First Look at the £44k Langen Lightspeed

£44k Langen LightSpeed 185bhp V-twin launched at NEC bike show

British bike maker Langen, best known for its neat little two-stroke roadster with an almost steampunk design, has launched a new big-bore four-stroke hot-rod styled machine. Dubbed the LightSpeed, the new bike features the 72° V-twin Rotax engine from the Buell 1190 RS, with a claimed 185bhp, in a bespoke steel tube chassis, and an all-up weight of 185kg.

Langen LightSpeed

The firm thus claims a power-to-weight figure of 1,000bhp per tonne: fairly impressive numbers (though they’ve not specified if this is a wet or dry weight), and the chassis comes with high-end running gear. The neat braced fabricated rear swingarm has dual laid-down STX36 shock absorbers, premium Öhlins parts, matched by top-end FGRT 301 USD 48mm forks with separate leg compression and rebound damping and gold titanium nitride coated inner tubes.

Langen LightSpeed

Meanwhile the brakes are by top British manufacturer HEL, with race-type radial mount calipers and 320mm Brembo discs up front, plus a 265mm EBC disc and two-piston HEL caliper at the back. Wheels are machined forged aluminium, with a beefy 240-section rear and sticky Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tyres.

That Rotax-designed engine is an interesting piece of kit. Langen has sourced the 1,190cc DOHC water-cooled eight-valve motor for the LightSpeed directly from Buell, and tuned it to suit the British bike, with their own exhaust and intake setup, including dual port injectors and 74mm throttle body diameter. Bore and stroke is 106×67.5mm, quite a long stroke design compared with something like the Ducati Panigale 1299, and compression is 13.4:1. Claimed power and torque is 185hp@10,600rpmand 138Nm@8,200rpm, both figures taken at the crank.

Langen LightSpeed

Styling is a big part of a hand-made limited-edition machine like this, and it sure is a looker. The sweeping bodywork is all carbon fibre, wrapped around the steel tube frame, with a single seat unit and slick aluminium tail light surround. Finish is very high-end, especially on parts like the exhaust, instrument panel and swingarm, and the overall look is somewhere between a Harley-Davidson V-Rod and the Ducati Diavel, thanks to the neat headlight cowling.

Langen LightSpeed

Instruments are full CAN digital and analogue, custom made by the Smiths company for Langen. There’s no word on electronic rider aids, apart from a Continental dual-channel cornering ABS setup required by law, though the Buell 1190 models all offer a basic traction control system so we’d expect there to be something on the final bikes.

According to the firm, the British launch edition will be limited to just 185 units homologated for the UK and as with the Two Stroke, will offer customers a range of bespoke options including paintwork, a choice of handlebars, wheels, and other unique finishing touches. Build slots can be reserved from today with delivery expected in early 2025.

Langen LightSpeed

Worldwide type approved models will be available in limited numbers from 2026. Langen has also said that some existing Two Stroke customers have already placed deposits ‘off plan’ for the Lightspeed without even seeing the bike – maybe not a surprise considering the well-heeled enthusiast nature of those buyers.

Christofer Ratcliffe Founder and CEO of Langen said in a press release: “At Langen we believe that ‘cars move the body, yet motorcycles move the soul’ – it demonstrates the intangible and unmatched human experience of riding and owning a Langen. When you throw a leg over the LightSpeed you soon realise that it’s not just another motorcycle but a heart-pounding, soul-stirring symphony of power and style.”