Vintage French Motorcycles
Paris
Veteran French Tricycle
M. Lombard
French Boardtrack
Motorcycle and Trailer
Famous French Racer
This page lists brands for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the French Index.
There is also a page on really obscure French brands.
Jacquelin
24 avenue de la Grande Armée, Paris
A former cyclist, in 1902 he built an unusual machine with a steering-wheel and link rod (De Dion-Bouton engine of 114 X 120mm: 1225cc)
1903 saw him participate, still with De Dion, in the quarter-liter criterion.
1904/1905 he tries to launch a machine with a smaller engine.
Bourdache p437
Japauto 1972~1976
Jarret
La Voiture Electronique Porquerolles was manufactured by the Jarret Brothers from 1969. At least three versions were built, some with three wheels and joystick controls.
Source: Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum
JBB
Jean-Bertrand Bruneau of Le Mans built an endurance racer in 1994 using a form of hub centre steering which ran in the 1994 Le Mans 24 Hour and the 1995 Bol d'Or. A second machine remained incomplete in his workshop for some years. Both were powered by Kawasaki 750cc fours.
Sources: François-Marie Dumas, kerloclassic.com
J.B. Louvet 1913-1914 (Puteaux)
Jeanperrin
Manufactured by Jeanperrin Frères, Glay, 1892-1905
Louis Jeanperrin, in partnership with Adolphe Kégresse, initially built bicycles. The first motorcycles appeared in 1892, followed by automobiles two years later.
A surviving and perhaps unique example has an AIV 280cc 2 h.p. vertical engine which was built in the Glay factory. It has pedals and a chain driven rear wheel, something quite uncommon until over a decade later.
Jeanperrin died in an accident in 1905, and proceedings came to a halt.
Kégresse went on to develop military tracked vehicles, of which much is written.
Sources: de.wikipedia.org, rmce.fr.
JCM
Manufactured 1985-1987
Joël Corroy built specialist observed trials machines engines in Vesoul from around 1984, and as demand increased he moved to larger premises in Santoche. Management transfered to Streit in 1987. In total over 400 trials motorcycles were constructed using engines from Tau, Moto Villa and GasGas. There were several twin-shock models, and a monoshock 323.
JCM displayed ten different machines at the 1989 Paris Salon.
Sources: wikipedia.nl, retrotrials.com, François-Marie Dumas
J.G. Engines
Paris-based motorcycle engine manufacturer, pre 1914.
Bourdache p437
Jochum
Motorcycle exhibited at the second Salon, December 1901.
Bourdache p117
J.O.G.
1906. J. Grosse Manufacturer of bicycles, and later built tandems and tricars. Possibly related to Grosse-Goubault.
Bourdache p437
Jouclard
Manufactured in Dijon, 1903-1907
Motorcycle engaged in Paris-Bordeaux-Paris from 1904, ridden by Jouclard
Bourdache p437
Jouve
In the press of the time there was frequent mention of a Jouve sidecar. In fact the product was English, better known under the name Mills-Fullford for whom Jouve was the representative in Paris.
Bourdache p365
Judenne
25 ave Parmentier, Paris
Manufactured mopeds in the 1950s using Cucciolo engines (from Rocher) and possibly VAP, and in 1954 introduced the Scot scooter using a 70cc 3-speed Lavalette engine.
Sources: Wikipedia NL, cyclemaster.wordpress.com
Jules Dubois
23 avenue des Champs Elysées, Paris
Built tricycles with DE DION engines, 1899~1906
Bourdache p437
Jullian
Usine de Bicyclettes électriques de Bésançon built 175cc motorcycles circa 1915.
Source: Wikipedia NL
Juncker
Manufactured by Motocycles et Moteurs Juncker of Mulhouse in north-eastern France, 1935-1937
These were lightweight motorcycles using Stainless and Aubier & Dunne engines of 98cc to 147cc.
Source: Wikipedia NL
Rarer French Marques
