latest limited-run creation called the Lightspeed, but with a starting price of £44,400, it's not going to be for everyone.

Who is Langen?

Wigan-based company Langen has been designing and building automotive creations since 2018, but in 2019, following a close relationship with a Maranello-based company, Vin's Motors, the first of the brand's two-wheeled creations began to be revealed.

Langen's goal is to produce ultra-lightweight and high-powered bikes for the most discerning riders. Each bike is built to order, with the ethos of celebrating individuality for the customers willing to (and able to) take the plunge.

Once colours and individual details are selected, customers can look forward to a custom-made bike that delivers the highest levels of road-bike performance.

Lightspeed

Lightspeed is the latest limited run creation designed and hand built to offer the pinnacle in performance, luxury and engineering. Crafted with state of the art aluminium components, carbon fibre trim and a tubular frame which wouldn’t look out of place in a contemporary modern art gallery, the Lightspeed isn’t chasing a market of mainstream performance bike buyers, it’s angling for those that want to be seen to having something special and something that they have personally commisioned.

Power and Performance

Powering the Lightspeed is a 1190cc 72-degree V-Twin Rotax engine developed by Buell and Langen. The output is an impressive 185 hp at 10,600rpm and 138 Nm of peak torque. A 6-speed gearbox with slipper clutch directs the power via a chain drive to the rear forged aluminium wheel and Pirelli rubber. With a dry weight of 185kg, the Lightspeed is also able to boast a pub-bragging-rights power-to-weight ratio of over 1000 bhp per tonne.

Rider Aids

ABS, traction control and wheelie control are all on hand to keep things in check until turned off, and launch control is available at the touch of a button for those wanting to experience all 185hp from a standing start.

Hardware

Elsewhere on the bike, top-of-the-range hardware, including suspension and braking components from Ohlins and Hel, customised and tuned, of course, by Langen offers the reassurance that buyers are getting the very best for their money.

For those who can

Like a luxury watch, yacht or hypercar, the Langen Lightspeed isn't intended for the masses. It's a bike for those who can, and with a limited global production of just 185 units, you can be pretty sure you won't see another one in the Caffeine and Machine car park.

words by John Marcar
photography by Langen