Classic Bike Hub UK

Benelli 354 Sport Benelli 1917- Italy The six Benelli brothers, with help from their mother, Teresa, established an engineering firm in Pesaro in 1911. A 75cc two-stroke, clip-on motorcycle was designed in 1917, which had grown to 98cc by the time production started two years later. The first complete motorcycles were built in 1921. Antonio…

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Bimota SB8K Santamonica Berini 1949-c1960 Holland Production commenced with a 32cc cyclemotor unit, nicknamed the ‘motor egg’ due to the shape of its fuel tank. The disc valve two-stroke engine, similar to that found in the British Cyclemaster, was mounted above the front wheel of a bicycle, driving via a roller pressed on the tyre.…

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1938 250cc BMW R23 single BMW 1923-to date Germany Today BMW is Germany’s only large scale motorcycle manufacturer. Although portraying an image of dependable quality, the company itself has survived a close call with bankruptcy and kept afloat after WWII by manufacturing cooking pots, cycle parts and wood working tools. Their practice of building top…

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1949 Brockhouse Corgi Bohmerland 1925-39 Czechoslovakia Albin Liebisch designed the unconventional long wheelbase Bohmerland with its ohv single cylinder engine. Some had two fuel tanks and could seat two passengers as well as the rider. A short wheelbase racing version and, later, a two-stroke model, joined the range. Bond 1949-53 and 1958-62 UK Designed by…

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Brough Superior – regarded by many as the pinnacle of vintage motorcycle design Brough 1909-25 UK The above dates are generally accepted as the production dates for WE Brough’s motorcycles. Yet he built his first motorcycle, powered by a period clip on engine in 1902 and by 1906, both sons, William (jnr) and George, were…

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1931 BSA B21 BSA 1905-73 UK In 1854, 14 Birmingham gunsmiths formed a group named the Birmingham Small Arms Company. Seven years later a public limited company of the same name was created and the 25-acre Small Heath, Birmingham site acquired. Needing to expand beyond armaments manufacture, the company began making cycle components in 1878.…

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Early Bultaco four speed model Buchet 1900-11 France Well known French manufacturer in the period of proprietary engines, offered single and twin cylinder motorcycles in varying capacities. They also built three wheelers, early racing motorcycles, often with massive engines, and cars, from 1910-30. Bucker 1922-55 Germany Built large numbers of motorcycles pre-WWII using proprietary engines…

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Single cylinder roadster from CCM CCM 1971- UK Following the closure of BSA’s competition shop, Bolton based Alan Clews bought from Small Heath 12 BSA motocross frames, assorted wheels and sundries. Alan built one machine, installing a BSA engine, then another, then another – and CCM (Clews Competition Machines) was founded. Early models were named…

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Standard 350cc Connaught with company’s own sidecar, pictured in 1923 Christophe c1922-28 France Range of machines identical to Automoto. Models included two-stroke lightweights, 350 and 500cc four-strokes and they tried a 498cc ohc model with three valve cylinder head. Ciamatti 1950-84 Italy Former Olympiad Marco Ciamatti – cycling gold medalist as part of the Italian…

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Coventry Eagle Flying Eight Cotton 1919-80 UK Frank Willoughby Cotton, the law student son of a Herefordshire farmer, competed in trials and hill climbs often riding an open framed Scott. Inspired, Cotton designed a light but strong triangulated frame which the Butterfield Bros at Levis tested before the outbreak of WWI. Patenting his design, 17434/1914,…

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