Farmbyke
Johnny Callender and Jack Sleep of Waitara designed and built a motorcycle named the Mountain Goat in 1963. The firm went on to build trailers and sidecars along with a new motorcycle, the Farmbyke. Powered by Kawasaki and Suzuki engines of 80 to 120cc, these proved very popular in the 1970s.
Sources: collection.pukeariki.com, stuff.co.nz, et al
Farmtrike
Manufactured by Astill Engineeringin Te Aroha.
Known as the "Farmtrike Landcat" it was powered by a Honda engine.
More information: collection.motat.nz
FTN-Motion
"The first Streetdog was built in a garage by Kiwi founders Luke and Kendall. Today, a team of engineers and technicians craft them in our Hamilton workshop."
The first machines were sold in 2020.
Website: ftnmotion.com
FB: fb.com/ftnmotion
Gnat
Built in Christchurch, the three-wheeled powered tricycle that produced between 1965 and 1973 by Cameron Lewis.
The Gnat was designed with lower pressure tyres to gain traction on rough ground, making the vehicle a precursor to All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). They were able to seat two people, with an empty weight of 145kg and a max speed of 32 km/h. The Mk 1 was powered by a 2-stroke Villiers engine, while later models were powered by a Honda industrial engines, and the Mk3 with a 9hp Briggs & Stratton engine with an automotive gearbox. They used tiller steering.
They became popular in New Zealand with farmers, hunters and fishermen because of their off-road abilities. Their success led to NASA contacting Cameron Lewis & Company Ltd. to purchase one for possible use in space exploration and, for a time, the company diverted efforts into this development. Production of Gnats eventually ceased because the manufacturing company were challenged by lack of access to testing facilities, as well the limitations brought about by batch production.
Sources: collection.motat.nz; digitalnz.org
Kingsbeer Sidecars
J. Kingsbeer Sidecars, Feilding NZ
Carriage and Motor Car Painter and Cycle Side-car Builder
Kingsbeer's Motor Cycle Sidecars.
From almost every part of New Zealand orders are sent to Mr. J. A. Kingsbeer, of Feilding, for his popular coachbuilt sidecars, and since the first introduction of these in 1912, Mr. Kingsbeer's trade in them has trebled. Those who have occasion to use a sidecar will readily tell you that the coach-built article as supplied by Kingsbeer is neater, cheaper, stronger, and more reliable in every respect than those made by the bush carpenter, and another thing — is it safe to ride in just any sort of a construction?
For your life's sake get a coach-built Kingsbeer, one constructed and designed by a qualified tradesman, and which, for comfort and excellence, cannot be beaten. If your cycle agent does not stock the Kingsbeer, or won't get you one, write direct to Feilding. For price and finish they stand alone. Eight different designs to select from. Wind screens, hoods, and all equipment, supplied.
Write J. A. Kingsbeer, proprietor, Carriage Works, Feilding, for prices and all particulars.
Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 107, 2 November 1916, Page 15 (paperspast.natlib.govt.nz)
Mountaineer
An early belt-driven motorcycle with a twin-cylinder engine. 'The Mountaineer' is inscribed on the petrol tank. It may have been sold by Gordon Hughan Ltd of Carterton, NZ.
Source: digitalnz.org
N.B. This may be an import, but the appearance does not match any of the available photos of the two British manufacturers who used the "Mountaineer" name, Marsdens, and Rex of 1902.
Munro
New Zealand's Burt Munro of Invercargill is legendary, the stuff of which movies are made. So they made two, one of which is The World's Fastest Indian.
Herbert James "Burt" Munro was born in Edendale, New Zealand, on March 25, 1899. At the age of 21 he bought an Indian Scout, and began modifying it in 1926. In 1967, at the age of 68, he took his now much modified machine to Bonneville Salt Flats and achieved a world record.
In total Munro took 14 trips to Bonneville and achieved 3 world records, one of which still stands.
"You're kidding! No way! He didn't! Holy cow!" - Burt Munro at Wikipedia
NZeta
Manufactured by JNZ Manufacturing Ltd at 22 England St, Ponsonby, Auckland, 1961 to 1963.
Assembled using parts imported from CZ by Lorenz Von Sommeruga of Kawasaki Motors, along with locally made exhausts and other components. NZ import regulations at the time required that 25% of the vehicle should be locally produced. For the NZeta this included local body welding work, chrome plating and the fabrication of steel components.
The scooter is a two-seater with a monocoque chassis. Powered by a 175cc two-stroke Jawa petrol it and has a maximum speed of 75km per hour. It was priced at £219.
Based on the Cezeta 501 and 502 models, some 4000 scooters were built over the three years of production. The factory closed when demand for such scooters dropped off.
Sources: nzeta.com, collection.motat.nz
Pearse
Built in 1912 by inventor Richard Pearse when he was living in Milton, Otago. Pearse attached a spare aero-engine to a conventional bicycle to travel between his farm and the town of Milton. Pearse’s biographer, Gordon Ogilvie, includes memoirs shared by Milton residents of the time describing the sound and sight of the bicycle which was used by Pearse to attend sporting events or collect supplies.
The engine was described by engineer E. Harry as a single cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke petrol engine made from sheet metal, with modifications likely made by Pearse. It was not the first aero-engine Pearse had come across, as records show he had already built at least two of his own aircraft engines while he was experimenting and testing his monoplane – two- and four-cylinder engines described by Pearse in a 1906 patent and the latter by the Temuka Leader in 1909.
Source: collection.motat.nz
Stella
Stella Cycle Works, C. T. Jessep and Co., of Temuka, (near Timaru), was established in July 1899 by Charles Jessep and Raymond Every. In October 1901 they produced New Zealand's first motorcycle, powered by a 1¼ h.p. Minerva engine which had been imported by A.G. Healing.
"On July 10,1901 A.G. Healing & Co. of Christchurch, reported that they had ordered a motor cycle to the order of a client..."
"The first arrival of a class of bicycle which in a few years promises to become as common as the modern safety , made its debut in public on Monday week at the Canterbury Athletic and Cycling Club's evening carnival at Lancaster Park. The motor is a 'Minerva', constructed after the De Dion pattern, and was imported by A.G. Healing and Co. to the order of Messrs Jessop and Every, of the Stella Cycle Works, Temuka."
~ The Wheelman
See also Wood, below.
Article on the Stella and Wood. Well worthwhile. bsaoc.co.nz
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Beaded Wheels.
Howard and Ruby Tripp of Orari Gorge Station, just north of Geraldine, with Wood's motor tricycle, 1903
Wood
Cecil Walden Wood of Timaru is believed to have built the first petrol engine in New Zealand, in late 1897.
In 1900 he constructed a three-wheeled motor tricycle with a 2hp engine which drove the right hand rear wheel by belt. The front wheel was steered by tiller.
In November 1901 a regional newspaper stated that C T Jessop and Co of Temuka had made New Zealand's first motor-cycle, and it is known that Wood completed his own motor-cycle in December 1901. This machine had one of Wood's engines, but subsequent machines were powered by Minerva.
Wood was a friend of pioneer aviator Richard Pearse, and supplied him with an engine for his aeroplane.
He also built motor cars. In 1904 finances took a dive and he entered bankruptcy. Subsequently he spent a long and fruitful life in the motor trade and died in 1965 at the age of 91.
Sources: teara.govt.nz, Wikipedia, et al
