Future-proof new Langens: Two Stroke brand work on batteries

Having successfully got their glorious Two Stroke roadster into production and confirmed a new four-stroke model, Langen are developing battery systems for the motorcycles of tomorrow.

With the bespoke naked smokers now leaving their Wigan base at a rate of around four per month, the design team at Langen Technology (the sister company to Langen Motorcycles) have been able to re-focus their attention on alternative power solutions.

“What happened towards the middle of last year was every second of everybody’s time was working on Two Stroke, finalising all the details and getting it into production,” Langen founder Christofer Ratcliffe told MCN. “The [battery] project took a back step, but the design team now have a bit more time freed up.”

In 2021, the team showcased a working prototype featuring modular honeycomb-shaped batteries, known as PowerPODs, stacked together.

Ratcliffe continued: “It’s a long, long-term project and we probably will reveal some more information later this year about what that is and what time frame it is, but it’s probably not what people expect it’s going to be. That’s all I can say.”

“We had developed the prototype with the PowerPOD modular batteries,” the Langen boss went on. “That wasn’t really to develop the motorbike, it was to develop the battery technology ourselves.”

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Langen’s electric future: UK firm famous for 2T café racer are working towards swappable battery tech

Wigan-based Langen Technology is developing a new modular battery system that they believe could revolutionise the off-road and greenlaning industry.

A sister firm to Langen Motorcycles (the team behind the Two-Stroke café racer), they have been working on the design for the past three years and developed a running prototype using their technology around a year ago.

“We’re looking 10 years ahead, so we have to be ready for electrification,” Langen’s Chris Ratcliffe told MCN.

Sitting where a conventional engine would, the honeycomb-shaped batteries can be stacked for more range, or reduced to make the bike lighter. What’s more, the batteries can be charged from home, or used as a power source for a phone or laptop.

“The PowerPOD is a 1.7KwH power pack, but that can be flexible. Each pack has a 20–30-mile range,” Ratcliffe continued.

“Batteries on a motorcycle have a cascading discharge, so if you put three, or four, or five on a motorcycle, each one will discharge individually, sort of like a fuel tank. If you need to top up, you can just pull one out and put another one in its place.

“Each pack weighs 10kg, so you can choose whether to ride with 10, 20, 30, or 40kg extra for extra miles of range,” he explained.

Langen’s working prototype is based on a trail bike chassis, with Chris hoping one application for the technology will be to help sustain the greenlaning industry.

“One place that electric vehicles can make a big difference would be in trail riding and off-road,” says Ratcliffe. “Not just for emissions and environmental protection, but for noise nuisance and keeping green lanes open.

“I do a lot of riding on my CCM GP450, but with this, it’s quieter so I can do a lot more green lanes and trails. If I was only going to do 20 or 30 miles of riding that day, I could shed 20kg of weight from my batteries and have more fun.”

Despite the promising start, a finished bike is still some way off. “We’re looking at two to three[1]years. The alternative is working with another manufacturer.

“That’s either using our battery tech or even developing a whole off-road bike for that manufacturer.”