Veteran French Motorcycles
Chapleur Collection
Chapleur Collection
Chapleur Collection
Chapleur Collection
Chapleur Collection
Motorcycle Combination
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.
Tauzin
1898
11 rue Bellanger Levallois
Copper fins graced their single-cylinder and V-twin engines, which were fitted to Papillon tricycles.
Bourdache p80
Tavernier
1921-23
Based in Paris, the firm built motorcycles using engines supplied by Zürcher, JAP and Blackburne of 175 to 500cc.
Sources: wikipedia.nl, Tragatsch p282
Teilhol
The Teilhol Citadine was presented at the 1972 Paris Salon and the Citadine Citacom was marketed in 1973. It was a three-wheeler powered by an electric motor wotj a fibreglass body mounted on a tubular steel chassis. It had drum brakes front and rear, weighed 500 kg and a claimed maximum speed of 50 km/h, with a range of between 70 and 100 km.
Source: Autopasion18.com
Terrioux
Frères Terrioux, whose father had built motorcycles in the 1930s, founded the company in 1948 in Paris. Pierre and Paul built a scooter in 1951 with a water-cooled engine (possibly from P.P. Roussey) and raced it in the 175 class at the 1957 Bol d'Or, without result. They did better in 1958. They won.
Source: François-Marie Dumas
The Pretty
Circa 1905
120 rue de Sevres, Paris
Then 45 rue de Bagneux, Montrouge
Motorcycle 1 HP ¼ or 2 HP "without carburettor".
Bourdache p441
Tibalette
Motorcycles built Kremlin-Bicêtre, a firm established by bicycle racer Tibal prior to WWI. The Tibalette appeared in the 1920s.
Tigre
Tigre 1970-1975
Titania
Motorcycle presented at the salon of 1901
The company was dissolved in March 1903
Bourdache p117
TNT
Sacim Distribution, 135 avenue Pierre Sémard, Min bâtiment D3, 84000, Avignon, France.
Models offered: Streetmax, Cancun, Escape, Dixon, XCO 125, XCR 125, Good Vibes 125.
Website: tnt-motor.com
FB: fb.com/tntmotor.officiel (Last post Sept. 2023)
Tortue, La
1900 Savariaux, 34, boulevard de Clichy, Paris.
Fitted with a Brutus engine.
Bourdache pp 110, 442
Totey
1901-1904
71 rue Liégat, Yvry
Motocyclette with engine in the frame
Bourdache p402
La Tractocyclette
Manufactured by J. Journaux, 1905-1906
56 rue des Cévennes, Paris
Presented at the at the 1905 Salon, this was a motorized bicycle with a Garreau engine mounted above the front wheel, with belt drive. The fuel tank was mounted low in the frame, requiring the rider to pressurise the tank using an air pump.
The top speed of the Tractocyclette was advertised as 45 km/h.
More information under Fulgur
Bourdache pp 257, 279, 280
Tractavant
Microcar designed in 1951 by Henry Lanoy at 6 Place Jacquart, Saint-Étienne, the three-wheeler was built by the sidecar specialist Simard. The body was clad in aluminium, and the front wheel was driven by a 125cc engine. Only a few were sold.
See also Socvel.
Trèfle-A-Quatre
Built by cycle and automobile manufacturer Georges Richard, this appears to have been a motorised 2 or 3-wheeler built before the turn of the century. Related to Rochet, Rochet-Bruneau and Roland.
Bourdache p442
Trelba
M. Albert built three-wheeled cyclecars from 1932 to 1934 powered by JAP OHV engines mounted under a hood, with power transmitted to both front wheels.
Another version used a similar engine to power the rear wheel by chain via a 3-speed gearbox.
The Trelba (an anagram of Albert) competed in the cyclecar class of the 1934 Bol d'Or.
Source: OTTW
Trépardoux
"...the door of a small wooden building in La Chapelle ... a brass plaque mentioned "Bouton & Trépardoux".
... a business association began in 1881 and a small workshop was named "Trépardoux et Cie". De Dion brought funds, Georges-Thadée Bouton his mechanical expertise and Trépardoux, Bouton's brother-in-law, his engineering skills.
Bourdache pp 12, 21, 36-38.
Trike & Side
Previously named Yukon Motorcycle Technology, founded in 2010 by Didier Mesure.
1 rue de l'Alsace, 24400 St-Front de Pradoux, France
Conversions include Goldwing GL1800 Trike and Hannigan GTL Goldwing GL1800 Sidecar.
Website: trike-side.fr
FB: fb.com/trikeside
Trilby
H. Chapput of 19 rue Kéller, Paris
In 1904, the catalogue of H. Chaput offered the 1903 2hp Henri Popp motorcycle re-branded as a Trilby. He also offered separately a Popp 2½ HP engine.
Bourdache p442
Triumphus
Manufactured by Ledonien Cycle in Lons-et-Saunier (Jura) 1950~1960.
The firm built a variety of mopeds under the names Clarus, Clipper, Debello and Triumphus.
Source: OTTW
Trophée de France
Machines built by France Motor Cycles of Mandeure and sold under this brand.
Models include: 1947 Type 555C; 1948 Type 555D 125cc Peugeot engine
Trotilex
Manufactured from 1999 to 2002 in Hasparren, SW France, the scooter-like machines were fitted with engines and other components made at the Solex plant in Hungary. The engines were mounted above the front wheel. Some 5 to 6 hundred were built.
Sources: amlgc17.fr/Trotilex.php, et al
Tungnaud-Cavelier
58 rue d'Allemagne, Paris, 1902
2 HP motorcycle using petrol or alcohol.
Bourdache p442
Rarer French Marques
