Caterham Brutus 750 - Specifications & Review

Company History

Better known for lightweight sports cars derived from the Lotus Seven, Caterham briefly explored two-wheel products in the 2010s under the ‘Caterham Bikes’ banner. The project teased a rugged-looking Brutus 750, a classic-styled electric bicycle/moped, and a carbon-heavy concept that aligned with the brand’s minimalist, playful engineering ethos. The idea was to translate Caterham’s car philosophy—simplicity, involvement, and grin factor—into compact two-wheelers that could reach new markets. Despite strong show buzz, the initiative faced headwinds: homologation complexity across regions, supply-chain realities unfamiliar to a car-centric company, and shifting corporate priorities tied to motorsport ventures. As a result, Caterham’s motorcycle chapter remained small. Historically, however, it’s illustrative: automotive brands periodically test two-wheel waters, discovering that the motorcycle business, while sharing materials and dynamics, requires a distinct dealer ecosystem and different cost structures. Caterham’s flirtation left behind an intriguing set of prototypes and a ‘what if’ in the minds of enthusiasts who imagined a Seven-like, ultra-light motorcycle distilling the company’s core virtues. Even without mass production, the episode reaffirmed how porous the boundary between vehicle categories can be—and how brand values (lightness, purity, fun) can inform compelling two-wheel ideas, even if they remain tantalizingly hypothetical.