Ramblestream Podcast

Janus Motorcycles
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Welcome to Ramblestream, the podcast where we share the stories behind our simple, beautiful machines and the people who craft them. Rooted in Northern Indiana’s manufacturing spirit, we explore how we blend timeless, globally sourced components with a personal, built-to-order approach that connects us directly to every rider. Join us for conversations with makers and owners alike as we dive into craftsmanship, community, and the joy of riding something truly your own.

Episodes

  1. 4D AGO

    Hardware & Heritage: Inside the Shop and the Mind of a Rider

    A simple question opens a lot of doors: why do we ride. We chase that answer from multiple angles this week, equal parts poetry, builds, and road-ready practicality, then bring it to life with the energy of a Midwest custom show and the clink of a limited-run rye. We start with the decision many riders weigh: Janus Halcyon 250 or 450. The 250 is light, immediate, and perfect for savoring 45 mph roads and neighborhood rambles. The 450 brings the Halcyon ethos to higher speeds and longer days with modern suspension and more headroom. You’ll hear how each bike shapes the ride experience, what accessories elevate function and feel, and why sometimes the most “old-school” choice is actually the most liberating. Craft takes center stage with featured builds: black and gold pinstripes, copper feathers, ducktails, brushed exhausts, highway bars, and clean, minimalist 250 setups that let the lines breathe. We zoom in on details, hand-formed fenders, saddle leather, engraving that looks cast, because those choices add up to identity. Along the way, we share good news for anyone on the fence: spring build slots are open, lead times are sharply reduced, and a simple $250 deposit secures your place. We also pull back the curtain on our WeFunder raise, past $400K and aimed at $1M, to scale production and shorten waits without losing the small-batch soul. Then it’s celebration time. The inaugural Rye'd or Die custom show with Journeyman Distillery brought out over twenty bikes, from a pristine Sportster to a 1929 Harley whose highway bars echoed modern Janus hardware. The limited “Rye’d or Die” bottle sold out, the room buzzed, and the cameras caught proof that motorcycles and Midwest craft make an honest pair. The best part, though, came from you: rider stories about clarity, solitude, euphoria without a destination, and commutes that turn into rituals. We talk about how repetition creates change, how the same road never rides the same twice, and how motorcycles return agency in a world full of beeps and prompts. Ride with us, share this one with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a rating if it moved you. Want more of this energy live? Subscribe and join the Monday stream, bring your questions, your stories, and what you’re sipping. From livestream #117 - 02/16/26

    1h 3m

  2. FEB 16

    Why We Ride: Habit, Skill, Identity

    What if the routine you resist is the very thing that frees your riding? We crack open a lively, surprising hour that starts with bourbon banter and Pablo Neruda's Ode to My Socks, then lands squarely on the craft of becoming a better rider through repetition, rhythm, and thoughtful constraint. The core idea is simple and powerful: routines aren’t hacks; they’re invitations. When you reduce decision clutter, you gain attention for the line, the wind, the way the bike speaks through the bars. We put that lens to work across the board. In the shop, a vintage porcelain honing kit shows how small, steady passes align an edge before the strop brings it to life, an elegant metaphor for training skill on two wheels. Out on the road, we make the case for smart route planning that leaves room for surprise: too little structure and you miss the gems, too much and a storm ruins the day. The point isn’t rigid optimization; it’s a rhythm that transforms you. We connect this to physical training, to that satisfying moment you finally hit a familiar corner just right, and to the deeper truth that the process becomes the art. We also talk tech and trends, spotlighting Kawasaki’s hybrid Ninja. Electric boost plus a thrifty ICE package raises practical questions about torque delivery, top-end power, range, and real-world use, why hybrid might make more motorcycling sense than going full electric for many riders. Community takes center stage with featured Janus builds, super chrome chassis, copper pinstripes, oxblood leather, and company news: reduced deposits on the 250 and 450, shorter lead times as production cadence improves, and a WeFunder push to bring new enthusiasts into the fold. We cap it off with a Rye'd or Die show ticket giveaway and plans for a live stream from the venue. If you love motorcycles, craft, and the quiet satisfaction of getting better at something that matters, you’ll feel at home here. Hit follow, share this with a rider who geeks out on process, and leave a review telling us one routine that changed your riding.  From livestream #116 - 02/09/26

    1h 13m

  3. FEB 9

    Riding the Rut Without Losing Yourself

    Snow, skis, and a barn full of slot cars set the stage for a conversation about how riders actually get better. We kick off with community vibes and featured Janus builds, then get hands-on with a forged aluminum upgrade: new Halcyon 450 pegs that fold with a satisfying detent, grip when it counts, and service easily. From there, we head north to Winter Moto Camp, where deep powder, iced roads, and a Griffin 450 in the back of a Rivian push comfort zones, and prove that smart setup and shared experience can turn chaos into confidence. The heart of the show is a clear look at habits versus routines. We frame habits as the internal grooves formed by repetition and routines as the intentional sequences that bring order to complex tasks. On a motorcycle, that distinction is everything. Pre-ride checks, a reliable launch, how you scan and cover controls at intersections, these routines make the road simpler so you can spot risks sooner and ride with more control. As you rehearse them, they harden into habits and, over time, shape identity: “I’m the kind of rider who leaves room, reads traffic, and flows through corners.” We ground the idea in real riding: how a better green-light sequence lowers risk, why changing a routine is hard but necessary, and how hardware choices, like those grippy 450 pegs, reinforce consistent body position. Community ties it together. Small gatherings like Rye'd or Die at Journeyman (February 14) and events like Winter Moto Camp give riders the chance to swap routines, test ideas, and raise the collective bar. Excellence isn’t a hack; it’s practice with feedback, and that’s where the fun lives. If this resonates, tap follow and share the episode with a rider who loves both craft and community. Drop your pre-ride routine or favorite upgrade in the comments, subscribe for weekly streams, and leave a quick review to help more curious riders find the show.

    1h 7m

  4. FEB 2

    What Is Habit, Really?

    What if your habits are the truest version of you, what shows up when there’s no time to think? We dive straight into that idea and test it against real motorcycle moments: the instant a car cuts across your lane, the ritual of gearing up, the subtle ways practice turns intention into instinct. Along the way, Richard reads A.E. Stallings’ Pencil, a poem that flips certainty into revision, and we nerd out on fountain-pen ink as a metaphor for tools that shape behavior. It sounds small, but it opens a bigger door: you don’t become a careful rider by wishing. You become one by doing the careful things until they feel automatic. We also bring the garage to the mic with featured builds, a Phoenix 250 with low bars and a Paragon logo throwback, a 10th Anniversary Halcyon 250 in super chrome with elegant hand-painted striping, and talk about why craft choices matter. Just like good cornering lines and smooth braking, design details are habits of attention. They tell a story about what we value and how we want to ride. We contrast habits with routines without getting lost in semantics, grounding the conversation in real cues, defaults, and the identity-based choices that quietly transform both rider and ride. And yes, we address the elephant in the room: bad habits. Wanting to wake early or maintain your bike on schedule won’t change anything by itself. But changing the environment, choosing a simpler first step, and repeating it until the body learns can. That’s true for throttle discipline, pre-ride checks, and even the order you gear up. When it matters, you won’t rise to your goals, you’ll fall to your habits.  Stick around for community shout-outs, live Q&A, and announcements: a Ramblestream special at the Rye'd or Die show on February 14, winter motocamp plans, and production goals as we scale.  If this resonated, tap follow, share with a rider who gets it, and leave a review so more folks can find the show. What habit defines you on the bike right now?

    56 min

  5. JAN 26

    The Soul-Taming Power of Motorcycle Names

    Names aren’t just labels; they’re commitments. We opened with The Little Prince and the fox’s lesson on “taming," the slow craft of building ties, and used it as a lens to ask why we name bikes, boats, and the objects that shape our lives. From there, we dove into how ritual, patience, and attention turn a mass‑produced machine into a companion with character. To ground the philosophy, we toured three fresh builds from the shop. A Phoenix 250 in deep green with gold primary and copper secondary striping showed how color can carry personality. A fully dressed vintage‑red Halcyon 450 wore skirted fenders, polished stainless, a headlight visor, and brown leather that felt timeless. A frame‑matched Halcyon 250 with double gold pinstripes balanced elegance and restraint. Each choice, pinstripe width, leather tone, lighting, demonstrated how customization becomes a rider’s signature. You don’t just ride these bikes; you recognize them at a glance, like a friend’s stride in a crowd. The live chat pushed us further: is naming about power, control, or respect? Are we honoring what’s essential or imposing order so we can understand and care for it? We compared boats and christenings, first cars and quirks, and the way a well‑worn seat seems to “remember” its rider. The consensus landed near responsibility: once you name it, you owe it, regular maintenance, honest use, and stories worth telling. We also shared updates and plans. Our WeFunder campaign continues to grow, and even a simple follow helps us reach new riders and builders. We’re heading to winter Motocamp with a Rivian partnership to explore the conversation between carbureted two wheels and electric four, and we’re co‑producing the Rye'd or Die custom motorcycle show at Journeyman Distillery in Valparaiso. Expect craft, community, and machines with soul. If this resonates, ride along with us: follow the show, share it with a friend who names their machines, and leave a quick review to help more riders find the ramble. Got a great bike name and the story behind it? Drop it in the comments, we want to hear it.

    1h 9m

  6. JAN 19

    Naming Machines and Finding Meaning

    An hourglass, a motorcycle, and a name, what do they have in common? More than you think. We open with the simple act of naming a machine and end up deep in the reasons we ride at all: connection, presence, and the useful edge of fear. Along the way, we read a luminous Borges poem about time, riff on memento mori, and talk about how a bike becomes a partner when you give it a place in your life. We get our hands dirty, too. Together we configure a Griffin 450, debating Maze yellow vs silver, brush guards, bash plates, LED lighting, and a cargo rack to turn a handsome machine into a real traveler. That build segment doubles as a blueprint for smart customization: pick protection, visibility, and storage that match the roads you actually ride. We also share shop momentum as build pace ramps toward 12 bikes a week and Build of the Week returns. On the business side, we break down our WeFunder progress, why it’s common stock, and how we’re inviting riders beyond our core to join the journey. The heart of the conversation is fear. Not the bravado of “no fear,” but the honest respect that keeps you alert and unlocks flow. We explore how healthy fear sharpens perception, balances boredom and panic, and turns rides into transformation. Practical takeaways land fast: gear up, light up, avoid complacency, and don’t try to smother fear, use it.  Add a detour through heirloom drafting tools and ruling pens that shaped design before CAD, and you’ve got a full-spectrum look at craft, community, and consequence on two wheels. If this hits home, tap follow, share with a rider who names their bike, and leave a quick review so more folks can find the ramble. Got a pre-ride ritual, or a machine with a story to tell? Message us and join the conversation.

    1h 7m

  7. JAN 12

    Crocs, Configurators, and Controversy

    A sidecar legend just took a hard turn, and we’re here for the full unpack. We trace Ural’s storied path, from postwar BMW roots to the snow‑crushing charm of the Gear Up, and confront the moment everything changed: sanctions, a factory move, and the debut of the Neo 500 built with Yingang. It’s lighter on nostalgia, heavier on modern cues, and aiming under $15K. But does a seven‑inch screen and ADV silhouette add value to a niche that runs on character, or does it blur the very story that kept sidecars alive? We break down the specs and the stakes: roughly 736 pounds, about 35 horsepower at the wheel, a leading‑link front end, and a promise of broader availability and lower cost. Then we ask the harder question: what do riders actually want from a heritage brand? We explore the tradeoffs between authenticity and accessibility, why certain designs age gracefully while others feel disposable, and how community, parts ecosystems, and hands‑on serviceability create lasting value that outlives any model year. Along the way, we share how we’re tackling the same realities on our side of the shop: tightening supply chains, implementing real MRP, promoting seasoned leaders, and pushing toward 30‑day lead times without losing the analog joy and visible mechanics that define our bikes. We even dive into a fresh Griffin 250 build on the configurator and a quick detour through a vintage tin sidecar toy that still makes us smile. If you care about why motorcycles matter, beyond numbers and screens, you’ll find plenty to chew on here. If this resonated, hit follow, share it with a rider who loves a good sidecar story, and drop a review with your take on the Neo 500. Should heritage bend, or hold the line? We’re reading your thoughts. From Livestream #109 - 12/15/25

    1h 4m

  8. JAN 12

    Janus Rising: Past, Future, and Fresh Starts

    Doors change everything. We open this week with the image of Janus, the Roman god of thresholds, and use it to frame a candid look at where we’ve been and where we’re headed. From community roll call and a sip of E.H. Taylor to a live design session on a cream Halcyon 250, we balance reverence for the past with a practical plan for the future. We dig into the heart of January: a liminal space made for stock-taking and honest planning. That mindset carries straight into our craft at Janus Motorcycles, hardware you repair, design that respects history, and operations tuned for reliability. We share a clear WeFunder update, explain the investor perks (including VIP rally access), and talk through why a rigorous financial review and a new MRP system matter for shorter lead times and smoother ownership. If “rebirth” described last year, “execution” defines the road ahead: build more bikes, with stronger processes, and keep promises to riders. The calendar gets interesting too. We spotlight Winter Moto Camp with Moto Michigan, a cold-weather gathering that’s as real as it gets, and unveil Ride or Die, a new custom motorcycle show launched with Journeyman Distillery in Valparaiso. Think hand-built machines, craft spirits, and a Valentine’s Day theme that makes it a perfect date night, even for the moto-curious. We’re inviting custom builders and Janus owners to submit their bikes and help shape year one of a show we plan to grow. Along the way, we read Thomas Hardy’s The Darkling Thrush, trade New Year themes and resolutions, and set a shared intention for March, riding season, as the moment the plan meets pavement. If you’re into classic motorcycle design, community events, smart operations, and a clear path to better bikes, you’ll feel right at home. Enjoy the ramble? Tap follow, share with a riding friend, and leave a quick rating. Got a custom build or a question about WeFunder perks? Drop us a note and join us live next Monday at 7 p.m. on YouTube.

    1h 8m

  9. JAN 12

    Style Over Sense? Riding the Benda Line

    A Connecticut bourbon in one hand, a 250 cc V‑twin in the other: we kick off with community shoutouts and a lively debate about what makes a “thing” worth keeping, then dive deep into the most polarizing brand on our radar, Benda. From Napoleon Bob’s long, low stance and theatrical multi‑link front end to a cleverly disguised rear suspension that keeps hardtail lines intact, we examine where design ends, and engineering begins. It’s eye-catching. It’s controversial. And it raises the question every rider should ask: what problem does this design actually solve? We break down the specs that matter and the ones that might be more set dressing than substance. The 249 cc V‑twin’s claimed 25 hp sits nicely for a lightweight bobber, and the sound clips win smiles. But that front suspension, with telescopic forks plus extra linkages and an angled shock, prompts a hard look at travel, damping, and serviceability. Then we zoom out to Benda’s wild siblings: a 250 hybrid boxer claiming 62 hp and an inline‑four naked with stacked exhausts and AR‑pretty visuals. It’s bold, ambitious, and guaranteed to spark arguments about heat management, battery placement, and the fine line between concept art and rideable reality. Between the tech talk, we share winter riding advice that might save your bike: dry roads, the right heated gear, and a post-ride hot-water wash beat storage rot every time. We connect the dots to CF Moto’s formula: quality plus support equals market traction, and weigh Harley’s missed chance at a true lightweight gateway bike. The throughline is simple: motorcycles are most beautiful when beauty follows purpose. Funky front ends can be brilliant if they make riding better; if they’re just a costume, riders feel it. If you love design debates, practical riding tips, and a little poetry with your pistons, you’ll feel right at home. Subscribe, share with a friend who rides, and leave a quick review, then tell us: is Benda brave innovation or overstyled theater? We want your take. From livestream #110 - 12/22/25

    59 min

  10. JAN 12

    Building Dreams, One Bike at a Time

    What does it actually take to build a motorcycle brand that belongs in a barn find a century from now? We pull back the curtain on our WeFunder campaign, why we chose community investment, and how this funding fuels the unglamorous, essential work of scaling a craft manufacturer, bigger buys with trusted suppliers, smarter tooling, upgraded facilities, and a serious push to reduce lead times without compromising the ride. We get specific about the plan: unlocking supply chain savings to improve quality and consistency, targeting 12 bikes per week as a sustainable run rate, and moving toward 30-day lead times. We talk through a live Halcyon 450 build on the configurator, cardinal red to cream, single to double pinstripes, fishtails, visors, and leather, because personalization should serve the ride, not distract from it. And we share our philosophy of evolution over revolution: fewer model-year gimmicks, more focused refinements that make every start-up, shift, and stop feel better. You’ll also hear a favorite segment, “the thing,” featuring a letterpress poster printed with wood type and a motorcycle sprocket. It’s a perfect metaphor for what we’re building: honest materials, visible craft, and objects that grow more beautiful as they’re used. We answer community questions on investor perks, timeline, and future models, including the Phoenix 450 and beyond. If you’ve wondered how a small American motorcycle company scales without selling out the soul of the machine, this conversation spells it out. If this vision resonates, small displacement, high character, made to last, we’d love your support. Explore the campaign on WeFunder, configure your dream bike, and share the episode with a rider who values the journey as much as the destination. Subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help more folks find the ramble. From Livestream #108 - Streamed on 12/08/25

    1h 9m

  11. JAN 12

    Rambling vs. Lurking: Join the Ride

    Ever feel the tug between watching quietly and jumping into the conversation? We lean into that tension from a snow-heavy night at Janus HQ, blending the joy of motorcycles with the craft of community. We start with a rider roll call, then build a Griffin 250 scrambler live, debating black-on-black stealth versus bold pinstripes, while unpacking how classic scrambler choices like knobby tires, wide bars, and a high pipe reflect the rides you actually want to take. Then we take a thoughtful detour into lurking: why people hold back online, how anonymity can be wise, and where participation turns a screen into a social space. Forums, live chat, and long miles share a common thread: connection with stories from rallies and first-time commenters who finally step out of the shadows. We also share an update on a half-off base price giveaway designed to grow our rider network, plus a feature on a Duluth Pack waxed bison leather notebook cover that patinates like a tank with stories, turning routes and maintenance notes into keepsakes. Along the way, we read Yeats’s The Second Coming and let the lines spark reflection about conviction, chaos, and the quiet courage it takes to show up, on the road and in the chat. Whether you’re tuning in for the Griffin 250 configurator tips, the scrambler-versus-dual-sport comparison, or the community ethos behind small-batch American motorcycles, you’ll find a warm seat at the table. If you’re a longtime lurker, consider this your nudge: say hello, save a build, and ride along with us. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a rider friend, and leave a review. Join us live every Monday at 7 p.m. on YouTube, and tell us, what finally pulls you out of lurk mode? From Livestream #107 - Streamed on 12/01/25

    1h 4m
  • 11 Episodes

About

Welcome to Ramblestream, the podcast where we share the stories behind our simple, beautiful machines and the people who craft them. Rooted in Northern Indiana’s manufacturing spirit, we explore how we blend timeless, globally sourced components with a personal, built-to-order approach that connects us directly to every rider. Join us for conversations with makers and owners alike as we dive into craftsmanship, community, and the joy of riding something truly your own.

Information

  • Creator
    Janus Motorcycles
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ramblestream Podcast
  • Show Website
    Ramblestream Podcast