Vintage French Motorcycles
Paris
Veteran French Tricyle
M. Lombard
French Boardtrack
Motorcycle and Trailer
Famous French Racer
This page lists brands for which little historical information is currently available.
For a more complete listing visit the French Index.
There is also a page on really obscure French 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 Meier brand as Meier-Bac in the years 1932-1938.
Source: wikipedia.nl
Bailleau
Motorcycle exhibited at the Salon des Tuileries in 1899
Bourdache p430
BAGYS
Bayon and Gyss, 3, cité Magenta, Paris.
Motorcycle with a 1 ½ 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
Manufacture des Cycles Ballis, 3 Rue Palissy, Saint-Etienne
Established as a bicycle firm in 1932, production of BMA lightweights began in 1952 using Le Poulain engines. The firm was acquired the following year by Aquila.
Source: OTTW
Barigo
Manufactured by Patrick Barigault, Thouars, France 1973-1997
The first production machines appeared in 1980 with Rotax engines, and many were built for competitions such as the Paris-Dakar, later using Yamaha engines. The history of this marque is long and colourful, beginning with frames for Bultaco and Honda competition machines, a partnership with Siccardi, La Magie Noire, involvement with Société Perrotin Automotion, and production of machines for both the military and the police.
Sources: Wikipedia FR, et al.
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 Freres 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.
A quaint little three-wheeler with a single small front wheel is displayed on this stand. The tout ensemble is reminiscent of an invalid chair (for which type of vehicle the manufacturers are famous). Both single and two-seaters are made, and both are engined by horizontally-opposed two-stroke air-cooled engines combined with two-speed gears and fully enclosed magnetos. The final drive is by shaft and worm gear to a neat live rear axle.
The Motor Cycle, October 1919
Barrière
See Barrière
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 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 Mathon of Grenoble in 1958 and were probably rebadged Mercier machines, to which they bore a very strong resemblance.
Source: OTTW
Benitaco
This was a 50cc racing machine which appeared low in the results for two GP events in 1982, ridden by Pascal Kambourian. It is likely that very few were built.
Source: OTTW
Benoît Faure
A well-known cyclist active in the 20s and 30s, Faure established a factory at 45 Rue Paillons in Saint-Etienne and produced mopeds and velomoteurs from 1954 to 1956. Despite the firm's short lifespan it produced around a dozen different models powered by engines from Comet, Myster, Mistral, Himo, Villiers and Le Poulain of up to 100cc.
Source: OTTW
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 to sport aviation, Formula One racers and sailplanes (gliders) among others.
Source: beringer-aero.com
Bernasse
Place de la Re´publique Toucy - Yonne
V-twins and single-cylinder motocyclettes built by Maximilien Bernasse, c1906-1907, using engines from Deckert of Paris, among others. An example dated c.1906 has a single cylinder engine mounted low in the frame in front of the pedal crank, and is fitted with a Hygina central spring fork. It was part of the Guélon Collection. The Bernasse factory still exists and is in use for the restoration and display of Citroen DS motor cars.
Bourdache p430
Bernet
Built at 4 Rue Thiers, Choisy-Le-Roi near Paris, 1952-1954, these were lightweights powered by 48cc Cucciolo and other engines.
Source: OTTW
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
Betty see Baud
BGA
Founded in 1900 as a manufacturer of firearms and bicycles, some five decades later the firm entered the motorcycle trade with mopeds using Junior and Solano engines, built at 64 Rue Antoine Durafour, Saint-Etienne in 1953 and '54.
Source: OTTW
Bichrone
1902-1907
Henri Lepappe of Paris built motorcycles with their own twin-cylinder two-stroke engines which were supplied to manufacturers. The firm was one of the first to use two-stroke engines.
Sources: Tragatsch p87, wikipedia.nl
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 believed to have been based in Grenelle, Paris, from 1930 to 1935. B.J.S. are thought to have used frames built by Gam of St Etienne.
Source: OTTW, 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
"Same transmission on the Boillod, but the engine, a two-cylinder, is placed behind the saddle of the pilot. "
Bourdache p112
Boisette
303 rue du faubourg Saint Antoine, Paris
Motocyclettes, 1906
Bourdache p431
Boivin
35 Citée des fleurs, Paris
Established 1896, built a motorcycle, and then in 1902 a driving wheel adaptable on all bicycles. Patented.
Bourdache pp 56, 146.
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 1 ½ 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 Broulier, LMP, Zurcher and others in capacities ranging from 175cc to 500cc. It seems likely that motorcycle production ceased in 1929.
Motos dans la Loire
Bonhomme
Motorcycle ridden by Ricard in 1903
Bourdache p146
Bonin
17 avenue de la Motte Piquet, Paris
Motorcycles built 1905 with full suspension from L'Idéal
Bonnefis
Audax 4 ½hp 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. During the 1950s the firm produced several thousand mopeds. It ceased manufacture in 1958, but continued with bicycles until 1976.
Moto Revue 16th Feb 1957 lists the company as building 4,000 cyclomoteurs from 1954 to 1956.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Bonnet
53 rue du Bois, Levallois Perret
1906, motocyclettes
Bourdache p431
Bonnet & Guyonnet
Bonnet & Guyonnet built motocyclettes at 54, Rue d'Hautpoul, Paris, 1907~1910.
M. Canonne had also been involved with the firm, it appears, and left on Christmas Day in 1910. The firm at that time were still building motorcycles and used the Phebus brand. An advertisement appeared in September 1918 "Automobilia" for Phebus motorcycles.
The firm still existed in 1926 but did not appear to be building motorcycles.
babethhistoires.centerblog.net, Bourdache p435
Bonnet-Jumel
1903, Motocyclettes et tricars.
58, rue Claude-Villefaux, Paris, and 183 bis, rue du Faubourg Poissonniere, Paris
Bourdache p431
Bordes
Motorcycle exhibited in December 1901
Bourdache p431
Bouilly
Motorised bicycle built in Chartres, 1899. The company closed the same year.
Bourdache pp 68, 69
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.
Bourdache p136
Bourgery
A Motor-bicycle with petrol engine located behind the pedals constructed in Nogentle-Rotrou by M. Bourgery from 1986 until at least 1900. He had concieved the idea for the machine in 1893, at the tender age of 19.
Two of these, both dated c.1898, were part of the Guélon Collection. They are very similar, differing only with the lack of crankcase markings on one presumed to be the earlier model.
Bourdache p431
Bourgoin
Tricycle with De Dion-Bouton Engine of 1899.
Bourdache p431
Boveil
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
239 Boulevard Pereire, Paris
Established in 1898, E.J. Brierre, Perrenoud and Gansewinkel built trimoteurs, quatris and automobiles with petrol engines. The company closed in 1901
Bourdache p432
Briest
109 rue de Rennes, Nantes
The Briest brothers ran a motor bicycle in the 1895 Paris-Bordeaux-Paris.
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.
Bourdache p432
Brooklyn
Moto Revue N°523 of 18th March 1933 has an article on the Brooklyn 250 cc SV JAP
La Moto Francaise
Brousset
Light motorcycle engine presented at the 1902 Salon
Bourdache p432
Brun-Latrige
The firm was founded in 1836 and built weapons and bicycles at 7 Cours Fauriel, Saint-Etienne. Their first motorcycles appeared in 1909 fitted with a Keller Dorian 1 ¾hp and looking like a Pernod.
Source: Motos dans la Loire, encycloduvelo.fr
Bruneau
1899. Motocyclettes & Tricars
12 rue Victor Hugo, Tours
Their Type MH of c1905 had a liquid-cooled cylinder head, two radiators, and a fully enclosed, sealed chaincase which eliminated the need for pedal crank chain.
A machine with an enormous Buchet Rigal engine was capable of 125 km/h, and was exceedingly dangerous.
Sources:
1. moto-collection.org
2. Bourdache mentions this marque often - pp111, 117, 123, 133, 143, 146, 151, 157, 159, 160, 172, 174, 178, 205, 209, 229, 299, 320, 322, 325.
Brunet
27 to 31 rue des Archives, Paris
Cycles and motorcycles exhibited at the 1908 Paris Salon
Bourdache p432
Buard 1907
Moto à vapeur, featured on an Atlas Card
Bugatti
Etore Bugatti, famed for his sports and racing cars, built bicycles as early as 1913. He also built a limited number of T.72 bicycle attachment engines, the likes of which had never been seen before. They were tiny OHV engines, the smallest being 12.66 cc. This one was produced in 1944 in France, probably the last of around seven he built.
Bugatti was also involved with La Stucchi & C. motorcycle firme.
Source: bugattirevue.com
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.
