Levis Are Back: V6 Cafe Racer
Levis began churning out lightweight two-stroke motorcycles in Birminghan, Old Blighty, beginning in 1911, and were good enough to win IoM Junior TTs in 1920 and `22. Later the company expanded into the four-stroke market, too, but production ceased in 1940, no doubt because of that little misunderstanding with the Germans.
Fast forward to 2017, the Levis name was acquired by a group of British motorcycle enthusiasts and designers who decided to jump back into the game. Acoording to Levis’ website, “Phil Bevan had an idea for a new motorcycle based around the compact 2 litre V10 engine developed for the Connaught Type D GT car in 2004. Phil engaged designer Steve Kirk to produce a concept for what this new motorcycle could look like. This would be a revolutionary design using a tubular stainless steel frame with stainless infill panels and a Hossack style independent front end. Phil was so pleased with Steves design he decided to make the bike. Initially the plan was to make one bike only but after showing the design to friends and colleagues the interest and enthusiasm encouraged Phil to rethink and the fledgling motorcycle company was formed.”
That V10 is modular in design, so the engine that’ll power the new Cafe Racer will be a narrow-angle (22 degrees) 1200cc V-Six Levin says will produce around 120 horsepower.
If all is going according to plan, the Cafe Racer should appear at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England next month. Base price is said to be about £102,000 – around $130k today.
More by John Burns
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I'll take 2 please.
6 cylinders is 4 too many ;)