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Last
update: Aug 1, 2006
Current number of Manufacturers listed --- 1,312
Sources
A
Aaen Racer, designed by Olav Aaen in the 1960's. It's unclear how
many, if any, were produced
AAR Finland, Ice racers. Jawa engines
Abell USA, 1901 - ?, Rollin Abell built a steam powered bicycle
and patented the coaster brake around 1901
Abako Germany, 1923 - 1925
ABC England, 1913 - 1921?, All British Engine Company Had a transversely-mounted
flat twin engine in 1918? 1919?
ABC England, 1919 - 1924? All British Cycle Co.
ABC Germany 1922 - 1924? A.B.C. Werke in Berlin
ABC USA, 1901 - 1902, The American Bicycle Co. built motorcycles
as the American Cycle Manufacturing Co.
Abbotsford England and Australia, early 1900's
Abendsonne Germany, 1930's
Aberdale England, 1930's - late 1950's?, Aberdale was
run by the Levy bros. and bought Bown Cycles from William Bown in the late 1930's. Aberdale
built a second plant around 1949 that was called the Bown Cycle
Co. LTD. that produced Bown badged autocycles and motorcycles They
still sold Autocycles/Mopeds using the Bown name until 1957? 1958?
that were built in Germany by Fichtel & Sachs
Abe-Star Japan
Abingdon England
ABJ England, 1949 - 1954? Started by A B Jackson from Raynal Auto.
Villiers engines
ACE Motorcycles Bill Henderson Of Henderson Motorcycles started
the Ace Motor Corporation in 1920 in Philadelphia. They had a four
cyl. engine like the Henderson's but were lighter. They built the
XP racers, Sport and Street Aces. Indian bought the rights to ACE
in 1927, after Henderson was hit by a car and killed while testing
an Ace Sport in 1922 see Henderson
Achilles Czechoslovakia
Achilles Germany, mopeds 1953 - 1957,Sachs
engines. Sold to Norman Cycles Ltd in England
Ackland England
Acme England, 1902, became Rex-Acme
Acme Motorcycles Australia 1940's?? Not affiliated with Acme England.
Built by Bennett & Wood in Sydney, used Villiers engines. There
were also two other companies in Australia that used the Acme name
in the early 1900's
ADB USA, 1993, California, American Dirt Bike Co. Rotax Engines
Ader France
Adler Germany, Adlerwerke Frankfurt. Adler started in the 1870's
building bicycles and sewing machines. They built their first motorcycles
around 1900 but stopped production in favor of building autos and
trucks in 1907? After WWII they rebuilt their factory which had
been destroyed in 1944. Auto production was deemed too expensive
so they tooled up to make motorcycles starting around 1949. They
lasted until 1958
Adly Taiwan, 1978, built by Her Chee, scooters, motorcycles and
ATV's
Adma Germany, 1924 - 1926
Adriatica Italy, 1979? 1980? 250cc Grand Prix racer
ADS
Advance England
AEL England
Aeolus England, 1913? - 1917?, built by William A. R. Bown, (Bown
Ltd)
Aeon Taiwan, Mopeds, scooters
AER England, 1937 - ? A. E. Reynolds either built them and or assembled
and rebadged Scotts as AER? see Scott
Aermacchi Started as an airplane manufacturer
in 1912. Started making motorcycles in 1950. Aermacchi set many
world records and partnered up with Harley Davidson in 1960 and
took over Harley's light weight bike production when Harley stopped
their small bike line, commonly known as the "Hummer", around 1965
or 1966. Aermacchi was bought by Cagiva in 1978
Aero Australia
AGF France, post war to about 1956
Agrale Brazil, Agrale manufactures some parts and assembles and
distributes Cagiva, Husqvarna and MV Agusta under license from Cagiva
who owns all three names
Agrati (Garelli) Italy, Small cc scooters
Aiglon France, 1900? 1908? - 1953 or 1954, 1955? Bought by Peugeot
in the 1920's but still carried the Aiglon badge
Airman USA
Airmoto Italy
Airolite England
Ajax England, Made in Birmingham from approx 1922 - 1925. Villiers
and Blackburn engines
Ajax England, The Stevens bros. built engines using the Ajax name for AJW
and others for a short time in the 1930's?
AJP Portugal, They make motocross bikes with Casal engines
AJR England
AJS Was created by the four Stevens Brothers, who
started the Stevens Motor Manufacturing Co. in 1899 to build engines
and A. J. Stevens & Company in 1909 to produce motorcycles.
The AJS came from Albert John (Jack) Stevens' initials. They built
their first AJS in 1910 (1911?), a 298cc side valve engine motorcycle.
They possibly experimented building motorcycles as early as 1897.
They had a semi-partnership with Wearwell motorcycles in 1901 with the production of
the Wearwell - Stevens motorcycle and with Clyno Motorcycles for a while around 1910. In 1931 Matchless
Motorcycles Ltd purchased the AJS name and manufacturing rights.
The brothers then started Stevens Brothers Ltd. in 1932 to produce
Stevens Motorcycles. The AJS name later became part
of AMC and then when AMC folded it was merged with Villiers to become
Norton/Villiers (NV) the group that owned BSA/Triumph started
to fail around 1973 and NV bought them and became Norton Villiers
Triumph (NVT). They built trail bikes using the AJS badge
until around 1974, some (or all) using Villiers 250cc Starmaker
engines (apparently the "Stormer" trail bikes had engines
up to 400cc, I am not sure of the engine maker). At least one model
was called the FB-AJAY The FB standing for the initials of Fluff
Brown who purchased the company around this time. Today there is
an AJS Motorcycles Ltd in the UK that is a importer and dealer,
selling mostly ATV's and small cc motorcycles made in China and
also spare parts for the Stormer dirt bikes. They sell a street
bike badged as an AJS but I am not clear who makes it
AJT
AJW England, 1926 - 1953?, Arthur John Wheaton Used Ajax (built
by the Stevens bros), Anzani and JAP engines up to 996cc. The AJW
name has been used by at least three owners up into the 1980's?
AKD England, 1926 - 1933, Abingdon King Dick Co. started as a tool
maker in 1856, briefly made motorcycle engines and complete bikes
and now still makes tools. The King Dick name came from the owners
bulldog
Akkens England
Alba Germany, 1919 - 1924
Albertus Germany, 1922 - 1924
Alcyon France, 1904 - 1956
Alecto England, early 1900's
Alert England
Alfer Spain, Supermoto and enduro bikes
Algat Italy, Scooters
Alp England, 1913 - 1916, English branch of Swiss based Moto-Reve.
Beta of Italy now makes a model called Alp
Alpino Italy
Alldays England, Early 1900's - 1927?, Alldays & Onions made
motorcycles, 3-wheelers and autos. Some were used by the postal
service. Alldays-Matchless??
Alligator USA, The Alligator is a project that Dan Gurney has been
working on since 1979. The current stage is the A4A, which has carbon-fiber
bodywork, a single-sided swing arm (with in-arm shock), fuel injection
and built around a Honda XR600cc single engine. The object is to
have a very stable cornering machine that will go 150mph. Update:
2005 the Alligator A6 is available for purchase, $35,000. They pumped
the XR600 up to 670cc and added a reworked cylinder head to get
70hp out of the single and they cut the total weight of the bike
to 320 lbs
Allon England, 1915 - 1926, Made by Alldays
Alma France, 1950's?
Allright Germany, 1901 - 1928, they were also sold as Tiger,
Roland, Vindee and VS in various markets. They used JAP, MAG, Kelcom
and other engines
Allstate Sold by Sears Roebuck department stores. They were made
by Cushman, Puch, Gilera? and Vespa
Altena Dutch, 1900 - 1906, Altena from Haarlem made the first Dutch
motorcycle that used a Dutch made frame and engine.
AMAG Swiss, 1950's?
Amag Germany, 1924 - 1925? Allg. Motorfahrzeug Berlin
Amazonas Brazil, 1978 - 1990, made by Amazonas Motocicletas Especiais
Ltda. Used a 1600cc VW car engine. Not a very well engineered motorcycle
Ambassador England, Bought by DMW in 1965
Ambra Germany, 1921 - 1926, The Carl Brandt Motor Company in Berlin
AMC England, Associated Motor Cycles Ltd. Is the name eventually
used, until it ceased to operate in 1966, by the Group that ended
up with the rights to AJS, Matchless, Norton, James, Francis Barnett,
Enfield, Indian, Douglas?, Vincent? and ? They were taken over
by "Manganese Bronze Bearings" who then formed NVT
AMC USA, The Allied Motors Corp. Had a 1000cc V-Twin around 1915
1918 America USA, They were replicas of a 1918 Harley Davidson.
They had a one piece frame that incorporated a non-detachable side
car. They used a Harley Evo type engine with electronic ignition
and disc brakes. The gas tank on the bike was used to hide the electronics.
The real gas tank was under the seat of the sidecar. The builders
sent Malcolm Forbes a brochure hoping he would be interested in
one, his secretary sent back the brochure with a note saying "Mr.
Forbes only buys new motorcycles..." They must have been made
in the 1980's as Forbes died in 1990. They were forced to stop making
them because of a threatened lawsuit by Harley. About a dozen
were built. The jigs and molds were later sold to Arlen Ness
America USA, 1904 - 1905?
American USA, 1901 - 1902, The American Cycle Manufacturing Co.
was taken over by Pope. The American name was used by at least five
other early builders plus at least a half a dozen later Harley clone
fabricators
American USA, 1913 - ? Also sold as Armac
American Dirt Bike USA, California (ADB)
American Eagle USA, 1966 - 1970's?, The name that Sprites, made
in England, were sold under in the U.S. One model was the American
Eagle 405 Talon see Sprite
American Eagle USA, Harley style clones, was founded in 1995
American Iron Horse USA, Fort Worth, Texas. Harley style clones,
S&S engines up to 113"
American King V USA, Sells kits and complete motorcycles using Chevy
small block engines, up to 525 hp
American MotoScoot
American Quantum USA, Harley clones. Now owned by Performance Cycle
Inc.
American Rocket USA, 1950's, Indian engine
American Thunder USA, Prior Lake, MN. Harley Clones, sell complete
bikes and kits. Revtec engines
American X England, 1910-1930, British Excelsior's were rebadged
by the U.S. importer in Chicago because American Excelsior had the
rights to the Excelsior name in North America
AMI Germany, 1921 - 1925, AMI-Auto-Motoren-Ind. Berlin
Ammex see Islo
Ammon Germany, 1923 - 1925? Ammon & Co. Berlin
AMO Germany, 1920's and again in the 1950's
AMS Spain, 1954 - 1965
Ancilotti Spain, 1967 - 1984
Andrees Germany, 1920's
Anker Germany, 1949? - 1953? Sold in 1952 and moved from Bielefeld
to Paderborn, produced until 1958?
Anthony USA
Anzani British Anzani Engine Co. a subsidiary of Anzani France,
was established in 1912 in London. They made engines for airplanes,
cars, motorcycles (up to 998cc), boats, and equipment. They when
out of business in 1980
Anzani France, Engine builder
A.P. USA, 1901, Possibly the first "motorwheel" for bicycles
Apache USA, 1907-1911, Thor engines
Apfelbeck Speedway racers, JAP engines. Ludwig Apfelbeck?
Apollo Sweden, 1950's?, M Berlin & Co, Mopeds
Aprilia is the second largest manufacturer in Europe. The made over
290,000 scooters in 1997. They race Grand Prix and have won at least
9 world titles in three classes. Has raced in the World Superbike
Series since 1999.
AR USA, 1997, They make street legal flattrack type bikes using
Yamaha 650 engines. They were AR Streetracker but are now called
Robinson Streetracker
Arbinet France, 1907? - 1934
Arco Germany, 1922 - 1931
Ardent France, 1950's?
Ardie Germany, 1919 - 1958, Early models used 305 to 350cc two strokes
and changed to around 350 to 1000cc JAP engines in the twenties.
After WWII they used their own two strokes and later, engines and
parts from Durkopp who bought them out in 1955, but still used the
Ardie name
Argeo Germany, 1924 - 1927, Argeo Fahrzeugwerk Berlin
Argyle USA, 1957 - 1961, by C&E Manufacturing, small folding
scooters
Ariel was founded in England in 1898. Who hasn't heard of an Ariel
Square Four? The 997cc engine is a legend. Later taken over by BSA
in 1940's and discontinued in 1965
Aristos Germany, 1923 - 1924, Aristos Motorfahrzeugwerke Berlin
Arlen Ness USA, Custom Harley clones
Armac USA, 1905, St. Paul, MN - 1906-1913, Chicago. Singles &
V-twins. Sold to AMC
Armstrong England, Armstrong manufacturing bought Cotton
in 1980. In 1984 Armstrong bought the rights from the bankrupt Italian
SMW company to build the SMW Tornado. The Armstrong MT 500 is used
by the English, Canadian and Jordanian armies. 506cc Rotax engines.
Armstrong quit producing bikes in the late 1980's or early 1990's
and sold the rights to build the MT350 to Harley Davidson which
still uses Rotax engines.
Arno England
Arrow USA, 1909 - 1914, Chicago
Arrow Canada, Arrow Custom Cycle, Harley Clones
Ascot England, 1905? - ?
Ascot Pullin England, 1928 - 1930?
ASL England, early 1900's
Aspes Italy
Astoria Italy, 1947 - 1958, Made by Virginio Fieschi with engines
designed by Alfredo Bianchi
Astra Italy, 1931? 1933? - 1951, Used imported Arial engines
Atala Italy, Small cc scooters. see Rizzato
Atco USA, 1912, made by the Auto Trading Co.
ATK became the second major American motorcycle company in 1983.
They build a variety of off road bikes. Rotax engines. Joined in
a partnership with VOR in 2001. Purchased rights and inventory from
Cannondale in 2003
Atlantic Germany, autocycle early 1920's
Atomette England, 1921 - 1922, a three wheeler with two wheels in
front, Villiers engine
Auranthetic USA, Was a small electric motorcycle produced in the
1970's
Aurora USA, Iowa, made small engines used for motor bicycles
Aurora USA, Illinois, Aurora Automatic Machine Co built
their own Thor motorcycle and sold parts to other companies that
assembled them and sold them as American, Emblem, Light, Rambler,
Racycle, Warwick, Thor-bred, Thoroughbred, Reading-Standard,
Aussi Australia, Aussi-Also
Austin USA, 1868, Steam
Austria Austria, 1903 - 1939?
Austro-Motorette Austria
Auto-Bi USA, 1901 - 1909, made by E.R. Thomas in Buffalo,
NY. Floyde Clymer had a dealership for them in Colorado at age 12.
Thomas built the first prototypes around 1900 and they were called
"Thomas". The company sold frames, engines, bicycle kits
and complete Thomas motor bikes. They also had an Auto-tri and an
Auto-quad. In 1908 they added the a bicycle kit called the Buffalo.
In 1909 the Auto-bi name was replaced with Grayhound. In 1912 Glenn
Curtiss took over Greyhound
Auto-Bike USA
Auto Car 1919-1924, Philadelphia, PA - 1925, Blossburg, PA - 1926,
Detroit
Auto Cycle USA, Not to be confused with the generic term "autocycle"
which is used to describe a lightweight motor cycle with pedals
Autocylette USA, 1921? - 1924?, Autocylette Manufacturing and Sales
Corp. Also sold as Pam
Autoette USA
Autoflug Germany, 1921 - 1923, Berlin
Autoglide USA
Autoglider England, 1921 - ?
Autoped USA, 1914 - 1926?, 1915 - 1921? Scooters, made by the Autoped
Company of America then became part of the American Ever-Ready Company.
Some were sold as EverReady Autoped. They were designed by Hugo
Gibson and for a short time, by Joseph Merkel who had built the
Flying Merkel
Auto-Fauteuil France (Holland?), Early 1900's
Auto-Four USA, 1971? The Gelbke Auto-Four was made by Bill Gelbke,
Chevy 4 cyl engine and automatic transmission. Only 7 or 8 were
made
AutoMoto France, 1930's?
Avanti India, Monto Motors makes Mopeds and small motorcycles that
are exported world wide. Recently started a joint venture with Renault
Avenger USA, built by American Dirt Bike
AVG USA, Makers of kit three wheelers using VW engines
AWO Germany, 1949 - 1961, AWO Simpson
B
Babetta
Mopeds made by Jawa
BAC see Meier BAC
Bad Nun USA, Florida, Harley Clones, "California style"
choppers
Badger USA
Baier Germany, 1924 - 1929, Baier-Motorenbau Berlin
Bajaj India, Started importing vehicles in 1948, started building
two and three wheelers in 1959, has a partnership with Kawasaki
Bakker Holland, Makes frames and uses engines built by Yamaha, BMW,
Harley, and others
BAM Germany
Bantamoto England, 1950's? A cyclemotor or autowheel that
could be bolted to a bicycle frame.
Barb Austraila
Barber USA, 1904? Barber Special? Albert or William Barber? New
York
Barigo France, Rotax engines
Barnsley England, late 1890's
Barr Steam powered
Bartali Italy
Bastert Germany, 1949? to 1956?, made by Helmut Bastert in Bielefeld.
They made bicycles, motorcycles and Scooters. They started making
their "Das Einspurauto" scooter in 1951 using an ILO engine
Bat England, 1902?
Batavus Dutch, Started making bicycles in 1904 and small motorbicycles
and mopeds from the 1930's to about 1984
Battey USA, Sumpter Battey patented a rotary engine for a bicycle
in 1895. It's not clear if any were built
Bayern Germany, 1923 - 1926
Baylis Thomas
Bayley Flyer USA, 1914 - 1917
Baysdorfer-Dumbleton
B&D Czechoslovakia (BD?)
Bean USA?
Bearcat USA, 1900's, If any were made
Beard & Able USA
Beare Australia, Malcolm Beare designed a "six stroke" engine based
on the Ducati V-Twin. He designed a new cylinder head that has intake
and exhaust ports in the sides (like a 2 stroke engine) of what
is basically an extension of the cylinder. Above this is a small
crankshaft that drives a piston up and down past the ports at half
engine speed. The area between the engine piston and this small
piston becomes a variable combustion chamber and has quite a few
advantages over a standard 4 stroke engine. It is patented and a
new head using this concept could be designed for any engine.
Beau Ideal England, 1904, Beau Ideal Cycle company. Used 3.5hp Fafnir
engines
Be-Be Germany, 1924 - 1927, The Berlin-Burger EisenWerke in Berlin
BeBe USA see Premier
Beeston England, 1898 - ? Beeston Cycle Co
Bekamo Czechslovakia and Germany, 1922 - 1925? 1923 - 1930?
Bellini Italy, Paolo Bellini, manufacturer of the Bellini engine
for speedway racers
Benelli Italy, Started in 1911 by six brothers.
They had many racing championships building both racers and street
bikes. In 1948 Guisseppe Benelli broke away and started his own
company called "Moto B" (Motorcycle Benelli) that later became Motobi.
After Guisseppe died, the family bought Motobi. Benilli/Motobi was
sold to Alesandro De Tomaso in 1971 (De Tomaso also bought Moto
Guzzi about this time) and it built a six cylinder street bike called
the 750 sei in 1972. In 1989 Benelli was sold to the Selci Corp.
and they built only small cc scooters until 1996 when it was sold
to Andrea Merloni. Merloni builts Benelli/Motobi scooters from 50
to 250cc and in 2001 introduced the Tornado 900 TRE and a racing
version the WSB Tornado, to compete in Superbike competition.
Benda Bermuda, 2005, Bermuda Motorcycles imports Chinese motorcycles,
scooters and sells them as Benda
Bercley Belgium, 1905 - 1909, Designed by Gustave Kindermann,they
had a 616cc V-Twin engine in 1905
Bergfex Germany, 1904 - 1909, Berlin
Berini Dutch, small motorbicycles
Bernadet France, 1940's - 1950's? Scooters
Berneg Italy
Bernet France
Beta Italy, Established in 1904, won world trials championships
in '87, '89, '90, '91, '97, '98, '99
BFG France, 1980's?, 1300cc Citroen car engine
Bianchi Italy, Started in 1897 by Eduardo Bianchi. Had a 650cc V-Twin
around 1916, stopped motorcycle production in 1967
Bi-Auto-Go USA, 1913, an autocycle with a 323 cu in eight cylinder
engine, resembled a two wheeled car with training wheels (outriggers)
that retracted at speed, had a body w/doors and a motorcycle fender
on the front wheel
Bi-Car USA, 1912 - 1914?, Four cylinders, The Ner-A-Car used many
of the aspects the Bi-Car
Big Bear Choppers USA, Big Bear Lake California, Harley Clones,
complete bikes and kits. S&S engines up to 145 cu. in. with
180 hp
Big Brute Canada, API Racing builds motorcycles with Chevy V8 or
V6 engines. They also sell mini bikes called Little
Brute with various engines sizes up to a 20hp, 570cc Briggs
and Stratton V-twin
Big Buffalo Germany, Manufactured by Güstrow Motocycle GmbH
uses a small block Chevy V-8 engine. It is badged as an Indian
Big Daddy Choppers USA, Ripley TN, Harley Clones, Revtech engines
Big Dog USA, Wichita, Kansas Big Dog® Motorcycles L.L.C.
manufactures a line of 5 HD Clone cruisers with retail prices ranging
from $18,900 to $26,900. (1999)
Bimota This Italian motorcycle company has survived by copying other
company's engine designs or using other peoples engines. BIMOTA
SET A 202.247 mph LAND SPEED RECORD On September 26, 1998, at an
event sanctioned by the East Coast Timing Association at the Maxton
Air base facility in North Carolina, the 200 mile per hour barrier
was officially broken for the first time by a gasoline powered,
normally aspirated motorcycle. The bike was a Bimota SB6 Powered
by the Suzuki 1100cc engine
Binks English, Early 1900's
Binz Germany, 1954 - 1956? 1958? Binz made truck bodies and auto
parts. They also made a small in-town scooter with a 50cc Sachs
engine and two speed gear box for two? to four? years
Bismarck Germany, 1904 - 1956
Bleha Germany
BMW Germany, Bavarian Motorcycle Works (Bayerische Motoren Werke)
started in 1923
Boar USA, Harley clones
Boge Germany
Bohme Germany, 1925 - 1930, Built by Dr. Martin Bohme in Berlin
Bohmerland Czechoslovakia, 1920 - 1939, First motorcycle with electric
starter
Boisselot USA, 1901 - 1903, The Boisselot Automobile and Special
Gasoline Motor Company built engine kits for bicycles
Boland
Bond England, 1950's, Built Scooters
Boom Trikes Germany, VW powered trikes
Borile Italy, They make a 500cc single in 2000
Boss Hoss USA, 1990, They make Chevrolet V8 powered bikes up to
502 cu. in. with 502 hp., using a two speed automatic transmission
w/reverse in Dyersburg, TN
Boudier France
Bourget USA, Harley clones, S&S engines up to 126 cu. in.
Bovy Belgium, 1906 - 1930's
Bowman USA, 1905? The Bowman Automobile in New York, may have produced
motorcycles
Bown England, 1913 - Taken over
by Aberdale in the 1930's. Started by William A. R. Bown.
Built the Aeolus and the Bown autocycle. Aberdale built a
second plant around 1949 that was called the Bown Cycle Co. LTD.
that produced Bown badged autocycles and motorcycles
Boxer France, Voxan
Blackburne English Engine manufacturer, quit making motorcycle engines
in 1937.
Blackhawk
Black Diamond
Blake Australia, 1919?
Blata Italy, Motorized scooters and minibikes
Bleha Germany
Blucher Germany, 1938?
Blue Bird Australian, 1920?
BM Czechoslovakia, Speedway bikes
BM Bonvicini Italy, 1950 - 1972?, Mario Bonvicini was a successful
motorcycle racer before WWII. He later built lightweight motorcycles
using engines of his own design and also ones made by ILO and NSU.
He made 50cc and 175cc racers and also mopeds. The frames for BM
Bonvicini were made by Verlicchi, who is still in business in Bologna.
BM Moto Italy, 1982? - 1988?, Made mopeds. It is unclear if there
was any relationship with BM Bonvicini
Bohme Germany, 1925 - 1930
Bombardier Can-Am motorcycles made in Canada. Rotax engines
Borile Italy, Started by Umberto Borile in 1988, their first motorcycle
was the Piuma 520, a single cylinder, four stroke, 500 cc, off road
bike
Bowman
Bradbury England, Bradbury and Co. were making sewing machines in
1852, they made their first motorcycle in 1904 the company closed
in 1923
Bradford
Bradley
Brand Germany, 1925 - 1930, made by Brand and Sohn in Berlin, also
called B&S
Brandenburg USA, 1901 - 1915? Thor engines
Breed
Breeze USA, 1905? Breeze Motor Company
Brennabor Germany, 1902 - 1912, The Brennaborwerke in Brandenburg
started making bicycles in 1893, motorcycles in 1902 and cars in
1908. Stopped motorcycle production in 1912 to concentrate on cars.
Apparently Brennabors were made again around 1933? - 1940? but it
is unclear to me if they were made in the same plant
Breton France
Bridgestone Japan, 1949 - 1971, Displacements: 350cc, 200cc,
175cc, 100cc, 60cc, 50cc, They began exporting to the U.S.
in 1963, Rockford Motors of Rockford, Illinois was the original
importer. Motorcycle production always took a back seat to producing
tires at Bridgestone. While the motorcycle division was profitable,
all of the money it made went back into the company's main division's
account. Bridgestone quit making motorcycles in 1971. It is said
that other manufacturers threatened to stop buying Bridgestone tires
if they continued making motorcycles. They sold all of their tooling
to BS Tailung in Taiwan who continued to make motorcycles
and export them to the U.S. where they were sold by Rockford Motors
using the Rockford badge. BS Tailung closed in 1975 and all production
stopped
Briggs-Stratton USA, In 1918? 1919? Briggs and Stratton bought the
A. O. Smith Company, the makers of the Smith Motor Wheel. They improved
the engine to their own design but they were sold as both Smith
Motor Wheel and Briggs & Stratton Motor Wheel until 1925?, when
the Smith name was dropped. Today they are the largest producers
of small engines
Britten Motorcycles are made in New Zealand by John Britten. State
of the art, extremely high tech. The 1998 Britten V1000 had a 999cc
60 degree V-Twin engine that put out 166 hp @ 11,800 RPM! and the
bike only weighed 304 lbs.
Brondoit Belgium, 1924-1929
Brough-Superior England, George Brough started making motorcycles
in 1921. Maybe the most coveted motorcycle ever made, it was called
the Rolls Royce of motorcycles. Only about 1000 of them still exist.
They used JAP, Motosacoche, Matchless, Barr and Stroud and other
engines until 1935, from then on they used only Matchless motors.
A perfect one will sell for upwards of $100,000. Almost every piece
on them was hand made, nuts, bolts, fittings. What do the former
heavy weight boxing champion George Forman and T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence
of Arabia) have in common? Forman named all four of his sons George
and Lawrence named all eight of his Brough-Superiors George. Lawrence
was killed in 1935 while riding George VII. They stopped production
in 1940
Brown England
B&S see Brand
BSA England, Birmingham Small Arms company built weapons until around
1910 when they started making motorcycles. They made many well known
models. "Gold Star", "Bantam", "Victor", "Royal Star", "Thunderbolt",
"Lightning", "Firebird", "Rocket". They purchase Sunbeam around
1938, Ariel in 1944, then Triumph and eventually merge with Norton
- Villiers to become Norton - Villiers -Triumph (NVT)
BSA Regal England, After the formation of NVT, William Colquhoun
formed a company and got the rights to the BSA name around 1975
and made light weight bikes using Rotax, Yamaha and Morini engines.
In 1991 this BSA Company was merged with Andover Norton International
Ltd and in 1994 was bought by newly formed BSA Regal Group. They
make the Gold SR 500 on a one off basis for individual customer
orders only
Bucker Germany, 1922 - 1958, They made their own frames but bought
most of the other components. Used engines made by Bekamo, Villiers,
Blackburne, ILO, JAP, MAG, Columbus and others
Buckeye
Buell USA, Eric Buell started putting Harley motors in roadrace
type frames and selling them in the early 1980's.
Buffalo USA, see Auto-bi
Buffalo USA, 1981 - 1990, The Buffalo Motorcycle Works Corp produced
several prototypes for testing with 500, 750 and 1000cc singles
in them. And some prototypes with 90cu in. V-twins. The Corp was
dissolved before production started
Bull Dog England
Bullock Australia
Bultaco Founded in Spain by Francisco Bulto in 1958. Won many a
world title
Butler Petrol-Cycle England, 1884 - 1896, Edward Butler patented
a gasoline fueled two stroke twin tricycle and showed it at the
Stanley Bicycle Show in 1884. For the next ten or twelve years he
made improvements to his design, changing to a geared drive four-stroke
water-cooled engine that ran at about 600 rpm. He is credited with
inventing or developing the spark plug and coil ignition, magneto
and the spray jet carburetor, as well as the word "petrol" His "Petrol-cycle"
was broken up for scrap in 1896, the few remaining pictures of this
first British motorcycle are in the Science Museum in London, England
Butterfield (Willis 4) USA, Late 1960's early 1970's?,
Butterfield owned Jacks M/C in Fresno California, a Ducati, Moto
Guzzi , BMW Dealership, Willis worked with him in the mid 60's into
the 70's. They built a complete motorcycle made to accept a 1500cc
Volkswagen engine and used a BMW /2 transmission. The bike looked
very much like a R60/2 BMW and was available as a kit or complete
motorcycle. They are the best looking motorcycle I have seen that
incorporated a VW engine. Apparently Butterfield and Willis had
a falling out and a lengthy court battle ensued over the rights
to the motorcycle and Willis won. Willis used a badge for them that
said "Willis 4's" it resembled the BMW badge so closely that
BMW threatened legal action.. Willis died shortly after. Approximately
100 were built. see picture
C
Cabri France, 1950's, Made by Bernadet, Scooters
Cabton Japan, 1954 - 1960
Cagiva Italy, Started in 1950 as a small machine
shop. They entered the motorcycle business in 1978 when they bought
the Aermacchi factory from AMF-Harley Davidson, Italy. They now
own Ducati, Moto Morini, Husqvarna, MV Agusta and others. Around
1999 Cagiva restructures and changes the corporate name to
MV Agusta S.p.A.. In 2004 Malaysian carmaker Proton buys a
controlling interest in the company
Califfo Italy
Caille
California USA, California Motor Company of San Francisco started
in 1901, in 1903 the Consolidated Manufacturing Company in Toledo,
Ohio, bought the rights to the California motorcycle and made the
Yale California
Capriolo Italy
Calthorpe England, 1909 - 1938, Calthorpe was owned by George Hands
in Birmingham. Early models, used a 3.5hp White & Poppe engine.
After WW 1 he used engines made by Villiers, JAP, Peco, Blackburne
and Precision. Around 1925 they started making their own 348 overhead
valve and 500 overhead cam engines. The Ivory model was introduced
in 1928 and was built until 1935. They also made a "Speedway
Special" racer
Camden
CanAm In 1974 the factory team won National motocross plates #1,
2, 3. and set a speed record at Bonneville of 136.5 MPH with a 125cc
bike.
Canda USA 1901?
Cannondale Connecticut, USA, Started making bicycles in 1983. Made
their first motoXer in 1999. Filed for bankruptcy in 2003,
sold inventory and name to ATK
Caproni Italy, Gianni Caproni started producing airplanes around
1908. Started making motorcycles in Arco after WWII until 1962.
NSU engines? Caproni-Vizzola?
Carabella Mexico, They used Jawa and Minarilli engines and
also made their own two strokes. I think they are still made. They
made a lot of mopeds and scooters as well as dirt and small
road bikes. I think the small scooters used Suzuki engines. I don't
know if they built the other engines under license or if they imported
them. They exported to the US for a while around the 70's
Carefree USA, Harley
Clones
Casal Portugal, Started using Zundapp engines in the 1960's but
now make their own
Cazenave France
CCM Canada, 1908 - 1912, The Canadian Cycle and Motor Company modified
their bicycle frames and inserted a 230cc Swiss Motosacoche engine
CCM UK, Started in 1971 by Alan Clews, they make competition motocross,
trail and supermoto bikes
Ceccato
Cemec France, produced bikes from 1951 - 1958
Centaur USA,
Century England, 1899 - 1905? 1902 - 1905?
CF Italy, 1928 - 1970
Champion USA, 1911 - 1917?, The Champion Motor Car Co. of St. Louis
made a motorcycle much like the Militaire ( possibly under license
from Militaire). It had a 1281cc inline four engine w/shaft drive
Champion USA, Builds racing frames for Flattrack, TT, Speedway
Chater Lea England, built motorcycles and many components used by
other bicycle and motorcycle builders
Chell England, 1939, Chell Motor Company Ltd, Villiers 2 stroke
engines
Chicago 400
Chinese Motorcycles...
1950 - 1980
In order to meet the demand of the army, the PLA Beijing No.6 Automotive
Works began to develop motorcycles in 1950. It used German Zundapp
K500 motorcycles as the prototype and patterned bikes after it.
The first five motorcycles were developed in July,1951. They were
named "Jing Gang Shan". 4248 motorcycles were turned out by the
end of 1954. The production was stopped in 1955 when the works was
incorporated in the new Beijing No.1 Automotive Accessory Factory.
1981 - Now
The Chinese motorcycle industry began to develop rapidly after the
country underwent some political reforms that allowed companies
to open up to the rest of the world. This period underwent three
"Five Year Plans". The Main Engine Displacements now made are 50,60,70,80,90,100,125,150
and 250cc.and at least one 750cc. In 1997 there were 2000 different
models with production of around 7,000,000 bikes.
Many of the Chinese companies now have facilities in Taiwan also
Some of the major brands in China are:
Chang Jiang Makes a 750cc bike with sidecar that is copied after
a prewar BMW R71, a 250cc that is a replica of a 1950's Jawa 353,
a Solex moped replica and assorted mini bikes & ATV's
China, Chongqing Union Co
Cixi
Ek Chor
Geely
Hainan Sundiro
Han Wei, Small folding bikes
Huari Jincheng
J&D
Jialing
Jianshe
Jing Gang Shan
Jowe
Kangda
Kinstar
Lifan, Builds engines for many of the other companies
NFY
Pekin
Power JZ Power Machinery
Qingqi
Shanghai Xingfu
Taizhout
Tigereye, Yongkang Tigereye Industrial Co
Time
Wuyang-Honda, A long term partnership with Honda
Yamalee
Zhejiang Bohui
Zongshen
There are new Chinese companies starting up so fast that I cannot
keep up with them. Go to the sources at the bottom of the page and
go to EBig China for more information. There are over 400 manufacturers
listed there
Chiorda Italy, made bicycles and mopeds. Taken over by Bianchi
Cimatti Italy, small cc motorcycles and mopeds
Clark England, 1967 - 1968? Small motorized bicycle made by Clark
Masts
Clemcut
Clement France, early 1900's, Made a bicycle engine kit. There was
a subsidiary in the USA that sold engine kits and complete bikes
Cleveland England, 1911 - 1914, Precision engines
Cleveland USA, 1915 - 1929, Bought Reading Standard in 1922. Had
a 996cc inline four in 1928
Cleveland USA, Harley clones
Clinton Tower
Clyno England, The Clyno Engineering Co. made motorcycles
from 1910 until 1916 - 17?. The first models used Chater Lea frames
and engines bought from the Stevens Brothers (later of AJS). The same year they bought Stevens Manufacturing Co.
and all of the machine works that went with it. Motorcycle production
stopped in favor of car production
Cnopm Russia
Cobra USA, North Lima, OH. Makes small motocross bikes for kids.
Cobra owns the 50cc 4-6 stock class
Cockerell Germany, 1919-1924
Colibri Sweden, 1915? - 1923? Made a clip-on
motorwheel that was designed by Emil Jern that was called the Furir,
Jern sold the rights to the engine and the buyers built the Furir
engines and later a complete autocyles. The company changed the
name to Colibri around 1919 and later built a 250cc twin motorcycle
Cole England, Howard Cole manufactured his own engines based on
the JAP race engine around 1972, they were used in speedway and
grass track racers
Columbia
Comet USA, Chicago, 1911, produced a board track racer
Comet Italy, 1950's
Commander England, Early 1950's, Autocycles with Villiers engines
Comerford England, 1920's - 1930's Comerford-Wallis Engineering
Co.Ltd Speedway bikes, JAP engines
Condor Swiss, 1901 - 1978, Built motorcycles using various engines
until the end of WWII when they started producing their own engines
from a 250cc single to a Transverse flat twin, 600cc? 680cc? that
was used by the Swiss Army in the 1940's. In the 1960's they stopped
making their own engines and used other makers such as the Ducati
250 single engine that they enlarged to 350cc and used in the Swiss
Army's Condor A350 from 1973 to 1978 when the factory closed
Confederate USA, Harley Clones
Copeland Steam Motorcycle United States, 1885. Lucius Copeland put
a steam engine on a Star (large wheel in front, small wheel in back)
bicycle in 1885. Around 1888 he built a steam tricycle using the
same type of engine. The engine and boiler of the Copeland steamer
are in the Arizona Museum at Phoenix
Cooper USA, see Islo
Corgi UK, 1945?, built by Brockhouse it was a civilian version of
the Welbike
Coronet England, 1903 - ? Coronet Motor Co.
Cossack Russian, It's actually a Dnepr that was imported to England
by a company named Nevil and sold there, some were exported to the
U.S.
Cotton 1920-1934 and again 1954?-1964?, Francis Cotton was an English
racer who developed stronger frames than the usual bicycle frames
of the time. He patented, and started building and selling his triangulated
cross braced frames in 1914. Around 1920 he started to manufacturer
motorcycles himself. The first Cottons used 269cc Villiers engines.
TT racing success in the twenties made a reputation for the company,
and in its first 11 years the company turned out over 6,000 motorcycles.
They used Villiers, Blackburne, Anzani and JAP engines over the
years. Armstrong now owns the rights to the Cotton name
Coventry-Eagle Was a turn of the century (the twentieth, that is)
English builder that used JAP engines and lasted into the late 1930's
Coventry-Victor England, 1918 - 1939, Built motorcycles and three
wheelers but known mostly as an engine manufacturer
CPI Taiwan, Scooters and motorcycles
CP-Roleo France
Crawford USA, 1912?, Michigan
Crescent USA, Crescent Auto Manufacturing produced a motorcycle
engine in 1902. Western Wheel Works made the Crescent motorcycle
in 1905 - 1906, I'm not sure if there is a connection
Crocker USA, 1933 - 1942, Al Crocker worked for both Thor and Indian,
then bought an Indian Dealership in L.A. In 1933 he debuted his
30.5 ci engines that were designed and manufactured by Al in his
machine shop and put them in frames that he built. They were raced
successfully on Speedway tracks until the end of the 1934 season
when JAP engined bikes started to dominate. He then concentrated
on building street machines. Crocker's early road bikes (1936
- 38) had a Hemi head 61 cubic inch engine. In 38 he switched
to the parallel valve head but stock displacement was still 61 ci.
He did however build many engines to spec. and some of them were
as big as 90 cubic inches.
A new Crocker Motorcycle Company
was started in 1997. It was officially incorporated in January 1999.
In 2002 Crocker was trademarked throughout North America and Europe.
Crocker
Motorcycle Company produces parts that are exact reproductions of
original pieces. They use computer coordinate measuring and CNC
machining techniques to ensure the exactness of each piece to make
it possible for a restorer to complete a high quality restoration
on an orginal bike and their goal is to make it possible to build
a complete bike using only their parts.
Crosley England, Long time car maker, they stopped production of
autos during WWII to work on the war effort. Around 1939 they were
contracted to build both 2 and 3 wheeled motorcycles that were powered
by pre-war Crosley opposed two cylinder, air cooled engines and
were shaft drive. They also built small tracked vehicles
Crouch USA, 1905 - 1908, 32.5cu single, belt drive
Crown
Cesepel Hungary, ? - 1975?
Cucciolo Italy, A bicycle engine kit made by Ducati
Culp
Curtiss USA, 1902 - 1911 or 1912, The G.H.
Curtiss Manufacturing Co was started by Glenn Curtiss later of the
Curtiss airplane fame. For the first few years they were called
Hercules, then the name was changed to Curtiss in 1905?. Glenn Curtiss
rode a V8 powered one to 136 MPH in 1907, setting a world speed
record for land vehicles that would stand for 11 years. Even though
they were producing 1000 bikes a year, Glenn's involvement with
his company started to decline in 1909 when he decided to pursue
airplane development. The company went through many hardships over
the next few years as their production slowed. Another firm that
he was a partner in, the Marvel Motorcycle Co. started in 1910 and continued to
sell motorcycles badged as Marvel for a few years. He was involved
in the end of the Grayhound Co., at the time of his involvement
it seems that they were only producing sidecars
Cushman The Cushman Motor Works of Lincoln, Nebraska, started building
engines around 1902 and built complete motorscooters between 1936-1966.
Sears sold them as Allstate from 1951 - 1961 They also imported
and sold Vespa. They still make golf carts and industrial vehicles
CVS
CWS Poland, Started in 1932 building motorcycles, mostly for
the army. They became Sokol in 1936. The factory was destroyed by
the Nazis at the end of 1939 and production started again in 1947.
Sokol was taken over by SLH in 1948 and stopped production in 1950
Cyc-Auto England, 1934 - 1958?, Cyc-Auto Limited built the first
British autocycle (A bicycle that was manufactured with an engine
attached)
Cyclemaster England, 1950?- 1960? Built a complete powered wheel
that was substituted for a bicycle's normal rear wheel.
Cyclemobile
Cyclemoto Peugeot
Cyclemotor Canada - USA, 1914 - 1925? Sold as Evans Powercycle and
Stock in the later years. Cyclemotor is also a generic term for
any add on engine for a bicycle
Cycle Scoot
Cycles Delight USA, Harley clones
Cyclone Sweden?, 1910?
Cyclone USA, The first Cyclone was introduced
in 1912 or 1913 by the Joerns Motor Manufacturing Co. It had a 996cc
overhead cam V-twin designed by Andrew Strand that did very
well in racing competition, but the company was only in business
from 1911 - 1915? - 1912 to 1917?
Cyclone USA, Harley Clones
Cyclotracteur France, 1914? 1918? - 1923. Autocycles, bicycle frames
with front wheel drive engine kits
Cyril Huze USA, Harley Clones
CZ (Jawa) Frantisek Janecek started making motorcycles in 1929 in
Czechoslovakia. They are famous for their Speedway and Ice racing
bikes
D
Daelim
Korea, Started in 1962. They make around 300,000 scooters and motorcycles
a year.
Danuvia
Daihatsu Japan
Daimler Germany, Gottlieb Daimler (not Otto) put a 1/2 horsepower,
1 cylinder, 265cc four stroke engine in a wooden chassis with wooden
wheels and steel tires in 1885
Dalesman England, 1969 - 1974, Motocross bikes with Sachs engines
Dandy Czech
Datzman Germany, 1984? Speedway racer, GM engines
Day USA, Early 1900's, Kelcom engines
DayStar USA, Harley Clones using TP Engineering engines and Transmissions
Dayton England, 1913 - 1961, Dayton Cycle Co Ltd
Dayton USA, Dayton, OH 1914 - ? Manufactured a motor bicycle engine
kit and a twin cylinder motorcycle
Daytona Harley Clones
DB Italy, 50cc full competition junior motocross bikes.
De Dion Bouton France, 1890's?, Single cylinder tricycle in 1896,
built engines for bicycles. A U.S. company in NY built engines under
license
De Hinde see Hinde
Delaware
Delkron Ohio, USA, based shop that produces V-Twin engine/trans.
components
Della Ferrera Italy, 1909 - 1948?
DeLong USA, 1901 - 1903, The Industrial Machine Co.
De Luxe England, 1920's, Made by A. E. Bradford
DeLuxe USA
Demm Italy, 1950's - 1970's?, Mopeds and 50cc racers
Demon England, Innovation Imports sells Chinese motorcycles, electric
motorcycles, scooters, Atv's badged as Demon
Denali USA, Makes a line of electric motorcycles
Denco New Zealand, Bob Denson in Christchurch, NZ builds complete
Speedway race engines and engine components for race and street
bikes
Derbi Spain, started by Simeon Rabasa Singla as a bicycle repair
shop in 1922. They built scooters and motorcycles up to 600cc. In
1987 they begin selling Kawasaki products and build primarily scooters.
In 2000 they build and race a very well engineered 125cc motorcycle
Derny France, 1938 - 1958, Originally made as a pace bike for bicycle
racers, later they made mopeds
Deronziere France, 1903 - ?
Desperado USA, Harley Clones - Rev Tec and TP Engineering Engines
Detroit USA, 1910?
Diamant Germany
Diamond England, 1908 - 1928, then again 1930 - 1932, JAP, Barr
& Stroud and Villiers engines. Designed by A.J. Dorsett
Di Blasi Italy, 1974, Folding scooters
Didik USA, Frank Didik makes several solar vehicles including a
solar, electric, human powered motorcycle called the Sun Shark it
is capable of speeds up to 40 miles per hour. It has an enclosed
body with retractable outriggers
Dilecta France, 1920's - 1939?
Dirtrax Australia, 1960's? Speedway racers, Meirson (MSM) and JAP
engines
D.K.R. England, 1957 - 1966, Built scooters with Villiers engines,
up to 175cc
DKW Germany, Motorenwerke Rasmussen started by J. S. Rasmussen in
1906. They were making a steam powered car in 1917 the " Dampf Kraft
Wagen" (DKW) and their first motorcycles in 1919. in the 1930's
they combined with Audi, Wanderer and Horch to form the Auto Union
AG. They were at one time the worlds largest manufacturer. In the
1950's? they merged in the "Zweirad-Union" with Victoria and Express.
That group was taken over by Sachs in 1965. They lasted until the
sixties and closed down but still sort of live on through MuZ, even
though Sachs owns the DKW name now.
DMF Netherlands, 1939? 1940? - 1957, used Villiars and Puch but
mostly ILO engines up to 250cc
DMW England, Dawson's Motor Works started making grass track racers
in the early 1940's. The company was sold and became D.M.W. Motorcycles
Ltd around 1945. Used Villiers, JAP and AMC engines. Bought Ambassador
Motor Cycles in 1965. Around 1971 they bought the jigs from Villiers
to produce spare parts for Villiers engines, and stopped producing
their bikes and scooters
Dnepr (KMZ - Kiev Motor Works) Russian, started in the 1950's
Dolf Germany
Dollar France, 1922 - 1939
Dolphin
Doodlebug USA, Beam Manufacturing in Webster City, Iowa, produced
this scooter from 1946 - 1949 and possibly again? or by someone
else? from 1954-1958. Distributed by Gambles Hardware and Western
Auto stores.
Dot England, Started in 1903 by Harry Reed, was sold in 1932 when
Bernard Wade took over the company and Wade's family runs it today,
however now they only make Dot-Armstrong shocks
Dorion France, 1931? - 1936
Douglas English, 1907 - 1957, Used by the military in WWI. Had some
dirt track racing success in the 20's and 30's. Douglas was bought
out by Westinghouse Brake & Signal who discontinued production
to build scooters
D-Rad Germany, 1921 - 1933, made by "Deutsche Werke" Bought by NSU
Dream-Tech France, Harley Clones
Dream Toki Japan, They make 2 wheel drive on and off road bikes
Driver USA
Drysdale Australian, They make a 750cc V-8 and a 1000cc V-8 engined
street bike that sells for $37,000 US. It has a 17,000 rpm redline
and 19,000 rpm on their race motors
DS Malterre France
Duck USA
Duesenberg USA
Ducati Italy, started building complete motorcycles in 1950. 1958
was the first year for the desmodronic valve system. They have won
the World championship many times with their water-cooled four valve
per cyl. 996cc V-twin. It puts out 163 bhp at 11500 rpm. They are
now owned by Cagiva
Dufaux see Motosacoche
Dukelow USA
Dunstall England, Around 1964 Paul Dunstall started building complete
motorcycles that were based on Nortons, much the way Eric Buell
later did with Harleys. By 1979 he had built complete "Dunstall"
Nortons, BSAs, Triumphs, Metisses, Hondas, Kawasakis, Suzukis, and
Yamahas. The Dunstall organization became a victim of the decline
in the motorcycle market at the end of the 1970's. Dunstall sold
the name in 1982. It disappeared by 1985
Durandal France
Durkopp Germany, Started around 1867 building bicycles They produced
their own single, twin and four cylinder engines. They stopped motorcycle
production around 1912 to about 1927, during this time they built
only cars. They restarted making motorcycles but used mostly Sachs
engines until around 1951 and there after used their own engines
again, concentrating on scooters that they called "Diana"
until 1961. In 1955 they bought Ardie, who they had previously been
making parts for. They still produce sewing machines
Duzmo England, Early 1920's, Some of them were successful in early
hill climb competitions
Dyke USA
Dynacycle USA, 1949-1953, St. Louis, MO Sold 165cc engines that
could be mounted on a bicycle frame and sold a complete bike for
$229
E
Eagle
USA, 1913?
EBS Germany
Ecomobile Swiss, 1982 - ?, Used a full body fairing that enclosed
the rider, BMW engine
Economy
Ecstasy USA, Ecstasy Cycles makes Chevy V8 powered trikes
eCycle USA, eCycle plans to release limited numbers of their hybrid
motorcycle in 2002. It uses a 219cc Yanmar diesel engine and an
8kW brushless electric motor drive. They are still designing their
own 125cc engine. The bike is supposed to get 180mpg with a top
speed of 80mph and acceleration of 0-60 mph in 6 seconds
Edmond USA, E.J. Edmond designed and built a motorcycle in 1899
using a DeDion engine, he later went to work at Auto-bi. Oscar Hedstrom
from Indian motorcycles called Edmond a motorcycle pioneer
EEC Hong Kong, East Future Group makes scooters, small motorcycles,
Atv's
E&F USA, see Fleming
Egli Swiss
Electra USA, 1913?, Electric
Electrobike USA, Electric mopeds
Elf France?, Made several racing models in the 1980's using Honda
engines
Elf England, Early 1900's also Elf-King
Elk
Elliott 1920's?
Elswick England, 1880 - 1985?, Started by
Fred Hopper as a bicycle maker and later made purpose built frames
to attach Cyclemaster engines on. He was an early importer of NSU
motorcycles. Around 1903?/1911? to 1921? he started making the Elswick
motorcycle using Precision engines. Around 1910?/1911? until 1920?
he also sold them as Torpedo motorcycles. Information on this company
is sketchy, they apparently also made mopeds/scooters into the 1960's?
and continued to produce the Elswick-Hopper bicycle until around
1985. A company history can be found here,
at Nigel Land's site
Emblem USA, 1907 - 1925, Emblem Manufacturing Co. Used Thor engines
until about 1909 then built their own singles and V-twins up to
1255cc
EMC England, Ehrlich Motor Co. Made racers and street bikes on and
off from the 1930's to the 1990's. Dr.
Joe Ehrlich was the owner and designer of all the bikes at Ehrlich
Motor Racing. In the 1960's he made some of the fastest 125cc
bikes of their day. His grandson, Andrew Barnard, informed me that
he passed away in October, 2003.
Erie USA see Marvel
Esarati Esarati Electric Technologies Corp. is developing a line
of electric motorcycles in 2002
Eshelman USA, Eshelman's were made by Cheston Eshelman an airplane
builder and owner of the Cheston L. Eshelman Company in
Dundalk, MD. the 1940's and later owner of the Eshelman
Motor Co. in Baltimore MD. They made an assortment of small vehicles.
Small single cylinder 3 to 8.5 hp microcars, garden tractors, golf
carts, scooters, ect. The garden tractors and scooters were
all probably powered by Briggs and Stratton engines like the small
cars they built.
ESO Czechoslovakia, 1950 - 1963, In 1950 Jaroslav
Simandl bought the rights and all of the spare parts from Josef
Linhart for the JOLI engine, which was a copy of a JAP engine. They
made speedway and ice racers. Taken over by Jawa in 1964
Esse motorcycles were made in Sweden in 1913 by Monark.
E-Ton Taiwan, The Ji-ee company makes scooters and small motorcycles
Evans USA, 1919 - 1924?, Evans Power-Cycle 119cc
two stroke Made by the CycleMotor Corporation who made the belt
driven CycleMotor bicycle. Many Evans motorcycles were exported
to Europe. CycleMotor quit making them around 1923? - 24?. They
were then made in Berlin by Stock-Motorpflug A.G. until around 1933
under license from CycleMotor and sold under the name Stock. Tax
records from Berlin show Stock was only in business from 1924 -
1933 so they may have started just for this venture. Maybe even
using CycleMotors tooling? The later ones had around a 300cc engine
with shaft drive.
Evinrude USA, The outboard motor maker also made an engine kit for
bicycles. Some sources say that they only made the kit in 1936 -
1937, however, the Tillotson Manufacturing Co. lists their Carburetor
as original equipment for Evinrude bicycle engines from 1929 to
1940
Excelsior England, 1896 - 1964, British Excelsior's were rebadged
as American X by the U.S. importer in Chicago because American Excelsior
had the rights to the Excelsior name in North America
Excelsior Germany, 1901? - 1939, Excelsior Fahrrad Motorad-Werke
in Brandenburg used JAP and other engines
Excelsior USA, Excelsior Supply Co. started making motorcycles
in Chicago in 1907 and was purchased by the Schwinn bicycle company
in 1912. They made V-twin bikes up to 1000cc. The depression started
in 1929 and Schwinn stopped all production of both Excelsior and
Henderson in 1931 and went back to building only bicycles see Henderson - see Super-X
Excelsior Henderson after Schwinn bought both Excelsior and Henderson
motorcycle companies he called his motorcycle co. Excelsior-Henderson.
see Henderson
Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Manufacturing Company In 1999 the
Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Manufacturing Company shipped its
first bikes after purchasing the rights to the name. They filed
for bankruptcy within two years. Swift Motorcycle Co. bought the
tooling for them and are now supplying parts for them.
Exile Cycles USA, Harley clones
Express Germany, 1901 - 1959?, The name was acquired by Sachs in
1965
Eysink Dutch, Eysink at Amersfoort started in 1897. They made cars
until 1920 and motorcycles until around 1956 and then made mopeds.
Over the years they used JAP, Python, Villiers, Kelecom, Minerva,
and Sarolea engines. Was bought by NVT in 1975
F
Fabianski
Poland, 1936 - 1939
Fafnir Germany, 1904? - ?, Fafnir-Werke was an engine builder
Fairy England, 1907?, First motorcycle made by Douglas?
Fantic This Italian company builds bikes for motocross and trials,
where it has been a leading contender since it began in 1960
Far Italy, They make the Twip electric scooter
Farmbyke New Zealand, 1970's? Designed and made in New Zealand,
using Suzuki parts
Farron
Favorit Germany
FB-AJS see AJS
Federation/Federal England, The Co-operative Wholesale Society was
founded in 1869 by a group of retailers and manufacturers as a way
to buy large amounts of goods at a lower price. Around 1920 they
started making motorcycles that were called Federation and Federal
using JAP and Villiers engines. They stopped around 1937
Feilbach Limited USA, 1904 - 1914, Used by the Milwaukee Police
Dept.
Fenris USA, Fenris Cycle Company Clarkesville, GA. Harley Clones
Ferbedo Germany
Ferrari Italy, 1951 - 1954, No connection to the car, made by Fratelli
Ferrari 128 to 248cc
FKS
Fichtel & Sachs Germany, Engine builders
Flanders USA, 1911 - 1914, Inline four engine? Had a v-twin in 1914
Flandria Belgium, 1950's - 1981, Started by the Claeys brothers
Fleming USA, 1900 - ? The Fleming Motor Vehicle
Co. built engine kits for bicycles and produced a complete motorbike
in 1901. Also sold as Ellis and Fleming and E&F
Flying Merkel USA, 1901 - 1917, Was
a small company started by Joseph Merkel in Milwaukee. Sold
as Merkel until 1910. Some had 1000cc Thor engines. Bought by the
Miami Cycle Co. around 1911?. Merkel left the business with the
sale and went to Autoped in 1913
Flink Motorcycles were powered by a Kurier two stroke engine and
was the first motorcycle built by BMW in the early 1920's
FN Walter Kelicom of the FN arms factory in Belgium began making
motorcycles in 1901, offered a shaft drive in 1903 and made the
first successful four-cylinder motorcycle in 1910
Francis-Barnett England, Gordon Francis and Arthur Barnett got together
in 1919. The wheels they used were mounted on spindles and most
used JAP, Blackburn, Villiers or AMC engines. It was taken over
by Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) in 1947
Freebird USA, Harley Clones
Frera Italy, 1906-1956
Freras Italy, 1920's?
Freyer & Miller
Freze Russia
FSO Poland, Polish car maker that made a trail bike in the 1970's
Force Austria
Fowler Four
Fowler Manson-Sherman
Foxinette Austria?
Francke-Johannsmeyer
Franklin
Fuki Planning Japan, Developed the first "Pocket or Minimoto bikes"
in 1975 (Minimoto's are small displacement minibike sized racers
with fairings that resemble full scale racers)
Furir see Colibri
G
Gambler
USA, Harley clones
Garelli (Agrati-Garelli) Italian, 1913 - ? Small cc scooters
Gas Gas Spain, Started business in 1974 selling parts for trials
bikes. Built their first motorcycle in 1985? 1986?. Around 1988
Merlin motorcycle closed it's doors and sold
to Gas Gas
Gazelle Dutch, Bicycle maker that started making motorbicycles in
1950 and mopeds in 1954, they lasted until 1975 and now again produce
only bicycles
GD Italy, 1923 - 1942?, Founded in Bologna by Ghirardi and Dallolio.
The company was taken over around 1942 and manufacturing switched
to wrapping and packing machinery
Gearless USA, 1905 - 1906?, The Gearless Motorcycle Co. Shaft drive
with a variable friction transmission
Geco-Herstal Belguim, France? 1927 - 1930?, Gillet-Herstal bought
French maker Gerkinet and made the Geco-Herstal
Geer
Gem MiniMoto England
Gemini see Shin San Tong
Geneva USA, Manufactured by the Geneva Bicycle and Steam Carriage
Co. in Geneva Ohio in 1896. It was front wheel drive and had the
steam engine over the front wheel
Gerhart Four
Gerkinet France
Germaan Dutch
Gerosa Italy
G&G Swiss, Started in 1983, Makers of customs using
Guzzi and BMW engines
Ghezzi & Brian Italy, 1995, they build a racer and a 1100cc
street bike based around a Moto Guzzi engine
Giggle Tiawan, 1992, Folding gas and electric scooters
Gilera Italy, Founded in 1909 and was heavily involved in racing
until the late 1950's. The company was sold to Piaggio in 1969 and
they still make motorcycles and scooters using the Gilera badge
Gillet-Herstal Belgium
Gitan Italy, 1950 - 1980?, Small mopeds, early ones used Lavalette
engines
Glas-Goggo Germany, 1950? 1951? - 1956, Hans Glas, built the Goggo
Scooter with 120cc,125cc, 150cc and 200cc.ILO engines. Some came
with a side-car. Production stopped in 1956 when Glas decided to
build a 250 to 450cc micro car that he called the Goggomobil
Globester
GM Italy, Giuseppe Marzotto started building engines for Speedway
and Ice bikes in 1979. Many racers today use GM engines
Gnome Rhone France
Godden Speedway racers
Goericke Germany, 1903 - 1960
Gough England, 1901 - ? Bicycle builders Joseph and Thomas Gough
built the Minerva Motor Bicycle in 1901, using a Gough frame and
Minerva engine. They later built motorcycles using other engines
Grandeur USA, Jonesville, NC. Harley Clones, Complete bikes and
kits. Total Performance and RevTech engines
Grand Prix see Lambretta
GrcMoto Italy, Minimoto racers
Greeves England, Started by Bert Greeves the company made street
bikes, scramblers, road racers and trials bikes from 1953 until
1978. Early ones used Villiers engines
Greyhound USA, see Auto-Bi
Greyhound England
Griffon France, 1902? - ?, Won the first international motorcycle
race in 1904. The name Griffon was used by Greeves in the 1960's
and 70's
Grindlay Peerless England, 1920's - 1934
Gripen Sweden
GRM USA, see Islo
H
HADC
see Motosacoche
Haggo Sweden, 1970's, Hagglunds, a large industrial manufacturer,
won a contract to build a military motorcycle. Husqvarna took over
the production of the Hagglunds designed motorcycle
Haleson England, 1903? - 1914? Steam powered
Hampden
Harley
Davidson If you're reading this page you already know. Also see
Aermacchi and Hummer
Harper England, 1950's Scooters
Harper USA, 1911? - ? The Harper Engineering Co. built and sold
a 45 degree V-twin engine for motorcycles
Harris England, 1970's - 1980's, Cafe racer builders, using various
Japanese engines
Hartford
Hausmann USA
Haverford USA, 1911 - 1924? Haverford Cycle Co.
Haveloc Australia -Tasmania, 1903?
Hawker England, 1920's
Hawthorne
HB England, 1919 - 1923, Made by the Hill Brothers. Blackburne engines
HDT USA, Hayes Diversified Technologies started business in 1961
building mostly components for the U.S. military. In 1970 they began
selling Penton motorcycles under the name METTCO. They also built
components and engine modifications while working as consultants
with Honda's off road racing and Enduro teams. They are now the
sole supplier of motorcycles for the U.S. Marine Corps, building
engines for modified Kawasaki KLR650s that run on diesel fuel, bio-diesel
or aviation kerosene
Healing Austrailia, 1903 - ?, JAP and other engines. Rebadged as
Mostyn, Bullock, De-Luxe, Blue Bird, Pearless, Big Four and more?
Heavy Duty Canada, Donny Petersen builds custom Harley clones
Hec England, 1922 - 1924, Hewins Engineering Company
Hec England, 1938 - 1940, Hepburn Engineering Company. Used Levis
engines
Hecker Germany, 1922-1956
Hedlund was a Swedish company 1955 to 1987
Hedstrom USA, Oscar Hedstrom built his first motorcycles around
1898. They were tandem seat motorcycles that were used to pace bicycle
races. Also called Henshaw-Hedstrom. He later went on to establish
Indian with George Hendee
Heinkel Germany 1952 - 1965, Started as an airplane manufacturer
in 1922. Started making scooters and mopeds around 1952? 1954?
Helios Germany 1921-1922, was the first motorcycle made by BMW that
used their own engine, a 486cc side-valve
Henderson Was started in Detroit in 1912 by
Tom W. Henderson and his brother William G. Henderson, who later
started Ace Motorcycles. They built mostly inline four engines up
to 1340cc and was sold to the Schwinn bicycle company in 1917 and
then marketed by Excelsior which was also purchased by Ignatz
Schwinn. Both bros continued to work for Excelsior, Tom until 1917
and Bill until 1920 when he left to Start Ace Motorcycles. In May,
1922 at the Tacoma Speedway, here in Washington where I live, a
rider named Wells Bennet set a new 24 hour endurance record of 1,562.54
miles on a stock Henderson Deluxe. The depression started in 1929
and Schwinn stopped all production of both Excelsior and Henderson
in 1931 and went back to building only bicycles
Hemingway USA
Herring
Hercules USA, 1902 - 1905?, The name Glenn Curtiss used for the
first motorcycles he made. see Curtiss
Hercules Germany, made their first motorcycles in 1904. Taken over
by Sachs around 1964 and then sold several more times over the years.
Sachs built bikes and sold Yamahas and other makes under the name
Hercules until around 1995
Hercules W2000 Germany, Was the first production rotary motorcycle
in 1974. It had a Wankel engine and was made by Sachs and was also
sold as DKW because Sachs owned the name.
Hercules Australia
Hero India, Started in 1956 as Hero Cycles and became the largest
bicycle maker in the world. Majestic Auto Limited was established
in 1978 to build the Hero Majestic Moped. In 1984 Hero Honda Motors
Limited was formed in a partnership with Honda. They manufacture
mopeds and small motorcycles up to 100 cc. Including models called
Panther, Stalion, Ankur and Gizmo. In 2002 the Hero Group has 18
divisions and has an annual gross earnings of over $1.5 billion
U.S.
Hesketh England, 1981 - 1983
H&G Australia, They build the Sporton, a Harley Sportster engine
in a copy of a Norton featherbed frame
H & H
Highland Sweden, 1997, They build a 950cc V-Twin dirtbike as one
of their models
Hilaman USA, 1906 - 1912? The A.H. Hilaman Co.
Hildebrand and Wolfmuller In 1889, Heinrich and Wilhelm Hildebrand
of Munich made a prototype motorcycle using with a small steam engine.
After their prototype steam motorcycle, the brothers joined with
Alois Wolfmuller to manufacture a design patented by Wolfmuller
and Hans Geisenhoff in 1894. It is considered to be the first production
motorcycle, it was made in both Germany and France until 1896. The
engine was a twin cylinder, water cooled, four stroke with 1488cc.
The pistons traveled together (firing alternately) with their connecting
rods pushing cranks on the rear wheel, like a locomotive engine.
The rear wheel acted like a flywheel and it used rubber bands to
pull the pistons back up the cylinders. There are still many examples
of the Hildebrand & Wolfmuller "Motorad" in the Deutsches Zweirad-Museum,
Neckarsulm, Germany, the Science Museum in London, England and the
Henry Ford Museum in Detroit
Hinde Netherlands 1893 - ? Bicycle and machine
factory "de Hinde" owned by van Gink, Ott Bultman &
Co in Amsterdam. They advertised in 1899 with the slogan "Everybody
can build an engine" and offered an engine of 1 1/2 or 2 HP.
Dion Bouton, all in rough castings of the finest quality iron and
aluminum, which you had to machine and assemble yourself, it came
with a precise drawing, all for the price of 43 Dutch guilders.
In
1936 G.C. Schulze, an Amsterdam firm tried their luck with the brand
name "de Hinde" a 60,100 and a 120cc two stroke model
were offered, all with ILO engine. How long they stayed in business
is not known here (Thanks to Albert Krijger for the information)
HKS Japan, Hasegawa Kogyu Seisakushu made engines for race bikes
in very small numbers in the 1980's
Hobart England, 1920's?
Hodaka was a joint venture between Japanese engine builder Hodaka
and American produce distributor Pabatco (who was later bought by
Shell Oil) that started shipping bikes in 1964 and lasted
until about 1979. They started the street/trail bike craze. They
had some of the best model names like, Wombat, Combat Wombat, Super
Rat, Road Toad and Thunderdog see Yamaguchi
and "Ode to Hodaka" in the sources
Hoffman Germany, 1949? 1950? - ? Made motorcycles and then bought
the rights to produce scooters under license from Vespa
Holden Motor Bicycle England, 1896 - 1902, Brig. Gen. Sir H.C.L.
Holden had a four cylinder design in 1896. It used the same inefficient
design that Pennington and Hildebrand Wolfmuller and others used
with the connecting rods directly driving the rear wheel
Holder
Hold Up Choppers France, Harley Clones, RevTec engines
Holley USA, In 1897 George and Earl Holley a single-cylinder
three-wheeler. They started the Holley Motor Co. in 1899 to build
engines and then started producing motorcycles around 1901 using
Holly engines on frames made by the Olive Wheel Co. but stopped
making motorcycles in 1903. They bros also produced a few cars.
Their fame, however came from carburetors. Who hasn't heard of a
Holley Carb?
Honda Japan, Started by Soichiro Honda and was making motorbikes
in 1946. Entered the U.S. market in 1959
Horex Germany, 1923 - 1959, Engines were made by Columbus -
250 to 800cc. For a time Horex was sold as Zundapp when Zundapp
was having production problems. In 1958 or 1959 Horex's manufacturing
plant was bought by Mercedes and motorcycle production was stopped
Hosk Japan, 1953 - 1957, They built 195cc to 500cc motorcycles,
both two and four stroke. Before their demise around 1957 they copied
a German Horex 500cc single overhead cam twin and started producing
them but ran into financial problems and were bought by Showa who
produced the 500 and also designed a 650 based on the same engine.
Around 1960 Showa was purchased by Yamaha. In 1968 they used the
650 design and started selling the XS1 650 twin and began exporting
them around 1970. They were very nice motorcycles for their time
and Yamaha sold a bizillion of them through about 1985
HRD England, Started by Howard Raymond Davies in 1925, he won the
1925 Isle on Man Senior TT on one. Originally HRD created three
racing models using JAP engines. The company went bankrupt in 1928.
The name was later sold for the price of 500 pounds to Phil Vincent
who produced the Vincent HRD
Hudson England, (New Hudson?) 1914?, Used to deliver mail in England
Hulsmann Netherlands, 1939 - 1955, Started making bicycle frames
in 1904, started making motorcycles in 1939 using Villiers engines
from 125 to 225cc. Some of the early models ran the exhaust through
the rear frame tubes
Humber England, 1899? - ?, Built motorcycles and cars
Hummel Bremen Germany, 1950 - 1955 - 56?, Motorcycles, mopeds/scooters.
ILO engines. Apparently most of their bikes were badged and sold
as "Sitta". I think that Hummel's were last sold
in '54 or '55 and Sitta's in '55 or '56. DWK got the rights to the
name around that time and used the name for a time. Using
possibly Sachs engines?
Hummer USA, 1948 - 1965, made by Harley Davidson, first
called the model 125. Hummer is the name usually associated with
this line of bikes which had several different models. It was a
copy of a German DKW. BSA made the same bike and called it the Bantam.
The design was taken by the allies after WWII
Hunwick Hallam is an Australian Superbike manufacturer. The Hunwick
Hallam X1R has a high tech frame, carbon fiber components and a
1000cc V-twin engine that makes more that 170 hp at the rear wheel
Hunwick Harrop Australia, They make limited production cruisers
Hurley-Pugh England, 1904 - 1943, established in by Sir John Hurley
and Alaric Pugh. The Excalibur model had a 1212cc side valve single
engine. They made a military model in the 1930's called the "Wildebeeste
Cavalryman All-Terrain MkVIII" that had a single track in place
of the rear wheel. The details are sketchy but H-P was somehow associated
with the Spagthorpe Motorcycle Co. :~)
Hurricane Japan, 1953-1968, manufactured by Fuji Kogyo (Fuji Heavy
Industries) . The engine was a 346cc overhead-valve single
Husaberg Sweden, Was started in 1988 by a group of former Husqvarna
engineers and make top of the line off-road and enduro four stroke
racers
Husqvarna Sweden, Started production in 1904? and was bought by
Cagiva in 1986
Huy
Hyosung Korea, 1978, affiliated with Suzuki
I
Ideal
Jawa India, Started in 1961 in collaboration with Czechoslovakian
Jawa Limited until 1968. Badges their motorcycles as Yezdi
IKH Russian
ILO Germany, Engine builder with plants in Hamburg and Pinneberg,
the Hamburg plant was destroyed by allied bombing
Imme see Riedel
Imperia Germany, 1920's - 1930's
Imperial USA, 1902? - ?, Some had a 90 degree v-twin. They were
made by American Cycle Manufacturing Co.
Indian USA, Started in 1901 by George Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom
in Massachusetts. They battled with HD on the race track and in
the marketplace. The company was taken over by a British company
called Brockhouse in 1950 and then combined into the English AMC
group who stopped its production in 1953. I think Harley Davidson
ended up owning the rights to one form or other of the Indian name?
Sometime in the 1990's a merger between the Indian Motorcycle Company
Inc., American Indian Motorcycle Company and California Motorcycle
Company acquired enough of the rights to the name to start producing
new motorcycles in 1999? as the Indian Motorcycle Corporation. They
went out of business in 2004? A new company called the Indian Motorcycle
Company now has the rights and is in pre-production in 2005 and
hopes to start producing motorcycles in 2006 (Somewhere in
this mess there is also an Indian Motorcycle International, LLC,
I don't know who the hell they are?)
Indian Enfield England, With the end of production of the "real"
Indians in 1953, Brockhouse/AMC started selling Enfields as Indians
until 1959 or 1960
Independence USA, Tucson AZ, Harley Clones
Industrial? USA, 1903, Syracuse, NY?. The antique literature website
shows a listing for this motorcycle, I have not been able to confirm
it from any other source. It is not listed in the NY State Museum's
history of the NY motorcycle industry
Invincible Australian, 1920's, JAP engines
Irbit Russian built, also sold as Ural
Island Hopper USA, Manufacture fold up bicycles with electric or
Tecumseh Viper 2 hp gas engines
Islo Mexico, late 1950's, Made off-road motorcycles
using engine parts made in Italy and later, engines by Sachs. Imported
into the USA in the early 1970's by Cooper and sold as Cooper. One
story is that a man named Cooper who worked for or was a dealer
for Maico tried to get Maico to make an Enduro bike with no success.
He contracted with Islo in the early 1970's to produce an Enduro
and also an MX.
Islo also made a trials bike from 1971 - 1975 called GRM (Grapevine
Racing Motors) that was imported to the USA, for Bill Grapevine,
who designed the bike. ISO also made? or just supplied the engines
for California's Jones Motorsports who had the AMMEX motorcycle.
It is unclear if Jones made the frames and engine modifications
or had the whole bike produced in Mexico. Jones was also a dealer
for Cooper. The Islo manufacturing facilities and name were bought
by Honda around 1982
Italemmezeta Italy
ItalJet Italy, Mini bikes, scooters, motorcycles
Italvel Italy, Electric scooters
ITOM Italy, 1944?, 45? to late 1960's. Originally made a bicycle
engine kit, later made mopeds and very successful 50cc racers
Iver-Johnson 1907-1915, Fitzburg, MA., up to 1090cc V-Twin
IWL Germany, 1955 - ? Industrie Werk Ludwigsfelde built scooters
Ixion
Izh/Planata Russian, Started in the 1930's, I believe it later became
Ural
Izh Iran, The Izhroosta Co.
J
JAC
Czechoslovakia
Jack and Heintz USA, 1950's? Motorized bicycles
James England, Started in 1902 and was very successful until the
1920's when their factory burned. They made lightweight bikes for
the military during the second world war. Taken over by AMC around
1960 and continued in limited production until around 1964 -1966?
James A Smith England, 1904
Jamathi Dutch
J.A.P. J.A. Prestwich of London manufactured engines from 123cc
to 1098cc which were used by many motorcycle builders. JAP built
their own motorcycles from 1904 to 1908, from then to 1945 they
built only engines
Jawa CZ
JB Special USA, 1950? It's unclear if this motorcycle was built
in the U.S. or was imported and rebadged by the Joe Berliner (Berliner
Motor Corp.?) Berliner later Imported motorcycles built in Germany
with Sachs engines and sold as Je-Be
Jeepette USA, 1943? - ? Small scooter that had a single cyl 5hp
21 cu. in. engine that used parts from a ford flathead engine, piston,
valves, timing gears ect. they were made by L Ronney and Sons in
Los Angeles
Jefferson USA, 1913? see Waverly
Jewel USA, 1908?
Jincheng Singa
Jing Shing Taiwan, Scooters
Joerns (Joerns-Thiem) USA, 1911? - 1916? Fred Joerns from
St. Paul, Minn. bought the Thiem Mfg. Co. from Edward A Thiem
around 1911 and it became the Joerns-Thiem Motor Mfg. Co. They
built the Thiem motorcycle and the Cyclone which was sold as made
by the Joerns Motor Mfg. Co. see Cyclone
Johnson Motorwheel USA, Chicago 1918? Bicycle engine kits
Johnson England? 1901? - ?
JOLI see ESO
Jordan Taiwan, 1997, Scooters
Joybike England, 1958? 1959? - 1961? Mopeds made by H V Powell Ltd
Juckes England, 1902 - 1925, T. C. Juckes owned the Efficient Engineering
Company, they built their own engines and gearboxes
Junak Poland, 1954 - 1965, Closed due to pressure from the USSR,
who's grand plan said that motorcycle production should be left
to the USSR, East Germany and Czechoslovakia
Junior Canada, Harley clones, S&S engines
K
Kaestner
Chicago
Kahena Brazil, 1991 - ?, Like the earlier Amazonas, it used a VW
car engine
Kane Pennington USA, 1895?
Kannon England, They make V-6 and V-8 Chevy and Ford powered bikes
Kasea Korean
Kanuni Turkey, This company started importing MZ's in 1987, after
MZ became MuZ the old plans and machinery were shipped to Dudullu,
Istanbul and are sold as Kanuni
Kawasaki started producing motorcycles when they bought out Meguro
in 1963. Their first Model was the W1 (K1) Introduced in 1965 and
sold in the U.S. in 1966, the W2 in 1967 and the W3 was last produced
in 1974. It had an Air-Cooled , 4-stroke, Twin OHV 496cc engine
mounted in a double-cradle frame. It was a copy of a BSA A7
Keating USA, 1901 - 19??, Keating Wheel and Automobile Co
Kendal England, 1927? Scotts that were modified and rebadged and
then sold as Kendal or Kendal Scotts
Kenilworth England, 1919?-1924? A small scooter with around a 150cc
engine and a variable speed drive
Kent Australia, 1910 - 1920?
Kenzler-Waverly USA, 1910-1914, Used Waverly engines
Kerry England, Belgium? 1902 - 1914?, Kerry made motorcycles
and sidecars. There was also a Kerry-Abingdon made in partnership
with Abingdon motorcycles. May have been a Belgium made motorcycle
but sold by the East London Rubber Co. I have seen pictures of a
Kerry speedway racer that was probably from the 1970's but I am
not sure if it is the same company
Kettenkrad Germany, Was a tracked military motorcycle that was conceived
by Heinrich Kniepkamp. Most were produced by NSU
Kiefler USA, Early 1907 - 1912?, Kiefler Motor Works had a 5hp single
in 1909
Kievlyanin Russia?
KillaCycle USA, A one off electric motorcycle built for drag racing.
It set a world record for electric powered bikes in Aug. of 2000
with a run of 9.45 seconds at 152.07mph. The battery powered motor
uses 624 batteries that put out 312 volts and 3600 peak amps. A
new more powerful one is under construction in 2002
Killinger & Freund Germany, 1938, a prototype with front wheel
drive. It was shown in the 1938 Motorrad magazine
Kinetic India, 1972, Mopeds to 124cc Motorcycles in partnership
with Hyosung
Kirby Special English racer Alf Hagon built light weight racers
with JAP engines, he won eleven national titles with them
Kirkham USA, 1903 - ? Kirkham Motor Manufacturing Co. Built engines
for the first Curtiss Hercules motorcycles and produced a limited
number of complete motorcycles
Kleinschnittger Germany, 1950's? This car maker made a short lived
scooter using a 50cc ILO engine
KMZ Dnepr
Kobas Spain, 1970's - 1980's, Racers using Rotax engines
Kodiak USA,. 1999, Custom Harley Clones
Koehler Escoffier France, They built some street motorcycles, but
are best known for their limited production machines mostly for
racing. Looks along the lines of a Brough-Superior they were a work
of art. Thirteen of them were made between 1927 and 1935 they had
a four stroke 45 degree V-Twin, 980cc engine with 2 Amal carburetors,
and a four speed gear box. They started out with 35hp but after
racer Georges Monneret had his hand with them they put out 78hp
on alcohol and a top speed of around 125mph
Kokomo USA, Kokomo, IN
Komar Poland, 1960 - 1974
Komet Germany? France? 1902
Kossm Korea, Korea Special Small Motors started making three wheeled
scooters and utility scooters in 1988
Kramit Italy, builds competition motocross bikes
Krauser Germany
Kreidler started making bikes in 1951 in Germany and stopped in
1983. Garelli rebadged some of their small cc bikes as Kreidler
until around 1988
Kreidler Florett Holland, They have four models that are produced
in limited numbers. A Taiwanese company also makes a line that uses
the name
Kroboth Germany, 1950's?
KTM Austrian, Hans Trunkenpolz started a motorcycle sales and repair
shop in 1934 selling DKW's. Introduced their first production series
of KTM motorcycles in 1953. They won the first 5 places in the 2001
Paris to Dakar Rally
Kulture USA, 1909 - 1917, The Deninger Cycle Co. perhaps made their
own motorcycles or just rebadged others such as Manson and Emblem
with the Kulture badge
Kumoto started in 1997, they are assembled in China with engine
parts imported from Honda
Kurier Germany, In 1920 Kurt Hanfland developed an |
