Vanguard Roadster breaks cover

Another American motorcycle manufacturer has joined the international fray, with Vanguard Motorcycles choosing New York's Progressive International Motorcycle Show to debut its imposing Roadster model on Friday, December 9.

The Roadster is said to be a running prototype, with production slated for 2018. It will eventually be complemented by Cruiser and Racer models, says the company, with all three sharing the same powertrain.

Featuring acres of gleaming aluminium and with windows to the bike's inner workings, the Roadster is reminiscent of a certain New Orleans-based motorcycle company, Confederate. That's no surprise, as Vanguard's Chief Technical Officer, Edward Jacobs, was also Confederate's Director of Design for six years.

The Roadster, and indeed the looming Cruiser and Racer, have at their heart S&S's whopping 117-cube (1917cc) V-twin 'X-Wedge' engine.

The bike is suspended at either end with Öhlins gear, the rear monoshock shielded from the elements courtesy of a compartment within the swingarm/shaft drive assembly complete with top viewing window. Up front is a chunky 48mm Öhlins fork.

The X-Wedge engine has a clear cover that lets you see those cam belts in action. The monster unit is said to produce a stonking 149.1Nm of torque. No horsepower figure is available, but with that much grunt on tap it's hardly a pressing issue.

Vanguard says it's aiming for a total weight of 250kg when the production bike hits the market.

The Roadster also features a frameless structural engine, a tablet-sized digital dash with rear-view camera, a unitised crankcase and an integrated exhaust, the latter lying within that sleek tailpiece.

The company is the brainchild of Jacobs and serial entrepreneur, Francois-Xavier Terny. The company is based in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City. The bikes will be assembled there, the fledgling brand also utilising "worldwide sourcing" and "the support of key motorcycle vendors".

Perhaps most surprising of all is the Roadster's price. Vanguard says the model will hit the streets at $US29,995 (approximately $A40,000). That's competitive with some other premium motorcycle models in the US, and a darn sight cheaper than most would expect of a bike featuring this level of custom fabrication and innovation.