French Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Mercier Cyclemotors

A Brief History of the Marque

Manufactured at 60 Rue Gutemberg, St Etienne, Paris

During the mid 1950's the firm marketed various models of motorcycles, mopeds, mofas, and velomoteurs under the Mercier brand and and also used the marques André Leducq, Lapébie, Antonin Magne, Pélissier, and Louison Bobet. These machines were all very similar, being based on their Vacances model, and the brands were the names of famous riders of Mercier bicycles. This form of marketing ceased in 1955, possibly as a result of a spat with officials involved in the Tour de France, an entertaining account of which may be found at BuyVintage.com

The smallest of them had an auxilliary engine and was driven directly to the rear tyre (similar to the velosolex driving the front), and the mofa was also sold in Switzerland.

Models include:


M125 Ydral 125cc
Imerex 1952, 48cc Himo two-stroke

The Vacances was built by Mercier from 1954 to 1960

A 1954 model had a Le Poulain Comet 98cc engine (50x50mm) with a two speed gearbox, claimed maximum speed 68 km/h. The frame number is stamped into the left rear frame tube.

Mercier merged with Ravat, and was eventually acquired by a Dutch group which now builds bicycles in Adrezieux-Boutheon.

M. Mercier built a military mono-half-track in 1937, a most unusual front-track drive einspurauto, the purpose of which is elusive. It had a 350cc JAP engine mounted in the vicinity of the handlebars. At least two prototypes were created but it did not enter production.

Also prior to the war, Mercier built a tiny V-twin which sat on a wheeled platform with a handle, designed to tow the "rider" on roller-skates. Fuel tank, batteries and ignition coils were carried on the rider's belt.

Notes
Bourdache has a listing for Mercier at 4 rue Jacques Coeur, Paris, who in 1899 built tricycles powered by De Dion-Bouton engines.
There is reference to the Speicher marque in relation to Mercier.

Sources: Bourdache p287, et al.

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