Brief History of the Marque: Coventry-Eagle
Owned by the Moxo family who also made bicycles, the Coventry-Eagle
factory built an extensive range of two- and four-stroke machines powered
by Blackburne, JAP,
Raleigh,
Sturmey-Archer,
Villiers
and Matchless engines.
Coventry-Eagle made Royal Eagle bicycles in the 1890s and built their
first JAP-powered motorised bicycle around the turn of the century. By
1903 they were making motorcycles. In 1921 they were producing 500cc singles
and a JAP-powered 680cc V-Twin, and in 1923 introduced the 976cc Flying
Eight which competed in both speed and quality with Brough. They continued
to expand the range until the effects of the Depression were felt in 1929.
Production continued until 1939.
Smaller models included the 1935 150cc Coventry Eagle powered by a twin
port two-stroke and with a left hand operated gear change controlling an
Albion gearbox, all housed in a pressed steel frame with sprung blade forks
and topped by a large VEC headlight.
Thu Jan 17 2008
ossieelfaro<at>blueyonder.co.uk
frame number
1934?? coventry eagle 250 twinport
hi i have just bought this bike but can not find a frame number where
should it be located ??? many thanks ossie henderson
newcastle upon tyne
Coventry-Eagle_1934c_250_Twinport.jpg will be posted shortly.
Sun Nov 25 2007
jacks.the.lad<at>gmail.com
250cc JAP engine
Coventry Eagle.
I'm in the process acquiring a 1923 250cc Coventry Eagle, however some
parts are missing. Namely the rear wheel nuts and adjusters, footrests,
brake blocks and throttle/mixer leaver. Has anyone got such items?
Or know where I might find them? Also if anybody has one of these Bikes
and could take a photo it would really help just to know what it's supposed
to look like.
Thanks.
South Midlands
........
Hello,
Thank you for your prompt reply. Sorry but I do not have a photo at
present but I have since learnt that it is a 300cc not a 250cc and the
model is said to be a S29 "sports"
Regards
J
Fri Nov 23 2007
foxfields1<at>btinternet.com
magneato
1927 Flying Eight ( KTOR )engine
what type /make of mag should it be
sussex
Not much information as yet, but here is our
page of Electrical Equipment resources.
Fri Nov 02 2007
gwrankin<at>fsmail.net
Coventry Eagle
CE 1935 Silent Superb De Luxe
I have recently acquired a 1935 Coventry Eagle L5 Silent Superb De
Luxe with a type xviii Villiers 249cc engine and a 4 speed albion gearbox.
I intend finishing its restoration over the winter and hopefully get
the bike on the road for next summer. I am having a problem with the spark
plug oiling up and am not sure I have the correct plug fitted, does any
body know the correct one?
Lancashire UK
Fri Oct 26 2007
vtwin74<at>aol.com
Flying 8
I would very much like to locate a Coventry Eagle similar to the Flying
8. I believe they also made a sidevalve machine that was very similar.
Does anyone know of one that might be for sale. Thanks so much
Nebraska USA
Fri Sep 21 2007
malcolmh30<at>aol.com
just purchased
1929 172cc
have just bought this bike. So far know nothing more about the coventry
eagle but I love the shape and its quirky having a pressed steel frame.
Not going at present, poor/no spark but all there. Dont know the model
number but it came from Scotland. Now near Derby
Derby, England
Fri Aug 31 2007
ronaldhull<at>btinternet.com
Coventry Eagle 1923/24
Flying 8
some pics for your site
Durham England
Sat Aug 18 2007
siaage<at>online.no
Coventry eagle 1939 250cc
By accident the engine and gear is lost.
Is it possible to buy one in Britain?
Near Trondheim
Sun Aug 12 2007
ngriffiths<at>clear.net.nz
Kneepad rubbers.
Coventry Eagle Silent Superb
I am looking for one final piece of the puzzle for my 1934 Silent Superb.
A pair of new ( Repro ) tank kneepad rubbers. Any help finding the right
person would be appreciated.
New Zealand
(the guards are removed for restoration)
Thu Jun 28 2007
lidden<at>fjc.net.au
Coventry Eagle
Super Flying 8
Does anyone have period or restored photos of one of these machines?
Australia
Tue Jun 19 2007
karl<at>wingett-smith.co.uk
1934 coventry eagle 250
My first motorcycle was a 1934 Coventry Eagle 250, reg AFC 779. Bought
in mid 1949 for £19.
It had a cast(?) steel frame, triangular in shape; villiers twin exhaust
port engine with deflector piston and plain main bearings (more anon).
Hand change gears.
The exhaust used 2 cast alloy elbows spigoting into a cast expansion
box, leading to twin exhausts. These (a) coked up causing excessive back
pressure and (b) spewed out half burnt oil at every joint. So I sinfully
changed all those for flexible pipes and home designed silencers.
I then gained a reputation for taking it for long walks in the countryside.
Time after time it would start beautifully from cold then, after about
5 miles or so, the piston would seize. Cooling down freed it for another
short distance.
The main cause proved to be the main bearings, they loosened and spun
in the crankcase allowing in extra air to weaken the petroil mixture and
cause the overheating. I never did cure that. These days it would have
been easy to fix them with a bearing adhesive/gap filler - or machine up
some oversize ones.
Linconshire
Any pics? Ed.
Sorry, none of that one. I moved onto a 1952 Dot 197 Trials bike bought
new in 1952 (KOY 813); then a 1937 250 side valve BSA (EPJ 907 - £3
from a farm); a 1954 Dot (884 AMP) then a 1953 AJS 500 twin (NLM
662).
The BSA was just a hack, the first Dot threw me off every time I applied
the brakes so went for the later - rear sprung model - which was great
and I kept it for 14 years until it became the deposit for a new washing
machine after marriage!. The AJS was OK but disappointing due to 2 factors
- as built they filled the magneto with oil, so becoming single cylinder
engines after a while on every long trip, until the mag drained and the
slip ring was cleaned. Ultimately cured by a drilling between the timing
chest and crankcase. The other was severe high frequency vibration of everything
at about 70 mph. Also, on reflection, the suspension used to set up a lateral
chopping motion on certain bends which took the bike across the road at
speed. One was on the A5 just north of Elstree. That could be countered
by£aim-off" at the entry or by slowing down!
The AJS was sold to build a Rochdale GT Ford special.
Don't suppose these bits are of any interest to Coventry Eagle enthusiasts.
Another bike similar to my CE was the Francis Barnett Cruiser of similar
vintage. Both aimed to minimise road spray by enclosing the wheels more
than most. Mudguards were extended a bit like dress guards on old-fashioned
bicycles.
Regards
Karl
Fri Jan 12 2007
michael.murnane
bigpond
Seeking photo or information on Coventry Eagle 250
Coventry Eagle 250 Villiers with twin uswept exhausts
Hi, my first bike was a Coventry Eagle with a Villiers motor 250cc(
I think). I am trying to relocate it, but would be interested in any photo's
or information that is available on similar bikes.
Name: Mick Murnane
Warragul, Australia
Sat Dec 30 2006
thebanksclear.net.nz
Coventry Eagle Pullman Two Seater 1936/7
I have a completely restored , registered and running Coventry Eagle
Pullman Two Seater 1936/7 motorcycle.The engine is a Mark 17, 250cc Villiers
flat top piston. The gear box is Albion, 4 speeds with a cork clutch. Suspension:
It has front girder forks and rear semi-elliptical springs. Variations
from the Covnetry Eagle N 11 are: Large bulbous aluminium exhaust expansion
chamber, hand operated centre stand and heel and toe foot change. The rear
wheel cover is bolted to the top [not the side] of the steel frame. The
passenger seat is similar in shape to the riders seat. I have owned this
machine since 1944. My understanding is that fewer than 50 of this model
were produced before the sheet metal frame concept was discontinued. I
have never been able to locate another one.
Does anyone have an identical machine, any information about the last
of this model or any idea of its market value.
New Zealand
Mon Oct 02 2006
keithhothatch35.wanadoo.co.uk
Coventry Eagle
Hi. I've just bought this and wondered if you could tell me anything
about it. Model number or anything at all. Cheers, Keith
Sussex, England
The bike appears to be a Coventry-Eagle Climax
of about 1935 vintage. Ed.
Sun Sep 03 2006
sebestacmail.cz
Coventry Eagle
A 32 from 1926
Do somoebody have the same Model in UK, or was it an export Type only
? This bike was imported in 1926 for the Czechoslowak army and I have the
original papers from 1928 when it was sold from the army to a private person.
Prague
Mon Jun 05 2006
byktec2001yahoo.com.au
Information
1929 Coventry Eagle
Hi I have just got myself a 1929 bike if you could provide any info
on it i would be very happy it is not the flying eight it has the 150-200cc
engine in it
Ch-ch NZ
Tue May 16 2006
daveroute66hotmail
coventry Eagle
193?
Its going togther - but I need the throttle cables and brake cables.
does anyone know who/where to get these from
texas
............
Its slowly moving - I'd love to identify the exact year and paint codes
etc.... right now I need the throttle and brake cables.
Only marking I have for year is on the frame - which seems to state:
I444I or just I444
given the fenders I'd say its newer then the 1932 year we were told
.............
Wed Dec 28 2005
1931 Coventry eagle
Hi - trying to find our more about this CE I own.
Dave
Thu Apr 20 2006
inge-erland.opheimsteertec.raufoss
Coventry Eagle F50 (1930, 500cc)
I am the owner for many years of several lids of parts to be assembled
to a complete motorcycle. There are still lots of word to be done on it,
so I start in one end:
1.) Can anybody out there recommend someone to restore the tank for
me? It is of the saddle type, with the sheet metal solded together. Because
of some rust is it very difficult for me to get it petrol-proof. 2.) Does
anybody know if there is to be a damper fitted into the chain sprocket
on the crankshaft?
Norway
Thu Feb 23 2006
richardfinch2003aol
1932 Coventry Eagle 147cc Twin exhaust
Can you tell me where I can get spares from? in particular the brake
levers.
hopefully, Richard
Midlands
Thu Sep 22 2005
plistosznafta.net.pl
Coventry Eagle N35
I have original (still working) motocycle Coventry Eagle N35 (every
parts are original). I would like to sell this motocycle. I you want to
see more photos of this motocycle, please send me e-mail to inform about
it.
If you have a query about Coventry-Eagle motorcycles, or wish to share
your knowledge of these classic British machines, please contact
us!
