Short descriptions of vintage motorcycles – Douglas to Gnôme‑Rhône
DKW
Founded in 1907 in Germany by the Dane Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen in Zschopau, south of Chemnitz. The company began in a former weaving mill as a manufacturer of instrument panels. During the First World War Rasmussen experimented with steam‑powered road vehicles. From this period came the abbreviation DKW — Dampf‑Kraft‑Wagen (“steam‑powered car”).
In the difficult 1920s he shifted from steam vehicles to small toy engines. The abbreviation “DKW” gained a new meaning: Des Knabens Wunsch (“the boy’s wish”). From an 18 cm³ toy engine he developed, in 1919, a 120 cm³ auxiliary engine for bicycles — the birth of a new motorcycle marque. Again the name was reinterpreted: Das Kleine Wunder (“the little miracle”).
By 1928 DKW had become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. In 1932 DKW merged with Audi, Horch and Wanderer to form Auto Union, symbolised by the four intertwined rings — a logo that survived until 1964.
After the Second World War, DKW returned to motorcycle racing in 1951, first with 125 cm³ engines, then with a newly designed 250 cm³ non‑supercharged engine, and finally with the sensational 350 cm³ three‑cylinder engine, which won the German Championship in 1953.
When the Ingolstadt factory switched to car production in 1958, the two‑wheel specialists moved to Nuremberg to the newly formed Zweirad‑Union, established under the management of the major German engine manufacturer Fichtel & Sachs. Under this roof the marques DKW, Hercules and Victoria were united.
With the 250 ULD model, Ewald Kluge won not only the 1938 TT title but also the 250 cm³ European Championship. He repeated the European title in 1939. This water‑cooled split‑single two‑stroke engine produced 28.5 hp.
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Douglas
Founded in 1902 in Great Britain. Brothers William and Edward Douglas originally operated a workshop producing shoe‑repair tools and machinery. From this grew a respected foundry. Engine builder John Joseph Barter sought a foundry capable of producing durable components — and so Douglas and Barter began working together. The first true Douglas motorcycle, designed by Barter, appeared in 1907 with 2.75 hp.
In 1912 a Douglas achieved success at the TT — though later it was discovered that the piston had broken just after crossing the finish line. That same year a 350 cm³ Douglas set a world record in the “Flying Mile” with an average speed of 116.86 km/h.
Douglas continued to set records throughout the 1920s. In 1922, five Douglas riders exceeded the magic 100 mph at Brooklands. In the same year, nine Douglas machines finished among the first 25 in the Senior TT, and six among the first 21 in the Junior TT. Even the sidecar class was won by a Douglas.
After the Second World War, Douglas survived by producing Vespa scooters under licence. When the scooter boom ended in 1957, Douglas ceased production.
Famous Douglas riders included William “Bill” Douglas, C. T. Atkins, Freddy Dixon, Rudolf Runtsch, Toni Babl and Max Reheis.
Ducati
Founded in 1926 in Italy. Brothers Adriano and Marcello Ducati established a company in Borgo Panigale near Bologna to develop and manufacture radio components based on Ducati patents. The electrical business flourished, employing up to 7,000 workers during the Second World War. After the war, Ducati produced 35 mm cameras and eventually motor vehicles.
The first auxiliary bicycle engine, the Cucciolo (“puppy”), had 48 cm³, produced 1.5 hp, and featured a head‑valve four‑stroke engine with two gears. In 1950 Ducati introduced a 46‑kg moped; in 1952 a lightweight motorcycle followed, along with several small‑capacity models.
Ducati entered racing early, but major successes came only after Gilera, Moto Guzzi and Mondial withdrew from Grand Prix racing at the end of 1957. In 1958 the Ducati team included Sammy Miller (GB) and Luigi Taveri (CH). Taveri narrowly missed the world championship that year, finishing second behind Ubbiali. In 1959 the young Mike Hailwood rode for Ducati. From 1960 onwards Ducati no longer fielded a full works team.
Excelsior
Founded in 1874 in Great Britain. Four motorcycle factories used the Excelsior name: two in Germany, one in the United States, and one in Birmingham. The English Excelsior factory made significant contributions to motorcycle engineering and motorsport history.
The name “Excelsior” first appeared in 1874 on bicycles produced by Bayliss, Thomas & Co. In 1896 the first Excelsior motorcycle was built, using a Belgian Minerva engine and a reinforced bicycle frame.
Between 1923 and 1939 many famous riders competed on Excelsiors, including Wal Handley, Charlie Dodson, Ernie Nott and Ted Mellors. The last TT entry came in 1958, long after the factory had ceased producing racing engines. The company closed in 1964.
One remarkable achievement was the fastest ever lap at Brooklands on a streamlined Excelsior‑JAP: in 1933 M. B. Saunders achieved 102.48 mph (approx. 165 km/h).
FN
Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre, founded in 1889 in Belgium as an arms and munitions factory. From 1895 FN produced bicycle frames, followed by complete bicycles in 1898 and motorcycles from 1900 onwards.
FN built the world’s first series‑produced four‑cylinder motorcycle engine in 1901–1902. The first FN motorcycle used a light single‑cylinder four‑stroke engine with an automatic “sniffing” inlet valve. The 135 cm³ engine produced 1¼ hp and drove the rear wheel via a leather belt.
On 21 October 1926 FN set four world records, the most notable being a half‑litre FN achieving 183.5 km/h in the “Flying Kilometre”. On 22 April 1934 Belgian racer René Milhoux broke Ernst Henne’s 1932 BMW record (214.22 km/h) with a new speed of 224.019 km/h. Milhoux set around 60 world records during his career, including many before joining FN.
FN ceased motorcycle production in Herstal, Belgium, in 1963.
Garelli
Founded in 1912 in Italy. Engineer Adalberto Garelli, born in Turin in 1886, was known as an inventive technical designer. He held a patent for a foot‑operated gear‑shifting system, licensed to Bianchi, and developed a unique two‑stroke engine in 1913.
After the First World War, initially still as an employee, he founded his own company in Milan in 1919. The first 350 cm³ Garelli motorcycle won its debut competition: Ettore Girardi won the long‑distance Milan–Naples run (840 km) at an average speed of 38.29 km/h.
Garelli’s record list grew rapidly: eight world records in 1923, and by 1926 a total of 138 long‑distance records. Famous riders such as Tazio Nuvolari and Achille Varzi began their racing careers on Garelli machines.
Adalberto Garelli retired from the company in 1968 and died shortly afterwards.
Gilera
Founded in 1909 in Italy. The famous water‑cooled, supercharged in‑line four‑cylinder model — later known as the Rondine — began development in 1927 and reached Gilera in 1936 after passing through several owners.
In 1937 Piero Taruffi briefly held the world motorcycle speed record with 274.181 km/h. In 1939 Dorino Serafini won the 500 cm³ European Championship on the Rondine.
The post‑war successor, the 500 cm³ DOHC four‑cylinder designed by Pietro Remor (1954–55), continued the success story. In the first year of the World Championship (1949), Gilera finished second overall, only one point behind the winner.
Gilera won six world championship titles: Umberto Masetti (1950, 1952), Geoff Duke (1953, 1954, 1955), Libero Liberati (1957). Today Gilera belongs to the Piaggio Group.
Gnôme‑Rhône
Founded in 1918 in France. Unlike most motorcycle manufacturers, which evolved from bicycle production, both BMW and Gnôme‑Rhône originated from aircraft engine development.
After the First World War, Gnôme‑Rhône began producing motorcycles. With the ABC designed by Granville Bradshaw — a 398 cm³ transverse flat‑twin OHV engine — the company immediately set an hourly record at Brooklands with 109 km/h.
More records followed: 1934 (Montlhéry): 500 cm³ — 147.8 km/h over one hour; 1937 (Montlhéry): 750 cm³ flat‑twin shaft‑drive — 136.5 km/h over 24 hours; 1949: the 175 cm³ R5 reached 154.3 km/h on the straight at the Bol d’Or — faster than many 350 cm³ machines.
Shortly after the Second World War the company declined. In 1952 SNECMA took over — and the future lay in jet engines, not motorcycles.