Christini

Christini

Christini AWD 450/AWD 450DS

$6895/7695 Engine type: sohc Single Bore x stroke: 96.0 x 62.1mm Displacement: 449cc Transmission speeds: 5 Front wheel travel: 12.0 in. Rear wheel travel: 12.0 in. Fuel capacity: 2.6 gal. Seat height: 37.5 in. Front brake: disc Rear brake: disc Claimed dry weight: 275/280 lb.

Until recently, Christini All Wheel Drive Motorcycles has focused its production on converting select off-road machines into two-wheel-drive bikes, and it will continue to build frame kits for those customers. But the next step in the company’s growth is building a proprietary machine to offer its technology at a more affordable price. The AWD 450 features a sohc, liquid-cooled engine with a wide-ratio five-speed transmission, all built specifically for Christini. And as with all the company’s models, the 450’s AWD system can be switched on or off. Also available: The AWD 450DS, essentially the same bike but street-legal and DOT-approved.

Christini AWD 300

$8995 Engine type: two-stroke Single Bore x stroke: 72.5 x 72.5mm Displacement: 299cc Transmission speeds: 6 Front wheel travel: 12.0 in. Rear wheel travel: 12.0 in. Fuel capacity: 2.6 gal. Seat height: 37.5 in. Front brake: disc Rear brake: disc Claimed dry weight: 239 lb.

When it comes to super-gnarly terrain, wouldn’t twowheel drive be better than one? That’s the philosophy behind the Christini. Its patented mechanical all-wheeldrive system uses chains and flexible shafts (no hydraulics involved) driven by the transmission countershaft to send power to the front wheel. The front wheel is driven at a slightly slower ratio than the rear so that when traction is ideal, the front is effectively passive; but when the rear wheel slips, power transfers to the front until rear traction is regained. The AWD 300 is powered by a liquid-cooled Gas Gas two-stroke engine and rides on a twin-spar aluminum frame.

Cleveland Heist

$3195 Engine type: ohv Single Displacement: 229cc Carburation: 31mm Sheng Wey Transmission speeds: 5 Final drive: chain Front brake: disc Rear brake: disc Wheelbase: 59.6 in. Seat height: 25.0 in. Fuel capacity: 2.1 gal. Claimed dry weight: 253 lb.

Yes, the Heist is made in China, but it’s designed in Cleveland, Ohio. Power flows from an air-cooled knock-off of the CG125 Single Honda began building in the early 1970s. Since then, it’s grown to 229cc while gaining a counterbalancer and an electric starter. But it’s still built to keep slogging out a claimed 14.1 horsepower at 7000 rpm through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, etc. That’s not much power, but then, 253 pounds isn’t much motorcycle. It’s a hardtail, but mountain-bike shocks suspending the seat give it a better ride than you’d expect, along with more motofim than you deserve for $3195.

Cleveland Misfit

$3195 Engine type: ohv Single Displacement: 229cc Carburation: 31mm Sheng Wey Transmission speeds: 5 Final drive: chain Front brake: disc Rear brake: disc Wheelbase: 48.4 in. Seat height: 28.0 in. Fuel capacity: 4.8 gal. Claimed dry weight: 296 lb.

Powered by the same 229cc LIFAN Honda-derived Single used in the Heist, the Misfit is a café-style bike built to bring home the bacon in a 1960s’ sort of style. Steel main tube frames mate up to a boxed section that supports the counterbalanced motor, which, in turn, acts as a stressed chassis member for enhanced rigidity. An inverted fork, piggybackreservoir shocks, disc brakes and a dry weight of under 300 pounds should make this Cleveland model even more enjoyable than the Heist—which is a lot of fun in its own right. Plus, 60 mpg or so should be very doable on a Misfit.