1976 Sanglas 500 S and 1981 500 S2 V5

Only a few Sanglas motorcycles were sold over here, but for years they were the biggest bikes a Spanish rider could buy. We check out the 1976 electric start 500 S — the first “modern” big single — and the 1981 500 S2 V5, the last of the line.

Back in the mid-1970s, market research revealed that there was a sizeable number of British bikers who were not the slightest bit interested in refined, high-tech multis that could knock off sub-13 second standing starts and top 130mph with ease. They hankered after a solid, dependable, gas-sipping Big Thumper with a simple, easy-maintenance pushrod engine. These Real Enthusiasts were desperate to spend their hard earned cash on a proper motorbike. The only trouble was, BSA and Matchless had stopped making 4-stroke singles ages ago. Fortunately they were still making Big Thumpers in Spain.

The big surprise of the 1976 Barcelona Show was the Sanglas 500 S. Sanglas had dragged the 500cc Thumper into the modern age with Ceriani style forks made in Spain by Telesco and the same maker’s 5-position gas shocks. The massive twin-loop cradle frame was pure Sanglas and even came with sidecar mounting points — a rarity by the mid-1970s. Both speedo and rev counter were hidden behind a bikini fairing, and there were the usual idiot warning lights — indicators, neutral, main beam, ignition and oil. Paintwork was a handsome metallic red, while the crankcase was finished in matte black with polished highlights. The massive silencer was also finished in matte black but with chrome plated heat shields.

One of the nicest touches was the enclosed twin disc front brake — a Sanglas invention later copied by Honda on the CBX550. Japanese bikes came with shiny stainless steel discs that didn’t work in the wet until they had been purged of water, and all-weather riders weren’t impressed when marketing men said that the majority of customers preferred smart stainless to rusty cast iron. Sanglas combined the aesthetic with the efficient by placing twin 200mm cast iron discs in an open drum, with the ends blanked off by circular castings. As the hydraulic actuator was cast integrally, the whole assembly was very neat and looked like an Italian drum brake. It worked beautifully wet and didn’t fade in dry conditions through overheating. There was a drum brake at the rear. Power output was a pedestrian 35hp at 6,700rpm, with claimed top speed of 100mph. Hmmm …