From Yorkshire with Love: The 124-Year-Old Motorcycle Startup.
The “Heavy Sleepers” are officially wide awake! Phelon & Moore (P&M)—the brand that basically invented the “stressed member” engine—is back from a 60-year nap with a vengeance.
Forget boring corporate press releases; Below are the Top 5 juicy secrets about the resurrection of the legendary Panther!
1. The “Once Every Lamp-post” Legend Returns
In the 1930s, P&M’s “Panther” was famous for its low-revving, massive single-cylinder engine. It was so slow and thumpy, owners joked it only fired “once every lamp-post.”
The 2026 Twist: While the new bikes are smooth, high-tech machines, the engineers have reportedly tuned the Panther S Cruiser to retain a deep, rhythmic “thump” that pays homage to those original pavement-pounding tractors.
2. The Italian Connection (The “Secret Stylists”)
You might think a Yorkshire brand would look like a rainy Tuesday in England, but P&M has a secret weapon: Pininfarina.
The Secret: The flagship Capetown 7X adventure bike was actually refined in Pininfarina’s wind tunnel. Yes, the same people who design Ferraris helped shape the aerodynamics of a bike named after a South African city and born in a British workshop. Talk about a glow-up!
3. The “Frame-Less” Pioneer
Most bikes have a frame that holds the engine. P&M historically said, “Why bother?” and used the engine As the frame (a “stressed member”).
The Secret: While the new 2026 models use modern trellis frames for safety, the designers hidden a “ghost” of the old sloper engine design in the geometry of the Brighton 6 Roadster, making the engine look like it’s holding the whole bike together—just like the 1904 originals.
4. Sahara-Crossing DNA
P&M isn’t just a “coffee shop” bike. In 1934, two women (Theresa Wallach and Florence Blenkiron) rode a Panther with a trailer across the entire Sahara Desert with no backup.
The Secret: To honor this, the new Capetown 7S is not just for show. It comes standard with a “front-facing dashcam” to record your own world-crossing adventures—because P&M knows its riders are usually a little bit crazy (in the best way).
5. The “Red Panther” Pricing Hack
Back in the day, the “Red Panther” was a budget-friendly model sold exclusively through a London dealer to keep the lights on during the Great Depression.
The Secret: P&M is repeating history! By manufacturing in China but keeping design in Italy/UK, they are targeting a “disruptor” price point (rumored around $8,400). They want to be the “premium bike for the everyman” again, just like the Red Panther was in 1932.
Official & News Sources
- Official Website: Phelon & Moore Official – The main hub for the new 2026 models like the Brighton and Capetown.
- Official News Feed: P&M Chronicles – Behind-the-scenes looks at their design process and world tours.
- Detailed Model Breakdown: Ultimate Motorcycling: 2026 Brighton 6 First Look – Deep dive into the specs of the new parallel-twin machines.
- The Global Comeback Story: Motorcycles.News: P&M 2026 Model Range – Great summary of the seven new production models.
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