Motorcycle specifications BienvilleMagnolia 4 2026 Lighthouse of the past

The vast majority of motorcycles are created to satisfy a desire, a need, performance, sometimes dreams, and occasionally eccentricity. And then there are those that go beyond all that. Take Bienville Studios. They let the influence of the early 20th century and a certain taste for noble extravagance guide their CAD tools to create a very special machine: the Magnolia 4.

A motorcycle the likes of which no one makes any more... the likes of which no one dares make any more. To keep the fantasy to a minimum, it exists only on the company's computers. Bienville has opened reservations, but it's all virtual. Production will wait for customers. Who will certainly be there to appreciate the charms of this reinterpretation of the long, beautiful American motorcycles that were the ACE, Excelsior, Henderson, Pierce... these having been largely inspired by European motorcycles such as the FN or Nimbus.

A century later, the Magniola 4 takes up the same stylistic codes, with this low-slung, elongated, refined custom, featuring extremely refined parts, disregarding economic, environmental and decorum considerations. The work is unrestrained, with a state-of-the-art engine from another era.

A 4-cylinder in-line engine, the complete opposite of what's available today. Perfectly vertical, in the direction of the road, with the sole mission of being beautiful and simple. To meet these expectations, Bienville decided to create its own engine. CNC-machined from a block of 6000 aluminum, the 4-cylinder is not encumbered by an unsightly radiator. Cooling is provided by fins and oil circulation.

The engine has a very clean, classic design, and its technology is a blend of simplicity and ingenuity. In the cylinder head, a single overhead camshaft drives 2 valves per cylinder, also positioned in the direction of travel. The gases arrive via a manifold on the right-hand side, receive their fuel dose via an injector at the entrance to each cylinder, then are evacuated via another manifold in perfect symmetry on the other side. As on the Kawasaki W 800, timing is by conical shaft. With its "long-stroke" dimensions, oversized structure and low-stress power level, this engine favors low- and mid-range torque and a life expectancy reaching the century mark.

Further on, things get more complicated. The design of the crankshaft is configurable, allowing you to select a character, sound and ignition order freely. The power supplied by the 1750 cm3 is then fed into a 3-speed gearbox with centrifugal clutch and... hand-operated control lever, located on the fuel tank. Between that, the absence of a battery and the kick start, we're in complete old-school style. Surprisingly, the final drive is chain-driven. Such a mechanical layout and the bike's positioning would have been more indicative of a cardan shaft, or possibly a belt.

As for the chassis, J.T. Nesbitt has done it again, with parts on a par with or even more elaborate than Brough Superior. The milled aluminum central structure forms a beam, using the engine as a stiffening element. Attached to this is a front suspension layout similar to that of the BMW K 1600 or Honda Goldwing, but with machined plates connected to connecting rods and a shock absorber duo. A gas factory as complex as it is hypnotic to detail. The swingarm is almost as convoluted, with the same attention to detail and shock absorber kinematics worthy of Bimota. For the sake of comfort and nostalgia, the seat is placed on a large leaf spring and its travel is controlled by a shock absorber. On the Magnolia 4, they are all hydropneumatic and without spring assistance.

This bike takes the vintage concept a step further, dispensing with disc brakes and relying instead on cable-operated drums. The speedometer is willing to tell you the speed and a few kilometers, but don't expect any further techno-digital technology. This machine is all about motorcycling passion and nothing else. Bluetooth, traction control, controlled suspension, GPS, radar, riding modes and other trinkets don't exist, and aren't even imaginable here.

Of the 12 Magnolia 4s planned, four have already been reserved (as of July '24). Purchasers can choose between a cruiser or touring version, in 4 different colors. Pricing is set at $200,000... base price. There's no ABS, and as far as standards and homologation are concerned, this is apparently not included in the specifications. Europe is therefore out of the question. For that matter, will it ever be ridden anywhere other than in CAD or on video? ...... The Magnolia 4 is one of those motorcycles that just doesn't care.

M.B - Photos constructeur