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

More About this Episode

Why We’re Building the New American Motorcycle Company—Together

At Janus Motorcycles, we’ve always believed in doing things a bit differently. From hand-building motorcycles in the heart of Goshen, Indiana, to designing bikes that prioritize the experience of riding over raw specs, we’ve never tried to fit the mold of a traditional motorcycle company. And now, with the launch of our WeFunder campaign, we’re inviting our community, riders, dreamers, and believers, to join us in an ambitious new chapter: building the next great American motorcycle company, together.

This isn’t just about raising funds. It’s about building something that matters, and making space for more people to be part of that story.

The Why Behind the WeFunder Campaign

Let’s start with the basics: yes, we are raising money. We’ve filed our Form C with the SEC and officially launched our WeFunder campaign. This marks the first time we’re opening investment in Janus Motorcycles to anyone, not just venture capitalists or big investors, but everyday riders and supporters who believe in what we’re doing.

And what are we doing? We’re scaling production. We’re shortening lead times. We’re refining our bikes with better components, better systems, and smarter logistics. We’re preparing for a future where more riders can access motorcycles that aren’t about horsepower wars or cutting-edge tech, but about something deeper: connection, craftsmanship, and joy.

For years, people have asked us, “How can I be a part of this?” Until now, the only real answer was “Buy a bike.” That’s still a great answer, but now, you can also own a piece of Janus. You can literally invest in our future.

What Makes This Different?

We’ve done crowdfunding before. Back in 2015, we ran a Kickstarter campaign to launch our 250 line, and that community support was essential to getting us off the ground. This is something bigger.

WeFunder is equity crowdfunding. This means when you invest, even just $250, you’re not just supporting Janus; you’re owning a piece of it. You’re joining a community of investors who are betting on our shared vision of what American motorcycling can look like. And you’re helping us build a more sustainable, independent, and creative future.

We’re not building motorcycles for hedge funds or billionaires. We’re building for real people, like the 60-year riders who tune in every Monday to our Ramblestream. Like the folks who’ve put 50,000 miles on a Halcyon. Like the new riders just starting out on their Janus journey. This is about preserving and expanding something meaningful. That’s why our community is the only place we started spreading the word, and you all responded. Before we even announced the campaign publicly, we raised over $350,000, just from Janus fans and riders.

That alone speaks volumes.

What the Investment Is Funding

Here’s where the rubber meets the road.

We’re a small team, hovering around 30 people. We design, build, assemble, market, and service our bikes right here in Goshen. That’s everything, from hand-pinstriping tanks to casting parts, from tuning engines to sharing stories on Monday nights. But we’re ready to grow, and we need the resources to do it.

These funds will help us:

  • Scale up production from a fluctuating 4–6 bikes a week to our goal of 12 bikes a week
  • Shorten lead times dramatically (we want to hit a 30-day lead time)
  • Bring more components in-house or source from better partners, improving both quality and reliability
  • Expand our facilities to give our team the space and tools they need to thrive
  • Continue developing new models, including the highly anticipated Phoenix 450, and what comes after

We’ve brought on Scott Ferguson, our new Director of Supply Chain, with a background in companies like Buell, LiveWire, Harley-Davidson, and Briggs & Stratton. He’s already making waves internally, helping us identify cost savings and efficiency gains. But many of those improvements require capital: larger order minimums, tooling investments, and the runway to pursue better supplier partnerships.

In short: we have the roadmap. We have the experience. We need the fuel.

What You Get as an Investor

This isn’t charity. It’s an investment. And that means we want to make it worth your while.

We’re offering perks for different levels of investment, everything from an engraved gas cap to lifetime discounts and rally access. But more importantly, we’re offering you the chance to own a stake in an American manufacturer that’s actually making things. In a company with a heart, a purpose, and a growing national presence.

Every dollar you invest helps us do this better and bigger, without compromising what makes Janus special.

Why This Matters Now

The motorcycle industry is at a crossroads. Big brands are focused on high-tech, high-displacement machines that continue to separate riders from the visceral experience of the road. Meanwhile, the real growth is happening in smaller displacement bikes, simple machines that prioritize accessibility and engagement.

Janus sits at the heart of that shift.

We’re not trying to be the next Harley-Davidson, but we are building a legacy. One that honors American manufacturing, celebrates intentional design, and encourages people to ramble with purpose.

We want to be the company that people look at 100 years from now and say, “They built something that lasted.” Not just motorcycles, but a community, a vision, a way of life.

The Role of the Janus Community

None of this happens without you.

Whether you ride a Halcyon, a Phoenix, or just tune in to hear us ramble about bikes and bourbon, you’re part of this. Our community is full of riders with 50+ years on two wheels, new riders dipping their toes into motorcycling, and everyone in between.

We’ve built our motorcycles to be ridden, repaired, loved, and passed down. They patinate. They wear in, not out. They become part of your story. And we think your involvement in Janus, whether as an investor or a rider, should feel the same way.

This isn’t just a campaign. It’s an invitation.

A Final Thought

A thing, as we talk about often on the Ramblestream, is something worth repairing. Worth gifting. Worth using over and over until its wear becomes beauty.

That’s what we’re building at Janus.

And we believe this company can be a thing in the same way. Something that improves with time, with care, and with the hands of those who believe in it.

If that resonates with you, I hope you’ll consider joining us.

The future of the American motorcycle is personal, approachable, and full of stories. Let’s build it together.

Ready to Invest?

You can explore the campaign, perks, and more at: https://wefunder.com/paragonmotorcyclesinc/ 

Have questions? Tune in to our next live Q&A webinar or drop us a line. And if you want to be part of our pre-ramble stream community, join the membership for early access, bonus content, and more behind-the-scenes conversations.

Let’s ride. Let’s ramble. Let’s build something that lasts.