Janus Motorcycles goes price-conscious with new Origin models

Jul 30, 2026

If you’re in the market for a Janus, odds are you’re not cross-shopping anything else. That doesn’t mean you want to pay more than you have to, though.

For those who champion the basics, and for the Janus customer who holds simplicity over complexity, the new Origin Line is the ideal gateway to the brand.

The Janus Halcyon 450 Origin staged in an alleyway. — The Origin family includes the Halcyon 250 Origin, Halcyon 450 Origin, Gryffin 250 Origin, and Gryffin 450 Origin. All four models come in under $12,000. Janus Motorcycles photo.

Less is best

Each Janus that rolls out of the firm’s Indiana shop is hand-assembled from components sourced both globally and domestically. That includes engines from China as well as parts made by local Amish craftsmen. The result is a modern motorcycle with the looks of an early-20th-century board-track racer. The new Origin Line doesn’t mess with that recipe for success. It simply limits the necessary ingredients.

A close up of the 445 cc single housed within the Halcyon 450. — Janus recently announced that it will be moving away from the Chinese-made 445 cc SWM single found in the Halcyon 450 and Gryffin 450. Engines produced by Taiwan’s Hartford Industrial will power those models in the future. Janus Motorcycles photo.

The standard Halcyon (street) and Gryffin (scrambler) offerings are highly customizable models, with paint, fender, seating, lighting, and finishing setups all determined by the buyer. The option menu is extensive, too, with 15 shades of paint (including one custom option), 10 pinstripe colors (including one custom option), two different logos, and three leather treatments available. In all, there are over 30 choices for customer to make.

The Origin range limits those options to just five: primary color, tank & logo pinstripe, leather finish, warranty add-on, and the California Kit (for emissions purposes). The selections within each category are restricted, as well. For instance, instead of more than 15 paint hues, only Aga Cream, Indy Racing Green, Vintage Red, Olive Drab, and Black are available on the Origin-trim bikes. Janus also reduces the factory warranty to one year, but customers can extend that coverage for an additional $300.

A screenshot of a promotional flyer for Janus Motorcycles' Origin Line. — To keep the MSRP manageable while still “allowing owners to build their machines over time,” Janus is offering 50% off factory bolt-ons and upgrades purchased with an Origin model. Janus Motorcycles photo.

“Every finish, every option, every detail requires time and attention,” explained Janus Motorcycles founder and CEO Richard Worsham. “By simplifying those choices at the beginning of the build, we’re able to lower the entry price without changing what makes a Janus a Janus.”

How much of those cost savings pass on to the customer, you ask? Well, both the Halcyon 250 and Gryffin 250 start at $7,495, while their Origin counterparts go for $6,295 and $6,495, respectively. Those shopping for a 450 stand to save even more, as the $10,995 Halcyon 450 Origin and the $11,995 Gryffin 450 Origin shave $1,500 off the base model MSRPs.

Janus may serve a niche market, but the new Origin Line only opens up more entry points to the brand.