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| AZCactus | | Taranis |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 01/05/2013 | | Posts | : | 4,514 | | Location | : | AZ |
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| | Posted : 31 Mar 2018 - 16:49 Post title : Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. | | | Levis motorcycles are blasting back with this stunning – and very clever – torque-laden V6 cafe racer. The story behind the rebirth of the British bike firm started in 2004 when an English engineer named Tim Bishop designed a two-litre 300bhp V10 which was so compact that it could be placed between the front seats of the Connaught supercar. It was also modular in its design meaning it could be cut down in size and could even be converted to run as a two-stroke, or a diesel. But the car project didn't come to fruition, and the engine lay dormant for a decade. Now, two of the UK's most innovative vehicle designers and engineers have put the engine in a motorcycle, resurrecting Levis in the process. The V6 Caf?? Racer is an all-British motorcycle like no other that's come before.
Potted history
The Levis name (Le-Viss not Lee-Vize, like the jeans) has a long history dating right back to 1911, when the firm made some of the best two-stroke motorcycles in existence. They were so good in fact, they won the Lightweight 250 class at the TT in 1920, and again in 1922. They then turned their hand to four strokes in the 1930s but paused production at the outbreak of WWII and never fully resumed. The last bike rolled off the production line in 1946 and they were all but forgotten. Until now. MCN
| 2009 Thunderbird 1700 Big Bore
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| Leethal | | Zeus | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,403 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 31 Mar 2018 - 22:07 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: AZCactus) | | | Spare no expense on the engine block stands!!
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it 
1600,short tors, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Hagon Nitro shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| fab | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 2,515 | | Location | : | wyong, nsw, Australia |
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| | Posted : 31 Mar 2018 - 22:22 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: Leethal) | | | I hope they supply burn cream when you buy that bike for that exhaust setup
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Remember, soft cocks hang around all life long, hard ones come and go
ahh f**k im deep
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| LTGraham | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 27/05/2014 | | Posts | : | 34 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2018 - 00:50 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: fab) | | | Hi Thor, It's a LEVIS thing with up-swept pipes. Here's a pic of some original ones.
Graham
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| rayglo | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 27/10/2012 | | Posts | : | 1,746 | | Location | : | east brunswick, nj, United States |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2018 - 02:58 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: LTGraham) | | | That's different, are they thumpers? Or twins?
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| LTGraham | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 27/05/2014 | | Posts | : | 34 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2018 - 05:22 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: rayglo) | | | The one at the left is my brothers. They are a 500cc single, with twin exhaust port. There is also a 350cc that looks identical. LEVIS made small capacity 2 strokes, and the larger 4 strokes up until WW2. Truly one of the best looking examples of early motorcycles from the Brits'
Graham
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| AZCactus | | Taranis | | | | Reg. Date | : | 01/05/2013 | | Posts | : | 4,514 | | Location | : | AZ |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2018 - 13:40 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: LTGraham) | | | Beautiful, thnx for sharing.
The new bike will be available next year and Levis is taking orders. Standard model is about 52,000 pounds ($73,000). I'm tempted but may wait for the Thunderbird 1900! 
Note the similarities to the Bird...200 size tire and tank mounted speedo. 
| 2009 Thunderbird 1700 Big Bore
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| rayglo | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 27/10/2012 | | Posts | : | 1,746 | | Location | : | east brunswick, nj, United States |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2018 - 19:15 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: AZCactus) | | | Happy holidays Rich
Would you really pay 73k for a bike? I don't think I could and not have guilt in doing so. But it would be nice to hear your review, along with some pics.
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| Leethal | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,403 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2018 - 22:11 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: LTGraham) | | | Nice bikes Graham
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,short tors, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Hagon Nitro shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| VABird | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 28/09/2014 | | Posts | : | 1,373 | | Location | : | BEDFORD, Virginia, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Apr 2018 - 02:44 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: LTGraham) | | |
LTGraham wrote:
.....They are a 500cc single, with twin exhaust port. ....
Graham |
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And here I was gonna get on Ray's case about 2 header pipes = 2 cylinders!
| The ride may be fun, but in the Great Scheme of things, it really is about the destination! John 3:16
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| AZCactus | | Taranis | | | | Reg. Date | : | 01/05/2013 | | Posts | : | 4,514 | | Location | : | AZ |
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| | Posted : 03 Apr 2018 - 03:12 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: rayglo) | | |
rayglo wrote:
Happy holidays Rich
Would you really pay 73k for a bike? I don't think I could and not have guilt in doing so. But it would be nice to hear your review, along with some pics. |
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just joking Ray. And Happy Holidays to you and yours (around the corner)!
It'll be snowing soon....
| 2009 Thunderbird 1700 Big Bore
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| AZCactus | | Taranis | | | | Reg. Date | : | 01/05/2013 | | Posts | : | 4,514 | | Location | : | AZ |
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| | Posted : 03 Apr 2018 - 03:25 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: VABird) | | | VABird wrote:
...And here I was gonna get on Ray's case about 2 header pipes = 2 cylinders!
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For sure and I have a Sears Allstate (2 pistons/1 cylinder) that still boggles my mind.
home.sprynet.com
| 2009 Thunderbird 1700 Big Bore
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| rayglo | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 27/10/2012 | | Posts | : | 1,746 | | Location | : | east brunswick, nj, United States |
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| | Posted : 03 Apr 2018 - 13:58 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: VABird) | | | No prob VA
With a bit of luck you can get on my case in person. Bennington
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| rayglo | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 27/10/2012 | | Posts | : | 1,746 | | Location | : | east brunswick, nj, United States |
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| | Posted : 03 Apr 2018 - 14:01 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: AZCactus) | | | AZ
So now I am confused. Was that motor a 2 cylinder or one? And yes I do not like the snow or
The cold. Soon I will be out of town.
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| AZCactus | | Taranis | | | | Reg. Date | : | 01/05/2013 | | Posts | : | 4,514 | | Location | : | AZ |
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| | Posted : 03 Apr 2018 - 15:37 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: rayglo) | | |
rayglo wrote:
AZ
So now I am confused. Was that motor a 2 cylinder or one? |
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Perhaps explained as two cylinders in one cylinder jug (barrel), if that makes sense. ...very hi tech!
| 2009 Thunderbird 1700 Big Bore
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| rayglo | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 27/10/2012 | | Posts | : | 1,746 | | Location | : | east brunswick, nj, United States |
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| | Posted : 03 Apr 2018 - 19:07 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: AZCactus) | | | Hey AZ
I started to ride late in life,6 years ago. I do not have a lot of bike knowledge. I have never seen that configuration. Can I assume that it was not to successfull as I don't think that the design is no longer. Too much heat? It is interesting, maybe you can shine the light.
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| AZCactus | | Taranis | | | | Reg. Date | : | 01/05/2013 | | Posts | : | 4,514 | | Location | : | AZ |
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| | Posted : 04 Apr 2018 - 04:02 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: rayglo) | | | rayglo wrote:
Hey AZ
I started to ride late in life,6 years ago.... |
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Yeah, I was a late bloomer too Anyway, you're probably right about an impractical motor design but what do I care...a babe magnet.
| 2009 Thunderbird 1700 Big Bore
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| Judojack | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/12/2023 | | Posts | : | 1 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 Dec 2023 - 20:33 Post title : Re: Levis motorcycle firm ...never heard of it. (Re: rayglo) | | | Wow your bikes are fantastic
I have just bought a Levis 350. 1935.
Does any body have know where I can get any books or manuals on my bike
Thanks in advance for any help
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