Classic Bike Hub UK

Moto Guzzi Le Mans was the range leader for the Italian motorcycle firm Moto Guzzi 1921- Italy The Moto Guzzi founding partnership of technician Carlo Guzzi and wealthy backer Giorgio Parodi lasted for more than 30 years, yet there could have been three partners. Born in 1889, Carlo Guzzi joined the Italian Army during WWI,…

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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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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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Ner-a-Car 350cc sidevalve (Blackburne engine) Nassetti 1951-57 Italy Accessory maker Ettore Nassetti, who during the early to mid-1950s built friction drive cycle attachments, which were also supplied mounted in suitable frames. He went on to design and build 49cc mopeds including the Sery and Dilly, using both tubular and pressed steel frames. Neander 1924-29 Germany…

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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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Norton Big 4 was a popular machine post WW1 Norton 1902 – UK Often misused, the words unapproachable and famous apply 100 per cent to Norton. With around 250 GP and TT wins, beginning with Rem Fowler’s 1907 IoM TT twin-cylinder class victory and extending to Steve Hislop’s 1992 Senior TT win, success at Brooklands,…

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1955 Norton Dominator 88 NB: Continued from Norton's pre-war history Norton kicked off civilian production after WWII with two models, the 16H and Model 18. By September 1946 the range had grown: Big 4, 16H, Model 18, ES2, two Internationals plus 350/500 racing models and a trials machine. Things looked good, but weren’t quite so…

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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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Ohc OEC featuring ‘Atlanta’ engine OCMA 1953-c1960s Italy Well made two and four-strokes from 48-175cc. Typically Italian lightweight motorcycles, the sports models perform well too. Like many Italian machines, exports were limited but examples now find their way out of Italy. Different, but spares are difficult. OD 1927-35 (c1950s) Germany Assembly/manufacture began in Dresden with…

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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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