Classic Bike Hub UK

Late Fifties Peugeot moped Peugeot 1899-Present France Today a renowned car and commercial vehicle maker, and also leaders in the twist and go scooter/moped marketplace. Considering their world standing, it seems impossible to believe the founder Jean-Frederic Peugeot opened his tiny business in 1811 at d’Herimoncourt making stays for ladies’ corsets. Much later, due to…

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Parilla 250cc ohc single, influenced by British design Parilla 1946-67 Italy Of Spanish parents, Giovanni Parilla was born in 1912 in Southern Italy. The family later moved north, to Mantova, and by his teens Giovanni found himself in Milan where he started his first business, a garage, which went on to specialise in diesel pump…

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1901 Astor-powered Orient single Olmo 1951-c1961 Italy Production began using Mosquito clip-on units mounted under the pedal crank of suitable cycle frames and then moved into moped production using 50cc proprietary units. Olympic 1903-05 and 1919-23 UK Wolverhampton cycle-maker Frank Parkyn, who displayed MMC-powered motorcycles at the 1903 Crystal Palace Show, restarted production of lightweights…

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The early Zedel-engined NSU with the inclined engine suspended from frame tube NSU 1900-1965 Germany Heinrich Stoll and Christian Schmidt started their knitting machine (Strickmaschinen) repair and manufacture business in 1873 at Riedlingen, a Danube island town. A year later the flourishing enterprise moved to larger premises at Reutlingen though Christian and Heinrich dissolved their…

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New Imperial 146cc Unit Minor New Imperial 1901-03 and 1911-39 UK Myths, myths and even more myths form part of the history of many marques, including one of my favoured brands, New Imperial. Thanks to Australian enthusiast Chas Lipscombe’s excellent and extensive book, New Imperial Motorcycles, the myths have been laid to rest. In promotional…

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Road going MV Agusta 750S MV Agusta 1945-77 (1981), 1997 – Italy Record books, encyclopaedias and race marque enthusiasts tell us MV Agusta secured 38 riders’ World Championships, 37 manufacturers’ world titles and more than 4000 national and international race wins. Nicknamed the ‘Red Fire Engines’ by many, their list of World Championship-winning riders reads…

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Early example of Munch Mammot Motosacoche 1901-1956 Switzerland An Acacias, Geneva-based company who built complete motorcycles and later supplied proprietary engines. Founded c1899 by Swiss brothers Henri and Arman Dufaux, who took out patents in 1901 for a super attachment for motorising pedal cycles. Comprising the 211cc engine, carburettor, electrics and fuel/oil tank encased in…

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Montgomery enjoyed some track success with JAP and Anzani-powered motorcycles Monark 1925 (1913, 1920-25)-c1978 Sweden Confusion, confusion! Varberg firm who, for the greater part of their motorcycle making life, traded as AB Cykelfabriken Monark. They had two attempts at becoming motorcycle makers before establishing the Monark brand in 1925 to become one of Sweden’s leading…

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Mercury offered this 99cc Villiers 6F-powered Grey Streak Meister 1949-56 Germany Cycle maker Meister Fahdradwerke began motorcycle production in 1949 using Sachs and Ilo two-stroke engines, many with neat telescopic front forks and plunger style rear suspension. Later, a Zundapp-engined moped joined the range. The 98-197cc motorcycle range, designed by Alfred Osterag, was also marketed…

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Liberia mopeds line up at the Paris Show in 1956 Liberator 1902-c1928 France Pioneer firm who experimented with clip-on kits before making their first production machines, based on the Werner principle, with the engine mounted within the frame diamond. Used proprietary engines including Antoine, Sarolea and JAP. Very rare. Liberia Early Twenties and 1951-56 France…

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