Australian motorcycles can not be called the most famous in the world. Most people have probably never heard of any of the bike brands from Australia, though they exist, and the list of them is pretty impressive. However, most of the brands have ceased their operations in the first half of the 20th century. Australian brands usually use imported parts for assembling their models.

Hunter Motorcycles

Founded: 2007
Headquarters: Perth, Australia
Website: www.huntermotorcycles.com.au

Hunter is one of the most famous Australian motorcycle brands, which was established in 2006. The brand is specialized in the production of cholera and street-bikes, which are loved both by amateur and experienced bikers, for their exquisite and chic design and high-quality technical characteristics.

The first model of the Hunter Motorcycle was produced in 2007 and became popular really fast. In 2017 the brand started expanding to international markets.

Sol Invictus

Founder: John Benton
Headquarters: Alexandria, New South Wales, Australia
Website: www.solinvictus.com.au

Another well-known motorcycle manufacturer started the distribution of its vehicle in 2007. The brand is specialized in the production of street bikes and choppers. To date, Sol Invictus has three models in its portfolio: Mercury 250 Cafe Racer, Nemesis 400 Mk2 Scrambler, and Apollo Cafe Racer. Most of the details for the Sol Invictus motorcycles are produced in China.

Thumpstar

Founded: April 2004
Founder: Timothy Hunter
Headquarters: Australia
Website: www.thumpstar.com.au

Thump star is a motorcycle manufacturing brand, which was established in Australia in 2004. The founder of the company is a famous racer, Timothy Hunter, and he knows how a perfect pit bike should look and ride like. The company distributes its bikes worldwide and is considered to be one of the good pit bike manufacturers in the market.

Bolwell

Founded: 1962

Probably, the most well-known internationally Australian motorcycle brand is Bolwell, the brand which was established in 1962 and specialized in the production of sports cars for the first decade of its history. Today the brand, which got its rebirth in 2009, also designs cars but is more popular for its scooters.

Among discontinued Australian brands are Waratah (1911 — 1948), a producer of street bikes, Bennett & Barkell (1910 — 1932), which used British compartments for its motorcycles, and Aussi Also, a company which was created with the idea of the progressive manufacturing brand, in 1920.

ACME

Waratah

Bennett & Barkell

Like almost any other European country, Austria has its iconic automaking and motorcycle manufacturing brands. There are currently several large world-known bike brands in the country, which have a very strong reputation in the world’s market. An important thing about the Austrian moto industry is that it has always been there — the first brand, Punch, was established in 1899, which was earlier than many other legendary brands. Though the growth of the market started in the country in the middle of the 1990s, with the increase of the international popularity of such large names as KTM and Husqvarna.

KTM

Founded: 1934
Founder: Hans Trunkenpolz
Headquarters: Mattighofen, Upper Austria, Austria
Parent: CROSS Industries AG Bajaj Auto Limited
Subsidiaries: Husaberg Husqvarna
Website: www.ktm.com

KTM is a famous motorcycle manufacturer, founded in 1934 by Hans Trunkenpolz. Today the company is headquartered in Mattighofen, Austria. In 1992 the KTM Motor-Fahrzeugbau group declared bankruptcy and split into four independent companies, one of which is the iconic KTM Sportmotorcycle AG.

Today under the KTM brand some of the most popular sports motorcycles are produced for various types of racing. The KTM racers became champions of various rallies and marathons several times.

Husqvarna

Founded: 1904, Huskvarna, Sweden
Headquarters: Mattighofen, Austria
Parent organization: KTM
Website: www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com

Husqvarna is the motorcycle brand, which originated in Sweden in 1903, but moved to Austria after it was acquired by KTM AG in 2013. Husqvarna Motorcycles is a company that produces motocross, enduro, and supermoto racing bikes as well as dual-purpose bikes.

Today it is headquartered in Mattighofen, Austria. It traces its history back to 1903 when a subsidiary of the large industrial corporation Husqvarna AB appeared in the Swedish town of Husqvarna, and at the beginning of its history, it was specialized in making weapons, sewing machines, and even wood stoves.

Puch

Founded: 1899
Defunct: 1987
Founder: Johann Puch
Headquarters: Graz, Austria
Parent: Piaggio (1987-1997) Grimaldi Industri (1997 – 2011) Josef Faber 2011
Website: www.puch-bikes.com

Puch is a legendary Austrian motorcycle brand, which was established in 1899 by Johann Puch. Today the company is headquartered in Graz and produces not only famous bikes but also bicycles and city cars.

The company began making its motorcycle engines in 1901, the first car came out in 1904. In 1906 was created a successful two-seater car Puch Voiturette with a two-cylinder engine, and in 1909 the Puch car set a record in speed (130.4 km/h).

Motorcycles and mopeds were produced by the company until the early 1980s, then, because of the steady decline of the motor market, all production capacity was given to the production of Gelandwagens for Mercedes Benz.

Rotax

Founded: 1920
Headquarters: Gunskirchen, Upper Austria, Austria
Parent: Bombardier Recreational Products
Website: www.rotax.com

Rotax was established in Germany in 1920 and moved to Austria in 1943. The international popularity comes to Rotax in 1950 when Lohnerwerke GmbH began producing the Lohner Scooter. The Austrian company designed and created the two-stroke engines for the scooter. Later, in 1967, Rotax began producing engines for Bombardier, which launched off-road motorcycles under the Can-Am brand.

Husaberg

Founded: 1988
Founder: Thomas Gustavsson
Headquarters: Mattighofen, Austria
Parent: KTM
Website: www.husaberg.com

Husaberg is a small Swedish manufacturer that has been producing bikes since 1988. In 1995, this company was bought by KTM. Since then, the model range of both manufacturers began to have common features. In 2003, the motorcycle company moved to Austria.

In 2012, KTM completely changed the motorcycle lineup by applying the latest technology and development. The company has been producing off-road and supermoto motorcycles since 1988.

There were also two historical discontinued Austrian motorcycle brands — Delta-Gnom and Stey-Daimler-Puch. The first one was established in 1923 and closed in 1955, and the second one existed from 1864 until 2001.

Delta-Gnom

Great Britain is an industrial country, which in addition to luxury cars produces top-rated motorcycles. British motorcycles are considered to be of sufficient quality in the market of the world moto industry. The motorcycles from the UK are sometimes created in a vintage form, which allows them to be quite popular among the richest aesthetes of the planet.

The British motorcycle industry began to settle and develop more than a century ago. The world wars showed throughout Europe a huge list of advantages of such transport, including its reliability and practicality.

Since 1930, the British motorcycle industry had experienced a huge raise. Triumph and Norton, BSA and AJS, Triumph, Matchless, Vincent, and Velocette bike brands were earning and strengthening their reputation not only in the country but internationally. World War II slowed this process down, but in the 1950s the industry began reviving again.

During the 1950s and mid-1960s, Italian racers took over from British racers on the track, but not in the motorcycle production. This period gave birth to the most iconic bike modes, such as Triumph Bonneville and Ariel Square Four.

Some of the historical motorcycle brands got discontinued in the 1970s, but most are still alive and prospering today.

Triumph

Founded: June 30, 1983
Founder: John Bloor
Headquarters: Hinckley, United Kingdom
Parent organization: Bloor Holdings Limited
Website: www.triumphmotorcycles.com

The number one British motorcycle manufacturer is undoubtedly Triumph. Founded in 1885 as a Triumph Engineering, the brand produced its first bicycle already in 1889, and the first Triumph motorcycle saw the light in 1902, being one of the pioneering models on the world market. Triumph #1 was more of a bicycle with a reinforced frame and a 2.5 hp engine. The rear wheel was belt-driven, but there was also a chain drive from the pedals.

Today Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. is a part of Bloor Holdings. The brand has seven regional marketing and distribution divisions all over Europe, Japan, and the USA, and is headquartered in Leicestershire, UK. The company and its offices around the world employ about one thousand people, including 600 in the UK. Sales of Triumph motorcycles range from 40 to 45 thousand units per year.

Royal Enfield

Founded: 1955
Headquarters: Chennai, India
Parent organization: Eicher Motors
Website: www.royalenfield.com

Royal Enfield is another famous British motorcycle brand, which was established in 1901, and already in 1902 has released its first motorcycle. The beginning of the 20th century was marked by the production of a two-wheeled motorcycle with a single-cylinder four-stroke engine, located in front of the steering column, which was replaced by the Royal Enfield bike with the engine installed in the lower corner of the frame. In 1904, the company decided to change its specialization to the production of cars, but this decision did not justify itself, and by 1910 the production of motorcycles was resumed.

The British Royal Enfield company ceased all its operations in 1971, after moving most of the business to India, where the motorcycles under this brand are still being produced today.

Norton

Founded: 1898, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Founder: Castle Donington, United Kingdom
Headquarters: Castle Donington, United Kingdom
Parent organization: Parent organizations: TVS Motor Company, Norton Villiers Triumph, Associated Motor Cycles
Website: www.nortonmotorcycles.com

Norton is a British motorcycle manufacturing brand, which was established by James Landsdowne Norton in 1898 and started the production of the bikes in 1902. The first motorcycles of the company were built with Belgian, and later, French engines. The first model with the Norton engine was introduced in 1908 and was called  Norton Big Four.

The most famous Norton motorcycle is Commando, which is being produced by the brand since 1967, with some modifications and refreshed versions.

Brough Superior

Founded: 1919
Founder: George Brough
Headquarters: Haydn Road, Nottingham, England
Defunct: 1940
Website: www.broughsuperiormotorcycles.com

Brough Superior was founded by William Brough and his son in Nottingham, at the very beginning of the 20th century.

The company’s first bike was created in 1902 when the first motorcycle models were showing up on the world’s market. The Brough debutant had a low-powered single-cylinder motor. By 1908, the company had developed a whole range of two-wheelers that used V-engines with output from 2.5 to 5 horses.

In recent years, the brand, which has been dormant for more than half a century, has been particularly active in trying to get back into the big race.

Matchless

Founded: 1899, Plumstead, London, United Kingdom
Founder: Henry Herbert Collier
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Ceased operations: 1966

Matchless is one of the oldest motorcycle brands not only in Great Britain but in the world. The company was founded by Henry Herbert Collier in 1878, and like most of its contemporaries, started with the production of bicycles. In 1898 Matchless began experimenting with installing internal combustion engines on its bicycles.

The first production Matchless motorcycle was produced in 1901. It had a single-cylinder motor suspended from the front tube of the frame and a belt drive to the rear wheel.

In 1905, a motorcycle with a two-cylinder V-shaped engine was introduced. This motorcycle was one of the first in the world to have not only front wishbone suspension but also pendulum rear suspension.

The most famous motorcycle of the brand, which ceased all operations in 1966, is Silver Hawk the world’s first V4 motorcycle with a dry crankcase.

Francis Barnett

Website: www.francis-barnett.org

Francis-Barnett is one of the oldest motorcycle brands in Great Britain, which ceased to exist in 1966. The company was established by Gordon Francis and Arthur Barnett and produced its motorcycles from 1919 to 1966. The brand originally manufactured 125cc two-stroke motorcycles with Villiers and AMC engines.

Ariel

Founded: 1902
Founder: James Starley William Hillman
Headquarters: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Ceased operations: 1970
Parent organization: Birmingham Small Arms Company
Website: www.arielmotor.co.uk

Ariel is another well-known British brand, which was established in 1870, by James Starley and William Hillman. During the first years, the company was focused on the production of all-metal bicycles, which were sold under the name Ariel. Later Ariel expanded its scope of activity, starting to produce components for some other British bicycles. But the true success came only when the firm began to produce more technically complex means of transportation — motorcycles.

Before ceasing its operations in the 1970th, the motorcycle brand released several iconic models, such as Ariel Leader and FH Huntmaster.

AJS

Ambassador

Bown

BSA

Chater-Lee

Cheney Racing

Coventry Victor

DMW

Greeves

Ivy

JA Prestwich

Métisse

New Imperial Motors

Phelon & Moore

Quasar

Rudge Whitworth Cycles

Velocette

Wooler

Zapp Electric Vehicles

Though Canada is a huge and very strong industrial country, its motorcycle manufacturing segment is not as large as it could be. The first bike producing brand was established in Canada in 1971, it was Can-Am. The other three brands were founded later, in the 1990s — 2000s are mainly distributed on the local market.

Despite the low number of big motorcycle brands, Canada is known for its small workshops, producing customized bikes, and there are some true gems among them.

Bombardier Can-Am

Founded: 1942
Founder: Joseph-Armand Bombardier
Headquarters: Valcourt, Quebec, Canada
Website: www.brp.com

BRP, or Bombardier Recreational Products, is the name of a Canadian company that was established by Joseph-Armand Bombardier in 1942, in the province of Quebec.

Bombardier introduced its first bikes in 1974, winning the first places in the US national championships. In the same year the brand starts manufacturing enduro versions of the motorcycles, and in 1975 a modification with a 247 CC, 34 hp engine appeared. In 1978, a 366 cc, 42 hp engine was added to the range. In 1977,  BPR created a military motorcycle, which was adopted in Canada, Britain, and Belgium.

Production of motorcycles for the Canadian Can-Am concern was always a side business. Eventually, it was abandoned because of the increasing demand for the Bombardier snowmobiles and jet skis. In 1983, the Canadians transferred the production of motorcycles to the plant of Armstrong, a British manufacturer. Armstrong began to modernize the motorcycle equipment, introduced models for circuit-highway races, but the Can-Am brand was meant to disappear from the market.

In 2008, Can-Am experienced its second birth — BRP introduced an unusual three-wheeled roadster, and named it Spyder. This interesting sports vehicle combines automotive stability and increased comfort with a vibrant motorcycle feel. The roadster was powered by a 106-hp Rotax 990 V-twin liquid-cooled injection engine. The machine used a 5-speed gearbox with a rear-wheel drive and the wide rear-wheel drive was a timing belt. The braking system is car-type, actuated by a pedal. The ECU electronic steering system is also unusual. The Spyder’s safety system includes ABS and a traction control system, VSS (directional stability control), and SCS (rollover control system).

Campagna

Founded: 1988
Headquarters: Boucherville Quebec, Canada
Website: campagnamotors.com

Campagna Motors is the name of the Canadian automaking brand from Montreal, engaged in the production of three-wheelers. The first concept model of the company was presented in 1988, but the production began only 7 years later, in 1995. This time was used to bring the model to perfection, and to find sponsors. Today Campagna Motors is one of the most famous companies producing such vehicles and has dealerships in many countries of the world.

Havoc

Founded: 2014
Founder: Joseph-Armand Bombardier
Headquarters: Prince Edward Island, Canada

Havoc is one of the classic motorcycle brands, established in Canada in 2014. The company is specialized in the design and production of heavy bikes. Havoc Motorcycles is a new relatively new manufacturer based in Prince Edward Island. In 2016 Havoc introduced three big cruisers: Iron Flight, Wildcat, and Slayer. Each is handcrafted. The main stylistics of the brand is buggers and choppers, though there is also a scooter and street bike in the brand’s portfolio.

Today it’s almost impossible to count the number of Chinese motorcycle manufacturers. as they not only run their brands but also produce parts and engines for other companies. Every second motorcycle sold in the world is Chinese.

The Chinese motorcycles can be said that they are perfect for beginners, to get the first experience of driving. Calm and moderately dynamic bikes will allow you to enjoy a measured ride.

The basis of production are bikes with small-capacity engines. The 400cc Chinese motorcycle is the standard production unit. However, these are not the most popular models. The main demand is for units with 200-250 cc motors. The most famous brands of Chinese motorcycles are Lifan, Loncin, Zongshen, Jialing, and Qingqi. Each of these companies has its history. However, what is common is that their products are aimed at meeting the needs of the buyer with a small budget.

As more and more Chinese brands are becoming recognized worldwide, we will name the most famous one in this article, but as already mentioned above, there are much much more of them.

CF Moto

Founded: 1989
Headquarters: Gangzhou, China

The full name of the company is Zhejiang CFMOTO Power Co. The company was founded in 1989 in China and so far has developed and produced a little less than 100 models of various motor vehicles. CFMOTO has an extensive dealer network on all five continents, the number of partners worldwide is growing rapidly.

CF Moto is quickly gaining a reputation as China’s most promising motorcycle factory. CF Moto focuses on innovation rather than producing budget two-wheelers, also has a decent reputation for producing ATVs and UTVs that sell well in Europe, the United States, and Australia.

Jianshe

Founded: 1987
Website: www.jialingchina.com.cn

Jianshe was founded in August 1889 as a firearms factory in Hanyang, which was the cradle of the modern artillery industry in China. In 1939, the factory was relocated to Chongqing and became a leading defense factory during the war.

In 1980, the development and production of motorcycles began, and two years later the factory began a partnership with Japan’s Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

The models of this brand are the best in their category. Firstly, they are multifunctional and suitable for both experienced motorcyclists and beginners who have decided to switch to two-wheeled transport. Secondly, Jianshe bikes are distinguished by well-thought-out ergonomics.

Lifan

Founded: 1992
Headquarters: Chongqing, China
Website: www.lifan.com

Lifan is probably the most recognizable motorcycle brand from China because of its long-time dominance at the top of the export industry and its concentration on cars. LIFAN Industry Group was founded in 1992. It specializes in technological development and production, sales and export of cars, motorcycles, and engines. The company also invests in the financial and sports sectors of the economy.

At the beginning of its history, the company was focused on bike repairmen company began to produce motorcycles independently. In 1997, the company had already become the fifth largest motorcycle manufacturer in China, and at the same time, it was renamed Lifan Industry Group. In 2001, the motorcycles of the brand began to be sold in Japan. In 2003, the brand already produced trucks and buses. And two years later the production of passenger cars was launched.

Shineray

Founded: 1997
Parent organization: East Shineray Holding Co., Ltd.
Subsidiary: S.R.M. Srl
Website: www.shineray.com

Shineray (despite the availability of a full catalog of styles and types of motorcycles) is one of the few motorcycle companies in China, which specializes in off-road vehicles. Shineray is currently working to become a specialist in 400cc engine technology. Shineray International MX team has participated in World Motocross Championship, World Motocross Championships, Belgian Motocross Championship, and other FIM MX competitions. Shineray is located in Chongqing.

Loncin

Founded: 1993
Headquarters: Chongqing, China
Website: www.loncin.mu

Loncin is one of the largest manufacturers of motor vehicles in China. Since 2013, it has been producing engines for BMW. The history of Loncin dates back to 1993. In 1996, Loncin became the first settlement-volunteer company with private capital. Since 2001, Loncin has been one of the five largest motorcycle equipment manufacturers in China. From 2002 to 2005, it was among the “500 largest Chinese enterprises”.

In the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Loncin raced at the MotoGP 125 level, making them the only Chinese manufacturer capable of competing in MotoGP. Loncin is based in Chongqing.

Zongshen

Founded: 1992
Headquarters: Chongqing, China
Website: www.zongshenmotor.com

Everyone in the industry knows the fascinating story of Soichiro Honda and his meteoric rise to success. The story of Zongshen founder Zuo Zongshen is almost an exact parallel as he expanded his workshop (founded in 1992) to become one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in China. Zuo Zongshen is now the 51st richest man in China and a good example of the “new Chinese” thriving through the success of the motorcycle industry. Zongshen machines are regular winners of Chinese superbike competitions and have won the TTXGP (the Isle of Man Electric Motorcycle Competition). Zongshen is based in Chongqing.

Jialing

Founded: 1987
Headquarters: China
Website: www.jialingchina.com.cn

Jialing is a state-owned company specializing in the production of motorcycles, motorcycle engines, optical lenses, plastics, generators, and other machinery. Jialing was established in 1875 in Chongqing as a manufacturer of weapons and military equipment but changed course in 1979 to become China’s first motorcycle manufacturer. The value of the Jialing brand is currently 8.135 billion yuan. Jialing is located in Chongqing.

Qianjiang

The most interesting part of Qjiang’s history (export name Keeway) is the purchase of Benelli in 2005. Keeway is also one of the few Chinese manufacturers that are actively attacking the European market. Under the corporate umbrella are Qianjiang-Keeway Europe (Hungary), Keeway Poland, Keeway Spain, Keeway Finland, Keeway France, Keeway America (USA), Keeway Venezuela, Keeway Argentina. Qianjiang is located in Jiangmen.

Haojue

Haojue is not a well-known brand in European countries, but it is an important partner of Suzuki. If you look at the Haojue lineup, you can immediately notice the Suzuki influence. The company’s website says that the brand has led the Chinese motorcycle industry for 16 years and supplies machines to some 80 countries around the world.

Haojue is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in China, producing more than 2 million units per year, most of which are destined for the domestic market. Haojue has an agreement with Suzuki, which is the largest manufacturing cooperative in China. Haojue ranks 11th in production for 11 years and has a brand value of about $4.43 billion.

Baotian

Evoke

Jinan Qingqi

Jincheng

Lexmoto

Qianjiang

Volfone

Wuxi Futong

Znen

The Czech motorcycle industry has its very successful period in the middle of the 20th century. The bikes made there once rode and looked no worse than German ones, and the iconic Jawa brand was known all over Europe. Though World War II hurt the industry, and the postwar world demanded other motorcycles: simple and cheap.

The market got new names and a wide choice of brands, developing in different directions, and sadly, in all this diversity, Czech motorcycle brands haven’t managed to find their niche. Of course, Jawa products occupied a certain position in the market, but it was not the same heights and not the same popularity as before the war.

Jawa

Founded: 1929
Founder: František Janeček
Headquarters: Týnec nad Sázavou, Czech Republic
Parent: Jihostroj
Website: www.jawamotorcycles.com

In 1929, František Janěček’s arms factory began producing motorcycles under license from the German company Wanderer.

The name of the brand had nothing to do with the island of Java. It is an abbreviation of the name of the factory owner JAneček and the name of the company WAnderer, from which the entrepreneur bought equipment and a license to produce the first motorcycles under the Jawa brand.

The 100cc Jawa-Robot, developed by the young designer Josef Josef, became very popular in 1937. Just before the war, a lightweight motorcycle with a 125cc engine and tubular frame was developed in 1939 and became the basis for the development of postwar types, which made the brand famous worldwide.

In 2017 the legendary brand of motorcycles Jawa from former Czechoslovakia was reborn in India. Mahindra bought the right to the Jawa trademark and started production of the Classic Legends motorcycle line.

Blata

Headquarters: Blansko, Czech
Website: www.blata.cz

Compared to Jawa, Blata has not been too long on the motorcycle market and began producing motorcycles in the Czech Republic in 1990. For the first few years, the brand used Italian engines, and later Blata set up its own motor production. The company is highly specialized and produces so-called “pocket rockets” or pocket bikes, which weigh less than 30 kg and are equipped with 40 CC engines. Blata also makes these mini-scooters with 27 CC engines and 1.4 kW power.

The flagship Blata model is Origami, which gets its name due to its angular fairing, which looks like it is made of paper. The Origami comes with a 40 CC, liquid-cooled, two-stroke engine that generates as much as 11kW. This is the first Czech engine to be designed entirely using CAD-CAM technology.

CZ

Founded: 1919
Headquarters: Svatopluka Čecha 1283 Uherský Brod 688 01 Czech Republic
Website: www.czub.cz

By the early 1930s, when the first Jawa motorcycles had already appeared in Czechoslovakia, the arms factory Ceska Zbrojovka (CZ) also decided to switch to the production of motor vehicles. Before they were specialized in arms.  After the war, CZ became part of Jawa.

In 1930, CZ produced a small batch of motorcycles with the engine mounted on the front wheel. However, operating experience has shown the small suitability of such a scheme, and since 1932 the factory has mastered the mass production of motorcycles with a two-stroke engine with a working volume of 76 CC, installed in the usual place – at the bottom of the frame. A year later, a 100 CC model was produced, and in 1934, a 175 CC motorcycle with a single-cylinder two-stroke engine and a double stamped frame. It was supplemented in 1936 by a 250 CC version, and in 1938 by a single-cylinder 350 CC and a two-cylinder 500 CC.

ESO

Böhmerland

Renard

Founded: 1938
Founder: J. Lään
Headquarters: Tallinn, Estonia
Website: www.renardmotorcycles.com

The history of Renard motorcycles dates back to 1938 when the Estonian entrepreneur J. Laan founded the company Renard Cycles in Tallinn. For the first few years, the company produced motor-powered bicycles.

The brand, nicknamed Fox (because of its elegant fox emblem, and the word “Renard” translation from French) equipped its first models with a frame with power units 98 SS chassis, which made them look like Wanderer motorcycles, very famous at that time, although some units were simpler. Unfortunately, the Wild War II came, and during the bombing of Tallinn in March 1944, the plant, located on the Lasnamäe slope, was completely destroyed in a direct hit by an air bomb.

So in 1944, production came to an end when a German bomb fell on the factory.

From that moment on, the Renard brand became a piece of history, and stayed in the annals for decades, until the group of entrepreneurs decided to revive it from the ashes. The prototype of the Renard GT was unveiled in Hanover, and mass production of the motorcycle became very successful. Renard GT is a lightweight (due to its carbon body) and fast bike, which also has a fancy and very stylish look.

Today, France is far from taking the leading positions on the world’s motorcycle manufacturing stage, though the country is known as the one where the motorcycle was invented. It was in 1868x when Louis-Guillaume Perrault first time adapted an engine to a bicycle. The first bike was able to cover a 15 km distance and had a compact steam engine with a boiler.

That gave an amazingly fast and successful start to the French motorcycle industry, and between 1900 and 1950 its motorcycles were exported all over the world, even to Japan.

Hard times for the industry started at the end of the 1950s, and automobiles started to be more affordable. Of all the very French motorcycle lineup, only Motobécane and Peugeot remained.

Though in the 1970s the motorcycle industry was brought back to life, and in 1973 Motobecane introduced its 350 CC three-cylinder two-stroke model. They were produced until the end of the 1970s, and then all got quiet again.

Today only Peugeot keeps producing bikes. Though there are three brands, which tried to operate in the 2000s.

Peugeot

Founded: 1898
Founder: Armand Peugeot
Headquarters: Mandeure, France
Parent organization: Mahindra & Mahindra
Owner: Mahindra (100%)
Website: peugeot-motocycles.com

Peugeot is the older manufacturer of motorcycles. They started in 1898 and keep producing motorcycles, scooters, and motorcycle parts, which are exported all over the globe. There was a pause with motorcycles for the company — it was only manufacturing scooters for more than five decades, but in the middle of the 2010s, came back to the roots and introduced Peugeot P2x Roadster and P2x Cafe Racer.

In 2019 the French motorcycle brand was acquired by the Indian Mahindra. Today Peugeot produces scooters and three-wheeled motorcycles from 50 to 500 CC. It operates 2 production sites in Mandeure, France, and Jinan, China. Peugeot scooters are sold in 60 countries.

MBK

Founded: 1984
Headquarters: Rouvroy, France
Parent: Yamaha Motor Company
Website: www.mbk.fr

MBK is a brand, which was born from the iconic Motobecane, a French company that was founded back in 1922 and produced bicycles. The first motorcycle under the brand was released already in 1923, by the company’s founders Charles Benoit and Abel Bardin. It was a 175 CC single-cylinder motorcycle with a two-stroke motor inserted in the bicycle frame. By 1930, Motobecane developed into the hugest motorcycle manufacturer in France.

The company was on top of all European motorcycle manufacturers lists until the end of the 1950s when the whole industry suffered a lot. And by 1981 it got too bad, Motobecane claimed bankruptcy. In 1984 the brand was acquired by the Japanese Yamaha.

The Motobecane was rebranded and shortened to MBK. The factory became a European site for the production of Japanese scooters, which it still is now.

Voxan

Founded: 1995
Founder: Jacques Gardette
Headquarters: Fontvieille, Monaco, Monaco
Parent: Venturi Automobiles
Website: www.venturi.com/en/voxan-motors

Voxan is another French brand of motorcycles, which belongs to Venturi from Monaco, since 2009. The company specializes in two things: the development and production of electric propulsion systems and setting records for a wide variety of electric vehicles.

The most famous breakthrough of the company was the Voxan Wattman, a motorcycle with an electric engine. The motorcycle Voxan Wattman engine at 10500 rpm can provide 200 horsepower (150 kW) with 200 nm of torque, which has a stable value for most of the curve of the dynamic characteristics of the engine. Thanks to this, the bike does not need a gearbox and makes do with a simple belt-driven transmission, because the torque of the electric motor is sufficient for riding in any mode.

Rene Gillet

Founded: 1898
Defunct: 1957
Founder: René Gillet

The iconic French brand, which was established by Rene Gillet at the very beginning of the 20th century has introduced its first motorcycle already in 1902. For the prototypes, René used standard bicycles, mounting the motors above the front wheel. He then realized that it was better to put the motor inside the frame. René initially worked in a workshop and was able to establish real commercial production in 1902, and a few years later he switched his attention to V-motors.

The first V2 model had a 500 CC engine with automatic intake valves. Rene Gillet’s motorcycles were popular for their reliability and good handling. Though the crisis times were hard even for Gillet, and in the postwar period, Rene Gillet motorcycles did not sell well because of poor development. In 1955, Peugeot absorbed the brand and production stopped in 1958.

Gnome & Rhone

Founded: 12 January 1915
Defunct: 29 May 1945
Headquarters: Paris, France
Successor: Snecma

Gnome et Rhône was a major French manufacturer of aircraft engines that were used in most aircraft during the first half of the war, both Allied and German designs.

In the postwar era they started a new design series originally based on the Bristol Jupiter but later evolved into the superior Gnome-Rhône 14K Mistral Major two-row 750 kW radial engine, which was also licensed and used worldwide during World War II. They were a major supplier of engines to the German Luftwaffe, producing their designs as well as German ones under license. Their factories were subjected to the precision bombing that knocked them out of business.

The company was nationalized as part of Snecma in 1949, but for a time the brand existed as the manufacturer of Gnome et Rhône motorcycles and Gnome et Rhône bicycles.

Midual

Monet-Goyon

Moto Martin

Motobécane

Nougier

Ratier

Scorpa

Terrot

VéloSoleX

Germany is considered to be one of the world’s main motorcycle manufacturers, and it has always been like that, as the first motorcycle with an internal combustion engine was built in 1885 by German engineers Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, who’s named today are strongly associated with the luxury cars. At the same time, at the end of the 19th century, Daimler and Maybach became the authors of the first classic motorcycle with a 1.5 hp gasoline engine and a maximum speed of 12 km/h.

And the motorcycle industry in Germany never stopped. Motorcycles built in Germany from the early 1930s to the 1940s proved themselves quite good not only in civilian use but also in heavy frontline battles during World War II. In the postwar period, many new motorcycle brands appeared in the country, and unlike other European brands, most of them are still alive and prospering today.

BMW Motorrad

Founded: 1923
Founder: Karl Rapp, Camillo Castiglioni, Gustav Otto, Franz Josef Popp
Headquarters: Munich, Germany
Owner BMW
Website: www.bmw-motorrad.com

The most famous Herman motorcycle manufacturer is definitely BMW. BMW motorcycles are produced by BMW Motorrad AG, a separate division of the well-known company. The BMW Group was formed by the merger of two small aircraft engine companies operating in Munich in 1913, which were founded by Gustav Otto and Karl Rapp. The companies prospered thanks to large government orders for military purposes, and their merger occurred to increase production capacity.

In 1917, after a disagreement with the Mercedes-Benz management, Max Fritz comes BMW. At this time, the aircraft manufacturer was on the brink of survival, because according to the Treaty of Versailles, defeated Germany could not build aircraft. It had to convert to other products not disappear from the industry. This is how the company began to manufacture motorcycle engines. The first BMW motorcycle was introduced at the Berlin Motor Show on September 28, 1923. It was called R 32.

Today, BMW Motorrad manufactures motorcycles in Germany, as well as Austria, China, and Taiwan. Most of today’s motorcycles are designed by David Robb, who was the company’s chief designer from 1993 to 2012. Motorcycles of the brand are represented in all classes, participate in the world’s major races, and are popular around the world. In addition to motorcycles, the company makes helmets and equipment for motorcyclists.

Zundapp

Founded: 1917
Founder: Fritz Ludwig Neumeyer
Headquarters: Nuremberg, Germany
Ceased operations: 1984

Zündapp is a German company founded by Fritz Neumeyer in Nuremberg in 1917 as a manufacturer of detonators and projectiles. In 1919, as demand for weapons declined after World War I, Zündapp began producing motorcycles.

Today Zundapp is almost forgotten. Meanwhile, about only 60 years ago it was one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in Germany, and its products were no less popular than the BMW motorcycles. Today this name is known only to lovers of vintage motorcycles and maybe those who are deeply interested in the armament and transport of the Second World War.

The company went bankrupt in 1984, after which its property was bought by the Chinese government for about 8 million EUR, and moved to the Chinese city of Tianjin, becoming the basis of the motorcycle company Tianjin Motorcycle Co.

Sachs

Founded: August 1895
Headquarters: Schweinfurt, Germany
Defunct: 2011
Parent organization: ZF Friedrichshafen
Website: aftermarket.zf.com

Sachs Fahrzeug und Motorentechnik GmbH (SFM GmbH) is one of the leading manufacturers of quality and stylish motorcycles and scooters. The modern production program includes motorcycles, electric bikes, scooters, mopeds, road bikes, and ATVs. Today the brand’s production facilities are located in Guangzhou and this allows to significantly reduce the cost of products. Sachs is one of the oldest brands for the production of two-wheeled equipment in the world.

The history of the company begins on April 5, 1886, when Carl Marschütz founded the bicycle factory Hercules-Werken. At the time of its founding, the company produced bicycles and had eight employees. After only eight years, the number of employees had grown to 170.

Since 1903 the company also produces motorcycles with purchased motors of various cubic meters. Already since the end of the 1930s the company was closely associated with the industrial concern Fichtel – Sachs.

The most famous product of the company Sachs is a Scooter with a funny name MadAss.

Adler

Ardie

Brennabor

D-Rad

Hecker

Hercules

Hoffmann

Horex

Kreidler

Maico

Mars

Megola

MZ Motorrad

Neander

Orionette

Tornax

Victoria

India is not just one of the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. Not that long ago it took away the leading spot from China and became the number one motorcycle county in the world.

The cumulative production of motorcycles in India is about 10 million per year, though there are mostly clones of Japanese models, some truly iconic brands are also there. In general, the population of Asia is very active in the use of light motorcycles and mopeds.

Honda, Kawasaki, Royal Enfield, these are just a few names of the world’s famous brands, moved their production to India, or bought by the Indian giants, such as Mahindra. Though the most popular and well-known brand is Bajaj.

Bajaj

Founded: November 29, 1945
Founder: Jamnalal Bajaj
Headquarters: Pune, India
Parent organization: Bajaj Group
Website: www.bajajauto.com

The most popular Indian motorcycle company is Bajaj. It has established itself as a world leader in motorcycle sales. The brand is known for its reliability and safety, the Bajaj bikes also live long and are more than affordable in operation.

The company was founded on November 29, 1945. In the beginning, it was engaged in the sale of imported motor rickshaws, which were very popular in India. In 1959 it acquired a license for the production of motorized carts and began to produce them under its own brand. The production of motor rickshaws was constantly growing, and by 1970 a hundred thousand pieces were produced. Modernization of the production allowed a sharp increase in output. In 1995, the production numbered in the millions of pieces.

In 1986, the company decided to expand the range of products. Bajaj Auto and Japanese Kawasaki signed a partnership agreement. All products in Asia were sold under a single brand Bajaj-Kawasaki, and on the Indian factories of Bajaj Auto began to produce licensed Kawasaki motorcycles.

Mahindra

Founded: October 2, 1945, Ludhiana, India
Founder: Malik Ghulam Muhammad, Jagdish Chandra Mahindra, Kailash Chandra Mahindra
Headquarters: Mumbai, India
Parent organization: Mahindra Group
Website: www.mahindra.com

Mahindra & Mahindra is one of the largest Indian companies, which was founded in 1945 and specializes in the production of automobiles, farm machinery, and motorcycles. The company has a revenue of about 15 billion USD and net profits of 840 million USD.

In 1945, after the end of World War II, a former Indian ambassador to the United States, John Mahindra, founded an automobile company in the city of Bombay. Thanks to the capital participation of the Pakistani entrepreneur Ghulam Mohammed in the creation of the company, the firm was named after the names of the two key players in its fortunes, Mahindra-Mohammed. However, by 1948, after the partition of India and the independence of Pakistan, Ghulam Mohammed left the company, heading the Ministry of Finance of the new state, and his place was taken by his brother John – Clark.

Today the company is known not only for the production of motorcycles under the Mahindra brand, but it also bought the rights for Jawa, Royal Enfield, and BSA, three iconic Marques, popular in the middle of the last century.

Hero

Founded: January 19, 1984
Founder: Brijmohan Lall Munjal
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Owner: Munjal family (39.92%)
Website: www.heromotocorp.com

Another world-famous motorcycle manufacturer from India is Hero. Founded in 1983, the company began producing motorcycles in 1985. Starting small, the company was able to produce its 100-thousandth motorcycle by 1987. By 1991 Hero has already had more than half a million bikes manufactured and distributed across the globe. The mark of one million units of motorcycle Hero passed in 1994.

But then the growth was simply by leaps and bounds. If it took 10 years to produce the first million motorcycles, the mark of 2 million units Hero passed already in four years after the first million – in 1998. Two years later, in 2000, it already had four million units in its portfolio. A year later, in 2001, Hero became the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world in terms of production volume. The volume of machines sold exceeded 7 million units in 2003, and by 2004 the company was producing more than 2 million units per year, passing the 10 million mark in the process. Now the company produces more than five million bikes annually, and the total production volume since its foundation has exceeded the mark of 40 million units.

The list of the latest achievements of the brand includes its intention To develop and sell a line of premium motorcycles under the Harley-Davidson brand in India. Among other things, Hero MotoCorp is committed to providing maintenance services for these motorcycles, as well as the availability of spare parts for them.

TVS

Founded: 1978
Founder: T. V. Sundaram Iyengar
Headquarters: hennai, India
Parent organization: Sundaram – Clayton Limited
Subsidiaries: Norton Motorcycle Company
Website: www.tvsmotor.com

TVS is the name of another famous motorcycle manufacturer from India. The multinational motorcycle company is headquartered in Chennai, India. It is the third-largest motorcycle brand in India with revenues of more than 2.8 billion USD. The company has annual sales of 3 million units and an annual capacity of more than 4 million vehicles. TVS Motor Company is also the second-largest exporter in India with exports to more than 60 countries.

Eicher

Ideal Jawa

Lohia Machinery

Royal Enfield