Vintage French Motorcycles
Paris
Veteran French Tricycle
M. Lombard
French Boardtrack
Motorcycle and Trailer
Famous French Racer
The machines, their designers and their history.
For a more complete listing visit the French Index.
There is also a page on obscure French motorcycle brands.
BAC
Manufactured by Louis Bac, an aviation engineer with experience at Peugeot.
These were 2400cc V-twin bicycle pacers built from 1925 to 1939. Arthur Pasquier had a hand in the construction and design, and later they were sold under the Meyer brand as Meyer-Bac in the years 1932-1938. (aka Meier-Bac).
Source: wikipedia.nl
Bachelard
Roger Bachelard of Aix-les-Bains advertised cyclomoteurs, scooters and motos. His cyclomoteurs were powered by Mistral engines (probably 56A) and were most likely rebranded Aquila mopeds.
Sources: 50cc.forum-actif.eu, encycloduvelo.fr, et al.
Bailleau
Motorcycle exhibited at the Salon des Tuileries in 1899
Bourdache p430
BAGYS
Bayon and Gyss, 3, cité Magenta, Paris.
Motorcycle with a 1½ HP Bahon engine, built 1903
Bahon
Motorcycle exhibited at the Salon in 1902; supplied engines to Bagys.
Bourdache p146
Bainchet
Motorcycle exhibited at the Salon in 1902
Bourdache p146
Ballis 1952-1962
Barré
Built by G.Barré, 79 Deux-Sèvres Niort
The firm dates from 1888 and produced automobiles, motorcycles and cycles. It was acquired by Guiller Frères in 1927.
OTTW states that they built tricycles 1898-1908, and that the firm merged with Lamberton in 1923, building automobiles thenceforward.
Sources: Bourdache, forum.tontonvelo.com, OTTW
Barrellier 1919
Baud
Établissements Baud in Doubs, Franche-Comté 1950-1960
The company built mopeds which were also marketed under the brand names Betty, Elfil, Luxia and Jurasport.
Source: The Moped Archive (globalnet.co.uk)
Baudoin et Cie
Established in 1899 at 19 rue Fontainebleau, Saint Etienne, the company made spokes for wheels fitted to motorcycles, cycles and automobiles.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Bauchet
Motorcycle exhibited at the Salon in 1902
Bourdache p430
Baudier
Tricycle presented at the Salon des Tuileries, 1899
Bourdache p430
Bayle-Michon
Bayle and Michon formed a partnership in 1925 and produced motorcycles fitted with Givaudan and Moser engines. The firm was based in the Loire district.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Bazile
Located in Montbrison, Loire, during the 1950s the firm sold mopeds sourced from Automoto, VBF and possibly others under their own name. In 1958 Bazile was an agent for Manurhin and Peugeot.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
B.C.A.
28 rue des tanneries, Roanne, and 85 rue Emile Zola, Reims
Sold motorcycles under the brands Parfait, BCA and Mylor in the 1930s and 1940s. Their BCA 100 c.1930 is believed to be a rebadged Ravat.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Bellamy
Motocyclette presented at the salon in 1902, clutch and chain transmission
Bourdache p146
Belledonne
These were mopeds marketed by Ets Mathon of 16 rue de Paris, Grenoble in 1958 and were built by Mercier.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Benitaco
These were 50cc racing machines with Kreidler engines, built from at least 1974. A Benitaco ridden by Pascal Kambourian scored 4 wins in French 50cc races in 1982.
Sources: racingmemo.free.fr, et al.
Benoit Faure 1951-1956
Beringer
Gilbert and Véronique Beringer formed the Beringer Company in 1985. The firm manufactured motorcycle wheels, forks and sidecars. Post-2000, they produced products for Formula One racers, sport aviation, and sailplanes (gliders) among others.
Source: beringer-aero.com
Bernasse 1906~1914
Bernet
Built at 4 Rue Thiers, Choisy-Le-Roi near Paris, 1952-1954, these were lightweights powered by 48cc Cucciolo and other engines.
The Cucciolo engines were supplied under licence from Rocher.
Source: cyclovap.fr
Berthenod et Guigard
Founded in 1904, the firm had addresses at 35 rue Balay and 42 rue Prefecture in Saint Etienne
They built components for cycles and automobiles
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Bertaut
The firm offered two 50cc two-stroke mopeds in 1963, the Centurion and the Jupiter.
Source: OTTW
Berthier
In 1899 he built an petrol-engined bicyclette with large rear wheel, a small front wheel and a strongly triangulated frame.
Bourdache p430
Bertin's new 30 h.p. single-cylinder pacing machine on which he will endeavour to pace a racing cyclist 100 kilometres (62.1 miles) in the hour.
Bertin
Jean Bertin was a French cyclist who later built pacers which he piloted at many events in France and elsewhere.
Some of his machines were tandems, with a pilot in the front seat steering the machine while Bertin maintained control of the engine.
Sources: motorcyclemojo.com, lepetitbraquet.fr, et al
Betty see Baud
BGA
Founded in 1900 by Claude Blanchard as a manufacturer of firearms and bicycles, some five decades later Ets Blanchard-Grange entered the motorcycle trade with mopeds using Junior and Solano engines, built at 64 Rue Antoine Durafour, Saint-Etienne in 1953 and '54.
Claude Denis Blanchard became manager of the firm in 1959 after the death of his father. The firm employed 10 people in 1984 making bicycles.
Sources: Motos dans la Loire, et al.
Bichrone 1902-1907
Bidalot
A famous name in the history of French motorcycling, Jean Bidalot of Urrugne began building motorcycles in 1967. These early efforts were very fast 50cc racing machines. He went on to become head designer at Pernod which ran his creations in the 125 and 250 GPs, winning six titles. In 1983 he moved to MBK and is probably best known for the Magnum XR engines. Having contracted a debilitating disease he returned to his origins where he developed a line in go-faster gear for competition motorcycles, a business continued by his sons.
Source: OTTW
Birma
Lightweights built in Lyon 1949 to 1959 using 98cc Aubier & Dunne engines.
Source: OTTW
Bisson-Berger
Two-wheel engine for tricycles - ran to the coast of Chanteloup in 1898
Bourdache p430
BJS
Motorcycles manufactured by M. Bogey based in Grenelle, Paris, from c1926 to 1935. B.J.S. are thought to have used frames built by Gam of St Etienne.
Bogey, of 57 Boulevard de Grenelle, Paris, also advertised a 3CV two-stroke with the name Motorbony-x.
Sources: OTTW, period advertising, et al.
B.M.F.
Bourgeois Marechal France was a motorcycle component manufacturer which also built complete motorcycles in the 1920s. Dates are unknown, and the factory was apparently destroyed during the second war.
Source: La Moto Francaise
BMP
A Paris-based automobile company established in 1911 which built motorcycles in the early 1930s using JAP and Rudge Python engines.
Source: OTTW
Boccardo
1987-1989
Louis Boccardo, with Dominique Favario and Thierry Grange, was one of the designers of the BFG. He left that company to build the MF, and later built the Boccardo, of which 5 copies were produced.
Sources: bfg.asso.fr
Boillod
Exhibited at the Paris Salon, 1900.
"Same transmission on the Boillod, but the engine, a two-cylinder, is placed behind the saddle of the pilot." The engine was mounted upside down.
Source: Bourdache p112
Boissette
303 rue du faubourg Saint Antoine, Paris
Motocyclettes, 1904~1906
Jules Beau made a photograph titled "M. Boissette sur Boissette - 1904" showing a solo machine towing a two-wheeled chair carrying a woman.
Source: Bourdache p431
Boivin 1902
Bolide
87 Avenue de la Grande Armée, Paris
1899-1910. Established by Leon Lefebvre, the company had factories in Pantin which built automobiles and motorcycle engines. One source says they built motorcycles of 1½ hp but others are not sure this is so. A motorcycle of inderminate brand with a Bolide engine dated c.1900 was auctioned with the Guélon Collection
Bourdache p320
Bon Avion
Established in 1840 as an arms manufacturer at 8 Place Villeboeuf à St Etienne by M. Bonnavion, construction of motorcycles began in 1927 with flat-tank chain-drive singles using engines from Brouiller, LMP, Zurcher and others in capacities ranging from 175cc to 500cc. It seems likely that motorcycle production ceased in 1929. Bicycle production continued until at least 1951.
Models:
1927 Brouiller 175, Zurcher 250 4T OHV, LMP 350cc, Chaise 500cc
1928 Brouiller 175, Zurcher 250 4T OHV, LMP 350cc, Chaise 500cc
1929 Brouiller 175, Zurcher 250 4T OHV, LMP 350cc, Chaise 500cc
N.B. Some models require verification.
Motos dans la Loire
Bonhomme
Motorcycle ridden by Ricard in 1903
Bourdache p146
Bonnefis
Audax 4½ hp engine, 1905 version of the Lamaudière.
Bourdache p431
Bonnefond
Founded in 1912 at 32 Rue de Champagne, Saint-Etienne, construction of mopeds began in 1949. Some of these were supplied, it appears, to Benoit Faure after that firm's factory was damaged by fire. During the 1950s the firm produced mopeds powered by Mistral and Himo engines. It ceased manufacture in 1958 but continued with bicycles until 1976, when the firm was bought by Mécacycles.
Moto Revue 16th Feb 1957 lists the company as building 4,000 cyclomoteurs from 1954 to 1956. Peak production was in 1957 with 1881 units leaving the factory.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Bonnet (1906)
53 rue du Bois, Levallois Perret
1906, motocyclettes
Bourdache p431
Bonnet (1953)
Scooter built in 1953, Ets Bonnet, 78-80 Ave du Général-Leclerc, Billancourt, Seine.
Bonnet-Jumel
1903, Motocyclettes et tricars.
58, rue Claude-Villefaux, Paris, and 183 bis, rue du Faubourg Poissonniere, Paris
Source: Bourdache p431
Bonneville 1897-1900
Bordes
Motorcycle exhibited in December 1901
Bourdache p431
Bouchet
Built in 1904-1905, these machines ran on acetylene rather than petrol.
Source: Tragatsch p93
Source: Bourdache p431
Bouilly
Motorised bicycle built in Chartres, 1899. The company closed the same year.
Bicyclette Bouilly. — Dans ce système, le moteur est placé entre deux tubes jumeaux reliant la douille au pédalier, le carburateur est placé sous la selle; les accumulateurs et la bobine pour l’allumage électrique sont accrochés au cadre, enfin les manettes sont disposées exactement comme dans le tricycle de Dion.
Il n’existe donc aucune nouveauté, aucune originalité dans ce système, et le premier mécanicien venu peut établir sans peine un motocycle équivalent.
Le moteur, qui développe 80 kilogrammètres au frein, à la vitesse de 1.500 tours par minute, commande la roue d’arrière par une transmission à courroie ; cette dernière se tend à volonté au moyen d’un levier à crémaillère placé à portée de la main, et cette tension variable, combinée avec l’avance à l’allumage, permet d’obtenir toutes les vitesses entre 6 et 35 kilomètres à l’heure. Deux freins disposés chacun sur l’une des roues, assurent d’autre part un arrêt rapide.
Bouilly Bicyclette. — In this system, the motor is placed between two twin tubes connecting the socket to the bottom bracket, the carburettor is placed under the saddle; accumulators and the coil for the electric ignition are attached to the frame, finally the levers are arranged exactly as in Dion's tricycle.
There is therefore no novelty, no originality in this system, and the first mechanic who comes along can easily establish an equivalent motorcycle.
The engine, which develops 80 kilograms at the brake, the speed of 1,500 revolutions per minute, drives the rear wheel by belt transmission; the latter tends at will by means of a rack and pinion lever placed at easy reach, and this variable tension, combined with ignition advance, allows all speeds to be obtained between 6 and 35 kilometers per hour. Two brakes are fitted, each on one of the wheels, ensuring rapid decelleration.
Source: Graffigny Ch. VI, pp 98-104
Bourcard
Built in 1903 by J.J. Bourcard in Colmar, Alsace on the German Border
The machine consisted of two motorcycles side by side - one bike has the rider, and the other the engine in order to isolate the rider from vibration.
Bourdache p431
Bourdiaux
Vertical in-line twin with common combustion chamber, one valve each for inlet and exhaust, built for racing 1900-1901. Used by Demeester.
Source: Bourdache p136
Bourgoin
Tricycle with De Dion-Bouton Engine of 1899.
Source: Bourdache p431
Boveil
Established as Boveil and Bory in 1904, later that year the name changed to Boveil-Dorier.
The company produced motorcycles powered by Givaudan engines from 1904 at 3 rue Bourgneuf in Saint Etienne.
Torpille motorcycles were built until 1907 when the company closed.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Braud
In 1924 built a motorcycle powered by a Massardier 1¼ h.p. engine.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Breuil
35 avenue de la Grande Armée, Paris
Motocyclettes, 1902, powered by Astral engines.
Bourdache pp 431, 146, 320.
Brierre 1898-1903
Briest
109 rue de Rennes, Nantes
The Briest brothers ran a motor bicycle in the 1895 Paris-Bordeaux-Paris.
Source: Bourdache p44
Brissard Fils
11 rue du Colonel Oudot, Paris
Engine used in the contest of the Locomotion Automobile in 1899. It is not clear whether the engines were used in motorcycles.
Source: Bourdache p432
Brissonnet
Also named "P.B.", microcars were manufactured by Pierre Brissonnet, 22ter, Bd Général-Leclerc (Pont de Neuilly).
Before the war the firm built sidecars. The bodies were by Speed, and they were marketed under that brand.
Brissonnet also designed Mors Speed scooters.
Brooklyn
Moto Revue N°523 of 18th March 1933 has an article on the Brooklyn 250 cc SV JAP
Source: La Moto Francaise
Brousset
Light motorcycle engine presented at the 1902 Salon
Bourdache p432
Brunet
27 to 31 rue des Archives, Paris
Albert Brunet built cycles and motorcycles exhibited at the 1908 Paris Salon. A later advertisement gave the dates 1909-1911 for cycles and motocyclettes Etoile, mentioning La "Moto-Becane".
Source: Bourdache p432, Zhumoriste.
Brunner Tricycle
Louis Brunner, 94, rue Gabriel Peri, Columbes (Seine) - constructed ca.1948~1950
Type D had a 125cc twostroke engine. Type B had a twin-cylinder 99cc engine.
A Brunner tricar was photographed by Robert Doisneau. Ce-dessus et a droite: Porte d'Orleans, 1953
Sources: La Moto Francaise, contemporary literature.
Buard 1907
Moto à vapeur (steam-powered) motorcycle photographed by FM Dumas at Musées de Châtellerault.
Designed by Paul Buard in the workshop of Leon Serpollet, Paris 1905. It did not enter commercial production and was one of the last steam motorcycles built.
Bufflier
2, Rue Claude-Rampon, 2 Lyon 1933
31, Cours Emile-ZoIa, 31, Lyon-Villeurbanne. 1951
Built sidecars, and in conjunction with Mors Speed sold scooters designed by M. Bufflier.
Bugatti 1940s
Burton
Built in the 1950s using AMC 4T engines. Primitive telescopic forks, plunger rear.
ID plate reads Burton, Type BGL, Serie 54.
La Moto Francaise
Butler Trimoteurs
In 1899 Portéous Butler established a workshop France to build tricycles of English manufacture with Automoto engines. Because of their colours, his version was named (or nicknamed?) Rouge et Noir
Bourdache p9, p13.
There are several Butler marques so confusion is possible - see Disambiguation
Rarer French Marques
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