Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Not the Panther I was looking for...

So I was looking up what the old Panther Motorcycles were since I hadn't heard of them before, and not only did I find them, but I found these strange modern bikes as well.
Panther Motorcycles
Very interesting, a shape shifting bike. We'll see if they every make it to market. Like most small start ups, they are (will be) pretty expensive.

Yep, interesting concept alright, Brent, though definitely not the most beautiful motorcycle in the world. Especially interesting is the front end, with its apparent BMW inspired "Telelever" and its tandem rear swingarms.

However, yeah, I think the chances of this small start-up's wares ever hitting the market are two...slim and none, as apparently according to the notice link on the main page of the link you provided states something to the effect that this venture has been placed on the back burner pending a turnaround in the economy.

Btw, I assume you found the information you were at first looking for about the original British-made P&M(Phelon & Moore Company) Panther motorcycles. If not however, here's a short write-up about them...

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/289/1739/Motorcycle-Article/Memorable-Motorcycles-P-M-Panther.aspx

Total hijack here but you two fellows will appreciate this: http://www.janusmotorcycles.com/Janus_Motorcycles/Home.html

The Panther Dwight posted is what comes to my mind when I think of that brand name, always thought they looked cool with a kind of Brough looking cyl.

Yep, another interesting start-up motorcycle company here too, Ed.

The Janus motorcycle here.



Funny, but as soon as I opened your link and I saw the gas tank on this little thing, all I could think of is that it looked like it had a Brough Superior's gas tank sittin' on it.

(...say, maybe a better name for this little thing would've been a "Brough INFERIOR", eh?!)

All I can say is a new bespoke Brough is roughly 50 times the cost of the Janus...and a very long wait...meanwhile this looks like a lot of fun instead of a lot of performance.

Yep, I agree actually, Ed. I was just playin' off the whole "Brough" thing there with my "Inferior" suggestion.

This little Janus actually reminds me of the Schwinn-based Whizzers a bit, which are also fun lookin' little machines.

(...btw...have I ever told ya about a guy I once knew who was named Janus?...MAN, what a little two-faced bastard HE turned out to be!!!...nah, just doin' a little word play action here again, that's all)

Yes, I did find and learn about the "real" Panther, Phelon and Moore bikes. They sure seem pretty nifty. I came across a picture of one and started to look it up and

I suppose if the Phelon and Moore copyright expired that is how they could use the name. Huh?

Those Janus bikes are really nice to look at, but I really don't know what I would do with one. Great for whizzing around town I suppose; cooler than a 50cc scooter.

I wonder how long it takes for that stamped tin frame to start to crack.