Chris Ratcliffe, who hand-builds Langen motorcycles at his workshop near Wigan - Jon SuperBritain's rival to upmarket Italian motorcycle specialist Ducati started its life at an extendable pine kitchen table in Wigan. Barely six years ago, Chris Ratcliffe, a designer and engineer, left his secure job, sold the family home and car then moved into a former council house to start what has become one of the most sought-after motorcycle marques – Langen.The company now has a full order book, including a significant chunk from Japan and the US, with machines starting at about £35,280. And this is in spite of an extremely challenging motorcycle market which, since 2005, has contracted by 35 per cent."I think about it now and it is actually quite insane," said Ratcliffe. "I had a really good job and we'd spent six years renovating a cottage to be the dream family home, but I just wanted to do my own thing.AdvertisementAdvertisement"I'd been thinking about it for a long time and I'd had conversations with an engineer about building an engine, but I was dreading telling my wife because starting a business from scratch would mean sacrificing a lot and getting rid of the nice house. But she was great. She was excited about it and that was the biggest weight off my mind; she made it really easy."So Ratcliffe set to work – at the kitchen table. "I was taking on all kinds of contract jobs to pay the bills, including designing a glass fireplace for Harrods. I was doing all sorts of business I didn't want to do in order to do the business I did want to do."Langen has a full order book, including a significant chunk from Japan and the US - Jon SuperReviving the two-strokeHis initial idea was to relaunch the historic British motorcycle manufacturer Cotton, which dominated the Isle of Man TT races in the 1920s with star rider Stanley Woods. Ratcliffe's father – also an engineer and fabricator – was employed at Cotton in the early 1980s."I had this idea to bring Cotton back to life with a two-stroke machine. I had always been romantically attached to that type of engine and my father actually worked on the firm's last two-stroke, which was raced in the Junior TT in 1982. But there were complications with the ownership of the name and potential legal problems, so I decided to start from scratch with my own name."AdvertisementAdvertisementBut not Ratcliffe. The new company was named Langen – his university nickname. Incidentally, Eugene Langen is the name of the man who helped create the internal combustion engine and, along with partner Nikolaus Otto, built the world's first factory for internal combustion engines.A mechanic working on a Langen Two Stroke at the Wigan workshop - Jon Super"If I was any good at marketing, I'd have capitalised on that, but it really is just a coincidence," said Ratcliffe. And thanks to a grant-funded project to design a modular battery for a motorcycle, he also managed to establish the Langen headquarters in Makerfield, Wigan – the small town whose MP will be the next prime minister.Gut feeling"I had enough money to commit to a workshop and take on my first member of staff. I was taking some big risks, but I had this gut feeling that it was right – even though it looked insane from the outside."Just as Langen had its first machine ready, Covid struck. "So we spent more time developing until there was a window in the lockdowns when we could launch the bike." The appropriately named Two Stroke duly made its debut at the Salon Privé motor show and concours at Blenheim Palace in late 2020.AdvertisementAdvertisement"It was great. We took a lot of orders, so it was a case of 'OK, this is real now'." Ratcliffe quickly expanded his workforce and the first batch of 100 machines is now sold out.The detailing on the Two Stroke is exquisite, with threaded handlebars, gold-trim chains and carbon-fibre casings. Each is fully customisable to suit the rider, with bespoke geometry and ergonomics. Its 250cc V-twin engine was hand-built by Vincenzo Mattia, a Ferrari F1 engineer,. "Vincenzo is a very talented engineer and was really excited about the prospect of working on a two-stroke engine, but it's like working with an artist – you can't rush him because what he does is so incredible," said Ratcliffe.Ratcliffe expanded his workforce after Covid and the first batch of 100 motorcycles is now sold out - Jon SuperRacing pedigreeThere has long been a romance among motorcycle fans surrounding two-stroke engines, owing to their extremely high-revving nature and the distinctive oily smell of the exhaust fumes. They dominated motorcycle racing for almost three decades from the late 1960s; this pure-bred racing aesthetic and feel is something Ratcliffe is keen to capitalise on.That's not only true of the Two Stroke but also his latest creation, the Lightspeed, which is limited to 185 units. "I wanted to create a machine that feels pure. When you're riding the Lightspeed, you can see the front tyre – it feels like you're at one with the machine."AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Lightspeed has been designed to compete with the sought-after Ducati Diavel cruiser. While the Italian bike has a V4 engine, the Langen has a 1.2-litre V-twin – and it's a four-stroke. "We aimed to beat the specs of the Ducati by shaving 30kg of weight and adding 20hp. Our Lightspeed matches the spec of the Diavel and I'm pretty happy with that – not bad for a little workshop in Wigan." Unlike the Two Stroke, the Lightspeed's engine isn't hand-built, so Ratcliffe can fulfil his target of manufacturing about 100 bikes a year.Ratcliffe in his workshop: 'Every day feels like a new challenge and a new mountain to prepare to climb' - Jon Super for The TelegraphBritish through and throughLangen is the only British-owned and British-built motorcycle manufacturer in the UK and carries a torch for an industry that once reigned supreme until its demise in the 1960s owing to industrial complacency, market arrogance and the rise of Japanese manufacturers.Yet the Made in Britain epithet still carries weight. "The Americans and Japanese love the fact Langens are British-made, as does the UK market. I really need to put a Union Jack on the bike, don't I? I think I'm missing a trick there."Starting a motorcycle marque from scratch has not been easy. "The road has been winding and uphill but with a head wind. Every day feels like a new challenge and a new mountain to prepare to climb. It's rare we have the opportunity to stop the climb and admire the view but when I do it brings a tear to my eye seeing what a bunch of talented, enthusiastic people who joined my mission and vision have achieved."AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd to think that it all started at the kitchen table. But Ratcliffe is not alone; the Super Soaker, Amazon, Jo Malone perfume and Lush cosmetics all started life in similar domestic circumstances. Langen, it seems, is in good company.Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.