Griffon Motorcycles

Griffon-Poster

Griffon Motorcycles

logo

A Brief History of the Marque

Factory address prior to WWI: Rue Louis-Blanc, Courbevoie. Showroom at 22 Avenue de la Grande Armée, Paris.
London offices: 16 Upper St. Martin's Lane, London. (1904)

Established in 1898 by Eugène Peugeot, the Griffon Bicycle Company built their first motorcycles in 1902 using one of their bicycle models as a basis to which they fitted a Zédel engine. Development was rapid, and the following year they presented 10 different models at the Paris Show. Racing success followed, and in 1904 one of their machines achieved the then astonishing speed of 110 km/h (65 mph). By this stage factory team riders and privateers on Griffon machines dominated competition.

In 1905 the factories in Courbevoie employed 300 people. Motorcycles produced in the following years included 2¾HP and 3 HP singles, and 3½ and 5 HP twin cylinder models. They also offered tricars.

In the years preceding the Great War Griffon fell into decline, and shortly after the Armistice merged with Peugeot [1]. In 1926 Peugeot Cycles and Peugeot Automobiles separated, and from 1927 the model ranges for the two marques were all but identical.

In the 1950s Peugeot formed the France Motor Cycle (FMC) company which combined the brands Aiglon, Automoto and Griffon.

Griffon Models

Peugeot built motorcycles under the Griffon marque until at least 1956, including the following models:

  • 1932 Type G510 with a P110 engine of 220cc
    1934/35 Type 437S SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 437L SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 437GT SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 27/3.75
    1934/35 Type 435S OHV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 435N OHV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 435L OHV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 435GT OHV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 27/3.75
    1934/35 Type 435GS OHV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.25
    1934/35 Type 445N OHV 350cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 445L OHV 350cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 445SP OHV 350cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 537S SV 500cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 537L SV 500cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 547N SV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 27/.75
    1934/35 Type 547L SV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 547GT SV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 27/3.75
    1934/35 Type 545N OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 27/3.75
    1934/35 Type 545S OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 27/3.75
    1934/35 Type 545L OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1934/35 Type 545GT OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.25
    1936 Type 239S SV 175cc 3-speed. Tyres: 25/3
    1936 Type 239L SV 175cc 3-speed. Tyres: 25/3
    1936 Type 80AT SV 250cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 432AT SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 432RT SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 432RL SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 437NL SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 437HL SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 435NL OHV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 435HL OHV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 445NL OHV 350cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 537NL SV 500cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 537HL SV 500cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 547NL SV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 547HL SV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 545NL OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 545HL OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1936 Type 545GTS OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.25
    1937 Type 551CST 2T 100cc 2-speed. Tyres: 24/2.1/4
    1937 Type 551CL1 2T 100cc 2-speed. Tyres: 24/2.3/8
    1937 Type 551CL2 2T 100cc 2-speed. Tyres: 24/2.3/8
    1937 Type 551CD21 2T 100cc 2-speed. Tyres: 24/2.3/8
    1937 Type 551CD 2T 100cc 2-speed. Tyres: 24/2.3/8
    1937 Type 524ST 2T 175cc 2-speed. Tyres: 24/2.375
    1937 Type 524GS 2T 175cc 2-speed. Tyres: 24/2.375
    1937 Type 334CL 2T 175cc 3-speed. Tyres: 25/3
    1937 Type 80AP SV 250cc 3-speed. Tyres: 25/3
    1937 Type 80AT SV 250cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 80AL SV 250cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 432AT SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 432RL SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 535RL OHV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 535HL OHV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.25
    1937 Type 445NL OHV 350cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 445HL OHV 350cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 445SP OHV 350cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 547NL SV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 547HL SV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 545NL OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 545HL OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1937 Type 545SP OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1938 Type 551CN1 2T 100cc single-speed. Tyres: 24/2.1/4
    1938 Type 551CL2 2T 100cc 2-speed. Tyres: 24/2.3/8
    1938 Type 552CLK2 2T 100cc 2-speed. Tyres: 24/2.3/8
    1938 Type 551CD1 2T 100cc single-speed. Tyres: 24/2.1/4
    1938 Type 551CDK2 2T 100cc 2-speed. Tyres: 24/2.3/8
    1938 Type 534AP 2T 175cc 3-speed. Tyres: 24/2.375
    1938 Type 534CT 2T 175cc 3-speed. Tyres: 25/3
    1938 Type 534CL 2T 175cc 3-speed. Tyres: 25/3
    1938 Type 80AP SV 250cc 3-speed. Tyres: 25/3
    1938 Type 80AT SV 250cc 3-speed. Tyres: 25/3
    1938 Type 80AL SV 250cc 3-speed. Tyres: 25/3
    1938 Type 432RT SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1938 Type 432RL SV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1938 Type 535RT OHV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1938 Type 535RL OHV 350cc 3-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1938 Type 545NL OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1938 Type 545HL OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 26/3.5
    1938 Type 545SP OHV 500cc 4-speed. Tyres: 27/3 26/3.5

Postwar Griffon Models
  • 1948 Type 555 (125 cc)
    1952 Type 676TC4 (170 cc)
    1954 Type 555TA (125 cc)
    1955 Type 557TA (125 cc)
    Type 555TC 125cc 1952
    1956 Type 557TLS (125 cc)

The GRIFFON Co., Courbevoie, show a very light touring motor-bicycle with a Clement motor fixed on the main tube. The petrol tank is carried on a pair of duplicate front forks. The coil is placed behind the diagonal, and the battery slung from the horizontal tube. The drive is by a small diameter hide belt, with jockey pulley adjustment. A back rim and front tyre brake is fitted. The weight of the machine complete is 65 lbs., and the price comes out at the very low figure of £30.

Paris Salon 1902

Further information:
1903 Griffon at Moto-Histo.com

Notes
1. It may be that Griffon merged with Peugeot prior to WWI, around 1911 or 1912.
2. Different sources give different production dates - an early Tragatsch says 1902-1928, JLB says 1901-1955, and Les Petochons du Lion lists a 1956 model Griffon.

Star Engineering Co motorcycles of Wolverhampton imported Griffon machines in 1902.

Sources: Tragatsch, JLB Creations, petochonsdulion.net


09-Jan-2019
chezbuissond at gmail.com
1951??? unsure
Griffon Triporteur motorcycled garaged in French alps. Have 10 jpegs and need approximate worth to decide to sell or keep and restore. Funds will update home. Any infor appreciated. Any buyers welcome. Thank you.
Dawn Buisson
Wilton, CT, USA

Tue Jul 19 2016
pnbrooks89 at btinternet.com
Griffon Dating
Griffon G80
Can you date a Griffon from the frame number?
England

You would need to contact a marque specialist for that. Try the classic clubs section at Bikelinks.


Tue Jul 02 2013
standsilva<at>gmail.com
bike griffon tire 65/35c
griffon 1920 year model
hi.
i need yours help . i need 2 tires for a bike griffon i think 1920 year.
tire 65/35c
if you know how we sell this tires please send me a contact for my email.
the tire is dunlop mark.

regards from portugal
porto,portugal


Fri Jan 28 2011
jl.bobicoli<at>free.fr
Date
Griffon all
Hi again,
For GRIFFON you wrote"Different sources give different dates - an early Tragatsch says 1902-1928, JLB says 1901-1955".
My source is "le grand dictionnaire de la moto française" from Dominique PASCAL. It's mentionned that GRIFFON go to PEUGEOT after WWI. But the Brand was still in use up to 1955.

Best regards
Jean-Luc BONICOLI
South of France


Wed Dec 02 2009
hog2ride at hotmail dot com
Any Information
Griffon TC555
I am about to restore the TC555 but have nothing to refer to, so any information and photographs would be great
essex england
..........
Hi i have a couple of bits of information on the Griffon, they are as follows its a cm3 125.
carburator is a AMAC jets 75/80 weight 95kgs year 1954. i believe they were taken over by peugot at some point.


Wed Sep 24 2008
office at mauko.at
Scheinwerfer
Griffon 555TA
Hallo ich suche dringend einen Scheinwerfer für mein Motorrad Griffon 555TA BJ: 1953 125m³
Austria


Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008
From: CESAR Kryulec <motosdeepoca at hotmail.com>

Tengo una moto Griffon totalmente original y funcionando es type G/554 y me gustaria saber el modelo y el valor de esta moto.
Le envio fotos de la moto.
Desde ya atentamente Cesar de Argentina

Translation: I have a totally original and working Griffon motorcycle is type G / 554 and I would like to know the model and the value of this motorcycle. I send photos of the bike. From now on attentively Cesar from Argentina


Thu May 03 2007
Motorsport-Elm at web.de
Griffon Moped

Wer weiss wann dieses Moped gebaut wurde, und wo ich Teile bekommen kann, sowie Techn. Daten ???
Fahrzeug läuft - fährt, aber die Motorlager haben reichlich Spiel !!!
Bremerhaven


Thu Dec 22 2005
tonylennon9 at eircom.net
griffon cyclemoteur
Would like to buy a Griffon Cyclomoteur.


Thu Nov 03 2005
j-vanderlinden at home.nl
Griffon moped
Hello,

I live in the Netherlands. i have bought a Griffon moped and am looking for documentation (owner/shop manual, selling brochures or copies) to get it licensed here in the Netherlands. Technically it almost equals the Peugeot Bima. Any information on this nice little bike is very welcome, especially technical specifications.

  • Do I understand correctly that the Bima and the Griffon are physically very similar, ie that they come from the same factory? Ed.

From the information that I have gathered sofar I think the frame and engine and fuel tank and several other items are the same. The brakes are different. Bima's have drum brakes, Griffons have rim brakes (I hope that's the right name). But I have also seen a picture of a Griffon with a drum brake at the rear wheel. I'm on the beginning of a search, so my knowlegdge
is still limited. Griffon was bought in 1927 or 28 by Peugeot. Maybe they kept the production separated, I don't know this.

Again, thank you very much and kindest regards,

Joost van der Linden

Peugeot Bima 51


Sat Jul 23 2005 (updated Nov 2010 & March 2011)
igstanley at talktalk.net
Griffon motor cycle/moped
I wish to date a Griffon Type G551M which I have just acquired and obtain any background info. especially about the flywheel magneto (no sparks). Details: approx. 100cc 2 stroke, girder forks, bicycle type frame.


If you have a query about Griffon motorcycles please contact us