Short descriptions of vintage motorcycles
I suppose that many visitors to my homepage are not familiar with all these old motorcycle brand names. And not everyone will immediately buy books to learn about the history of motorcycles. That is why I intend to create pages here over the next weeks (status March 2003) where you can find basic information about motorcycles of the past — of course only basic information!
Perhaps one day this will become a (nearly) complete listing of old motorcycle brand names. My intention is simple: to keep alive the memory of the pioneering achievements in motorcycle engineering during the first half of the 20th century. Without this painstaking development, we would not enjoy the high technical standards we have today.
Adler
Founded in 1886 in Frankfurt/Main by Heinrich Kleyer as a bicycle factory (as with many motorcycle manufacturers, bicycles came first). The first Adler motorcycle was created in 1901, initially using French engines, which were replaced by Adler’s own engines from 1903 onwards.
Adler’s real breakthrough came after the Second World War. In the 1950s, Adler models were very popular in “Six Days Trials”, among other events. In 1956, already part of the Grundig Group, Adler entered a sales partnership with Hercules and Triumph, before the company’s motorcycle history ended in 1958.
AJS
Founded in 1897 in Great Britain. Albert John Stevens was one of five Stevens brothers who produced high‑quality machine parts in a small factory in Wolverhampton. In 1909, three of the brothers established A.J.S. Stevens & Co. Ltd., a company that would hold a prominent place in motorcycle history for the next 50 years.
A sensation occurred at the 1921 Isle of Man TT: With a 350 cc AJS capable of about 120 km/h, Eric Williams won the Junior TT — and AJS machines also finished second, third, fourth, sixth and eighth.
After the Second World War, the AJS “Porcupine” became famous, partly due to the success of Jock West. The “Boy Racer” developed into one of the most successful racing motorcycles of all time.
In 1965 the factory ended its last sporting activities, and in 1968 AJS closed its doors forever.
Ariel
Founded in 1902 in Great Britain. The most unusual and most popular model produced by the Birmingham factory (1902–1966) was the famous Square Four — a four‑cylinder engine not arranged in the usual in‑line layout, but in a square configuration. This compact design allowed for a shorter wheelbase. The company itself originated from a merger of several smaller factories dating back to 1892. Production ended in 1965.
The Irish rider Sammy Miller brought Ariel great sporting success in trials towards the end of the marque’s long history. Riding the 500 cm³ OHV single, he won the British Trials Championship five times in a row and twice became overall winner of the Scottish Six Days Trial.
Benelli
Founded in 1911 in Italy. “Mama” Teresa Benelli gathered her six sons and decided to establish a technical workshop, which from 1920 onwards produced the motorcycles that are still well known today. The first model was a 98 cm³ two‑stroke.
From 1927 Benelli offered a 175 cm³ OHC model with gear‑driven camshaft. In 1930 a double‑OHC cylinder head was introduced, and in 1935 the capacity was increased to 250 cm³. With this machine Ted Mellors won the 1939 Lightweight TT, and in 1950 Dario Ambrosini also won on a Benelli.
In the 1930s Benelli machines were always among the best, alongside Moto Guzzi and the top British marques. After Ambrosini’s fatal accident at the 1951 French Grand Prix in Albi, the company withdrew from Grand Prix racing.
Bianchi
Founded in 1897 in Italy, Bianchi was one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers. The company closed in 1967. Founder Edoardo Bianchi first built a small auxiliary engine for bicycles in 1897, his first Bianchi car in 1900, and his first motorcycle in 1903.
Famous riders such as Tazio Nuvolari, Dorino Serafini and Bob McIntyre brought the marque significant sporting success.
Brough
Founded in 1902 in Great Britain. William Edward Brough, a mechanic and electrical engineer, built his first car in 1898, followed by a tricycle with a French De Dion engine, and finally in 1902 his first motorcycle, the “All Brough”.
Between the wars, Brough motorcycles were considered among the most expensive — and best — machines in the world. In late 1919 his son George Brough founded his own company, producing the legendary Brough Superior, often called the “Rolls‑Royce of motorcycles”.
The most famous owner was T. E. Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”). In 1929 Herbert Le Vack set a world record at 207.73 km/h, and in 1937 Eric Fernihough raised it to 273.244 km/h.
In Austria, well‑known riders of the 1920s included sports photographer Lothar Rübelt, engineer Robert Eberan‑Eberhorst, and even the Viennese zoologist Prof. Dr. Konrad Lorenz.
BMW
Founded in 1916 in Germany. The Munich‑based factory built “the fastest motorcycle in the world” as early as 1929. In road racing, however, BMW reached the top only in 1937 with the Schleicher‑designed supercharged 500 cm³ works racer.
In 1938 Georg Meier won the European Championship on this machine, and in 1939 he achieved the first Senior TT victory on the Isle of Man by a foreign rider on a non‑British motorcycle.
Before the war, BMW also produced “production racing” models, the last being the R 51 RS (1939), although these machines could not match the supercharged works racers.
With the introduction of the RS 54 for the 1954 season, BMW offered a new production racer that was technically close to the works machine. Riders such as John Surtees (GB), Gerold Klinger (A), Walter Zeller, Ernst Riedelbauch and Ernst Hiller achieved numerous successes with the RS 54.
BSA
Founded in 1861 in Great Britain. The company’s original name was Birmingham Small Arms, a loose association of 14 master armourers in Birmingham, established on 17 July 1861. Initially they produced weapons, but due to a lack of wars they soon had to look for other products — first bicycles, and in 1910 the first BSA motorcycle.
In 1935, the Silver Jubilee year of King George V, BSA introduced the Empire Star models. On 30 June 1937, the famous English racer Wal Handley, who had already announced his retirement, entered a minor club race at Brooklands with one of these models. Despite a 9‑second handicap, he overtook the entire field within three laps and won with an average speed of 102.27 mph (164.55 km/h), including a fastest lap of 107.57 mph (173.08 km/h). This was the birth of the legendary Gold Star model — named after the golden star awarded to any rider who lapped Brooklands at over 100 mph.
After the Second World War, the Gold Star became the most successful motorcycle for private riders at the TT. In 1950, 41 of the 93 starters in the Clubman TT rode BSAs; in 1952, 71 Gold Stars started among 92 riders, taking 16 of the first 20 places. Production of the Gold Star ended in 1961, allegedly in favour of the Triumph Tiger 100.
In 1964 and 1965 BSA won the Motocross World Championship with Jeff Smith. In 1971 a BSA even won the famous “200 Miles of Daytona”. Financial decline followed, and in 1973 the company was absorbed into the Norton‑Villiers‑Triumph group.
My father was a BSA dealer in the early 1950s in his hometown of Vöcklabruck (Upper Austria) and an enthusiastic rider of the marque.
Chater‑Lea
Founded in 1900 in Great Britain. The most famous Chater‑Lea models included the 990 cm³ side‑valve V‑twin, the 545 cm³ side‑valve single, and the Woodman‑designed 348 cm³ face‑cam OHC single.
This last machine, developed and ridden by Dougal Marchant, set the world flying‑kilometre record in 1926 at 102.99 mph. The Austrian rider Michael Geyer achieved many victories with the “Camshaft” model.
ČZ
Founded in 1922 in Czechoslovakia. The design of the machine shown here was derived from the Excelsior Manxman by Jaroslav Walter. Walter began road racing in 1946, and in 1950 the design was taken over by ČZ (Česká Zbrojovka), which produced a 250 cm³ version with its own frame and swinging‑arm rear suspension.
In 1953, with the engine enlarged to 350 cm³, this racing machine — ridden by the Austrian Leonhard Fassl — won the Austrian Championship in its class.