
Sanglas 400 Y
Years: 1979 – 1982
Sanglas filled Spain’s need for sturdy, medium-displacement four-stroke singles that could patrol cities, cross provinces, and start every morning. Built with a touring bias—comfortable ergonomics, generous fuel tanks, and flexible gearing—the bikes served police and civil fleets for decades. Compared with lightweight two-strokes popular in Spain, Sanglas offered a calmer, long-legged rhythm and durability that made them suitable for luggage and passengers. As markets opened and Japanese multis arrived, the firm struggled to modernize; collaborations and eventual absorption followed. Yet Sanglas remains a point of pride in Iberian motor history: Spanish-built machines with European road manners that taught generations that reliability, comfort, and dignified performance can share one cylinder and a well-sorted frame.