Looking for all the world like a starship from Star Trek, the Vanguard Roadster prototype will make its public debut at the New York City motorcycle show this week. Under the stewardship of FXE Industries, the Vanguard brand is the brainchild of entrepreneur Francois-Xavier Terny and design engineer Edward Jacobs, formerly of Confederate Motorcycles.
Few technical details have been released on the Vanguard Roadster, but from press pictures, the 1,917 cc V-twin engine that produces 149.1 Nm torque features prominently, and is used as a structural member. No chain- or belt-drive here, but what looks like shaft-drive goes through a massive billet-machined single-sided swingarm to the disc rear wheel.
At the front, a huge machined triple-clamp holds the upside-forks in place, adorned with six-element LED headlights. Brembo does the braking, but curious by its absence is any sort of hydraulic lines leading to the brake calipers from the levers.
For that matter, there is no sign of any sort of hoses, wires or connectors of any sort, save some hoses seen disappearing into the steering head from below. This gives the Vanguard Roadster a sleek, futuristic look, an aesthetic reinforced by the blended-in rear lights.
The rear subframe looks to be a single cast and machined item, that also supports the fuel tank. The rear shock absorber resides inside a casing with a clear view-port, and adjustment is via a clear access cover on the left side.
A nice design touch is the passenger footrests, which fold up and out of the way into the rear subframe, blending into the lines of the Vanguard Roadster. No rear view mirrors either, because an LCD screen displays a rear view camera, while doubling up as an instrument panel.
Pre-orders are currently being taken for the Vanguard Roadster, which will be limited to an initial first-edition production run of 200 units, with production beginning in 2018. With two other variants being planned – a cruiser and a racer – the Vanguard Roadster can be yours at a starting price of US$29,995 (RM133,251).
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Proton should diversify into making bikes. At least that will sell well as it can appeal to the masses who only can afford a Motor.
I am sure if Proton makes a bike like this Star Trek bike, sure all the mat moto will buy. Patrotism mah
It looks like a futuristic Roadster from Legoland
looks nice….but this thing looks damn heavy!
Fit for a Terminator. Heck it may well be the Terminator itself in disguise.
Then its transformers not terminator…