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Czech Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Motorcycles Built in Czechoslovakia

Notes on some of the rarer Czech marques

This page lists brands for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the Czech Index.

A

Aero Sidecars

Manufactured by Aero, an aircraft factory in Vysočany, in the late 1920s.

Most of the Aero sidecars were fitted on the left as before WWII Czech roads were navigated on the left side.

Böhmerland offered Aero sidecars in their catalogues. The standard Aero had wire wheels, but Albin Liebisch fitted them with cast wheels, and later with disc wheels.

Jan Anderle of Dalnik fame was an engineer with Aero.

Source: South-Bohemian MC Museum


AHRA logo

AHRA
Established in Hradec Kralové by father and son team Vaclav and Karel Rathouski.
In the 1960s they produced a number of 50cc and 125cc road-racing machines. These continued into the 1970s, joined at times by 250cc models and a 175cc triple. In 2010, the firm announced a 5-valve supermono with 6-speed gearbox.
The marque has had many successes including a 5th place in the 1971 50cc Constructors World Championship.
Sources: cold-war-racers.com, motorkari.cz, ahra.cz, et al.


Avon
Marketed by Augustin Vondrich, Prague-Karlín, Vinohradská tr.9, a bicycle dealer, this was a rebranded Premier 98cc Sachs.
Source: South-Bohemian MC Museum, et al.


B

Babetta 1970-1999


Barry
Manufactured by the brothers Bardas in Moravia, 1932-1939
Friedrich Drkosch designed racing motorcycles with 247cc engines, and also the 98cc two-stroke "Barry Volksmotorrad".
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


Breitfeld Danek - BD


Bekamo (CZ)

The Czech branch of the German firm used the Westendarp & Pieper TX machines as the basis for their 129 cc and 173 cc motorcycles, using German Bekamo engines until 1925 when the engines were built locally. There is a suggestion of the use of frames built by Aeros of Kaaden.

The Bekamo factory in Czechoslovakia was active from about 1923 until 1930.

See also Bekamo of Germany

Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice, et al.


Bezdez

Manufactured in Bezdezem 1923-1926

The Czech factory built auxiliary bicycle engines and light motorcycles with 145cc single-cylinder engines.

Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice



Blata

Founded by Pavel Blata in Blansko, production began in the 1980s of scooters and minibikes. Blata himself had been a competition rider in off-road and endurance events. The firm remains active and markets 30 to 40cc machines.

Sources: www.blata.cz, wikipedia


Bohmerland 21 2020


Brilant-Alcyon

Built under licence to Alcyon using 98cc engines by the bicycle firm Fuchs & Co of Zuchmantel, only a small number were produced.

Source: Tragatsch p94


BV
Manufactured by Balzer & Vemola, Prostejova 1923-1930
The firm produced almost all components, including engines and gearboxes, in their own factory.
They built a 173 cc two-stroke, along with 346 cc and 496 cc single cylinder four-strokes, and in 1925 an OHC 496cc racing motorcycle, campaigned by Julius Vermola.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice, Tragatsch p99


C

CAS 1921-1924


Caslavia Logo

Caslavia
Manufactured by Bohumil Hudec Velocipedy, Caslav 1902-1903
The Caslavia motorcycles had engines of 1¼hp and 1¾hp. They also built automobiles under the Hudec brand - a small two-seater and a Phaeton with four seats, both powered by De Dion-Bouton engines.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice; de.wikipedia.org.


D

Dalnik


Druzeta Sidecars

In the late 1950s JF Koch built a very original sidecars designed exclusively for use with Cezeta 501 and 502 scooters. Although very attractive, it was limited by its high weight which resulted in poor performance when fully laden. It did not enter production.

Source: South-Bohemian MC Museum


E

Eisler

Manufactured by Tovarna na Stroje, Eisler & Spol., Morava 1920-1926

Established as a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, production of auxiliary bicycle engines began around 1920. These 148cc two-strokes were used in their motorcycles which had a bright red chassis.

Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


ERA Sidecars logo

ERA Sidecars

Manufactured by Eduard Jíra, Prague VIII., Královská tr.

Production included lightweight sidecars suitable for the Jawa 350, and a swinging model (possibly a one-off).

Mesrs. Strommer Uhr rode through Africa on a Praga BD fitted with an ERA sidecar.

Sources: South-Bohemian MC Museum


Es-Ka 1931-1941


ESO


F

Favorit Sidecars

Built by Josef Tuma, Praha XI - Žižkov, Podebradova 103.

Production is thought to have begun in 1932 of left- and right-hand sidecars based on other popular designs.

Josef died in 1939. Production resumed after the Second World War with his wife running the factory. Then the business was nationalised and Motex took over. The last of the Favorit sidecars was produced in 1956.

Source: South-Bohemian MC Museum

N.B. There was a German firm of the same name which produced sidecars in the 1930s: Favorit DE


FGR

Built by Miroslav Felgra in his workshops at Ústí nad Orlicí

Development began in 2001, and the first of their single-cylinder two-stroke 120cc road racing engines were produced in 2003. This was fitted to their own frame.

Oldřich Kreuz, a former designer with ČZ Strakonic looked after the technical aspects of the project.

Source: motohouse.cz


G

GH
Built by Gustav Heinz 1924-1925 using 172cc Villiers engines. Heinz was also the creator of the Sirocco and Velamos marques.
Source: Tragatsch p145.


Grizzly
Built in 1925-1932, designed by Joseph Matyas. Models included a 246cc two-stroke, and IOE and OHC 348cc MAG-engined models.
Source: Tragatsch p152


H

Hurikan

I

Itar 1921-1929


J

JAC
Manufactured by Tovarna na Motocykly, JA Cvach, Horazdovice 1929-1932
The motorcycle has a unit-construction 498cc engine with cardan shaft drive and a steel frame, and a very low saddle.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


Jelinek
Manufactured by Josef Jelinek, Vyroba Motocyklu, Prague 1902-1908
The motorcycles used engines from Orion, Minerva and Fafnir. A Fafnir model is on display at the Museum Burg Kámen.
Jelinek 1904 397cc, 2.5 hp, 60 km/h max speed, 65 kg weight. An example of this machine is exhibited at the National Technical Museum, Prague.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


JRM Jawa 1989-2024


Jules
120cc bicycle engines built in 1929-1934, they were also sold complete with Praga bicycles (no relation to Praga motorcycles). They had rudimentary leaf-spring rear suspension.
Source: Tragatsch p181


K

Kilear
Built in Brno 1924-1926 using 247cc 3-port two-strokes of their own manufacture.
Source: Tragatsch 184.


Kleva

Manufactured by

Josef Křížek built a single-cylinder 125 road-racer in the mid-1960s which produced 23 hp at 11,000 rpm. This was followed, in the early 1970s, by a 50cc engine of 9 h.p at 11,000 rpm and a 120cc developing 20 h.p. at 12,000 rpm.

Although they were apparently excellent machines designed for youthful road-racers, the project was not smiled upon by the socialist authorities and thus came to naught.

Source: motohouse.cz


Koch
Built in 1934-1935
When Praga ceased motorcycle production the chief designer, J.F. Koch established a factory building limited numbers of advanced OHC machines.
Source: Tragatsch p185.


Kohout 1904-1906


Kuberg
kuberg logo
Electric MX, street and junior motorcycles. Introduced at the Munich Motorcycle Show 2012.

Resources: kuberg.com, fb.com/kubergmotorcycles


L

Linser & Zeus

M

MAT
Built in 1929-1930
Shaft-drive four-cylinder sidevalve machines built by Bugatti racer Milos Bondy. The engine was a very compact square four but suffered from overheating.
Source: Tragatsch p202, François-Marie Dumas


MB

Built in the Avia factory of Milos Bondy. The 498cc engine, designed by Slechta, had a rotary valve head similar to the Soyer face-cam design. It did not achieve production and was replaced by another Bondy marque, the MAT.

Source: Tragatsch p205.


MBS

Bohumil Staša was a successful Czech road-racer who built and raced his own 125cc and 250cc machines in the 1960s. These did well in Czech competition but were no match for the factory machines he faced in international competition. He later campaigned with the CZ team and achieved 8th place in the 350cc class in 1968 and again in 1969. His racing career spanned the years 1961 to 1973.

Source: motohouse.cz


MC
Built 996cc V-twins designed by Vladimir Guth in 1924-1927.
Source: Tragatsch p205


Merfait
Manufactured by Bedrich Merfait, Prague 1905-1916
Presented the 2hp belt-drive v-twin motorcycle at the 1905 Prague Motor Show,
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


Meteor
Built by František Radvan, 1909-1926
Initially they built bicycle attachment engines of 211cc, and these were followed by 3-port two-strokes of 147 and 169cc. After 1924 they built the Radvan using DKW engines. Production ceased in 1926 due to hyperinflation.
Source: Tragatsch p208


Motex Sidecars

Manufactured by Motex, výrobní družstvo, Reckova 6, Praha 11

After the Soviet takeover, many firms were nationalised including that of Tuma Žižkov, producer of the Favorit sidecar. Motex built modified versions in 1950s for Jawa 250, 350 and 500cc motorcycles.

Source: South-Bohemian MC Museum


motor-company-prague

Motor Company

Built by Motor Company, Prague

These were the most expensive motorcycles built in the country at the time. They used JAP engines, Sturmey Archer transmissions and Brampton forks. Production figures were low.

Motor Company 1000 (1924) 980cc, 22 hp, 100 km/h max speed, weight 177 kg. An example of this machine is exhibited at the National Technical Museum, Prague.


N

Nawratil
Manufactured by Emanuel Nawratil, Dombrová 1907-1908
The 3 hp motorcycle ran an evaporative carburettor.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


Neco
Built small numbers motorcycles powered by 346 and 490 JAP SV and OHV engines from 1923 to 1927.
Source: Tragatsch p225.


O

Orlice 1904-1908


P

Pavlicek
Manufactured by Hynek Pavlicek, Tischnowitz 1909-1913
Using Kohout engines, the firm built motorcycles with a very long wheelbase requiring very long handlebars as the saddle was situated well to the rear.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


Perun

Peta
Between 1921 and 1924 the firm built small numbers of lightweight motorcycles and scooters using 170cc two-stroke engines.
Source: Tragatsch p248


Polanecky
Manufactured by Zdenek Polanecký, Prague 1913-1915
The small firm produced motorcycles with its own patented engines.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice


Poustka

poustka-logo


Built by František Poustka, Prague, 1924-1934
Poustka 150 (1923) Villiers 147cc, 4.7 hp, 60 km/h max speed, weight 68 kg.
Source: jawaczclub.nl



Premier of Czechoslovia

P.T.

Manufactured by Laurin & Klement, 1902

Destined for export markets, this was a cheaper version of the L&K motorcycle. It is not clear whether it entered production.

Source: libormarcik.cz


R

Radvan
Built in 1909-1926
Fitted DKW two-strokes 145 and 174cc. Radvan also built the Meteor.
Source: Tragatsch p258.


Ravo

Vlastimil Rain and Jaroslav Voňka built several 125cc and 250cc road-racing motorcycles in the 1950s and 60s and achieved commendable results in Czech competition. Fero Srna competed for the Czech national championship on the 250 in the mid-1960s, but did not win. Subsequently their designs were taken by Jawa, presumably on order of the communist regime.

Source: motohouse.cz



Republic

Rösler & Jauernig 1902-1907


R&K Richter & Kroboth, 1924-1926


Rozehnal
Manufactured by Vladimir Rozehnal, Paskau 1905-1909
The entire motorcycle including the engine was built in the small factory. The engines were vertical singles with an external flywheel and transmission was by belt.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


Rulliers
Built in 1924-1929. Fitted with Villiers engines of 147, 172 and 346cc.
Source: Tragatsch p267


S

Sagitta
Built a small number of motorcycles using Villiers 247cc engines betweeen 1928 and 1930
Source: Tragatsch p268


Satan

satan-logo


Built by Šikýř-Rott (Sikyr-Rott), Prague
Satan (1930) 540cc sidevalve, 10 hp, 90 km/h max speed, weight 158 kg. Saddle tank and two seats each suspended by long thin shock absorbers.
Sources: South-Bohemian MC Museum, Tragatsch p269, et al.


Schmidt
Manufactured by Adolf Schmidt, Bohemian-Leipa 1901-1902
The second-oldest motorcycle firm in Czechoslovakia, their machines used frames from Dürkopp and Styria fitted with Kelecom engines.
There was also a Schmidt marque in Germany in the 1920s.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


S-Fortis
Built a small number of motorcycles in 1929-1931 fitted with 598cc OHV Sarolea engines.
Source: Tragatsch p272


Sibrava 1920~1925


Sirocco
Built from 1925 to 1928 by Gustav Heinz using Villiers engines of 147cc to 346cc. Heinz also built the Velalmos
Source: Tragatsch p274.


SKO
Frantisek Skopec built a 498cc two-stroke 3-port single in limited numbers, 1924-1926.
Source: Tragatsch p274.


Slavia

Stefania
Manufactured by Möldner & Skreta, Liberec 1903-1904
The Czech bicycle factory briefly built motorcycles with 305cc engines.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


SRK
Stanislav and Rudolf Kubicek from Ceské Budejovice built a single example of a two-stroke motorcycle. It is worthy of mention because of the interesting tale with which it is involved.
Source: South-Bohemian MC Museum


Sumava
Built by Jaroslav Pichner, Klatovy, Šumava, 1938
The small firm produced a lightweight pedal-assisted 98cc Sachs machine.
As the machines were very similar to the Tripol of 1938 built in nearby Rokycany, it is likely that the two firms co-operated. Both were bicycle manufacturers.
Sources: South-Bohemian MC Museum, http://historickakolapisek.cz.


T

TAP-Sidecars Logo

TAP

Manufactured by Adolf Tlustoš of Prague, 1930s

"Adolf Tlustoš was not only an exceptionally good craftsman, but he was also well aware of the effects of advertising, so he advertised his sidecars quite intensively."

Source: South-Bohemian MC Museum


Torpedo


Tragatsch 1946-1949



tripol logo

Tripol
Built by Tripol Fahrradfabrik GmbH., Rokycan (near Pilsen), 1925~1938
The small firm produced motorcycles with 246 cc Villiers engines, and in 1938 marketed a pedal-assisted 2-speed 98cc Sachs machine.
Sources: South-Bohemian MC Museum, Tragatsch p284.


V

Vechet

Manufactured by Vojmir Vechet, Nymburk 1906-1908

The majority of the motorcycles produced by the factory were sidecar combinations with engines which were most likely from Laurin & Klement.

Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice



Velamos 1927-1930


Velox
Built in 1923-1926 by motorcycle racer Hynek Vohanka using 147cc Villiers and 123 and 174cc Bekamo engines.
Source: Tragatsch p291.
N.B. A Velox automobile was built in Prague 1906 to 1910.


VM Motor 2004-2009


Vulcan (Vulkan) 1904-1907


W

Wacek
Manufactured by Augustin Wacek, Pecha 1908-1914
The small firm marketed modified rebadged Orlice motorcycles.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


Wagner
Built in 1930-1935, these were fitted with sidevalve, ohv, ohc and two-stroke engines of 98 to 499cc. It appears that none survived the ravages of war, but there is documentary evidence of their existence.
Source: Tragatsch p294.
N.B. There was also a Wagner of Minnesota.


Walter

Weber & Reichmann
Manufactured by Weber & Reichmann, Maschinen- und Kettenfabrik, Warnsdorf (1923-1926)
Built 142cc and 172 cc two-stroke motorcycles with pressed metal frames under DKW licence.
Source: Tragatsch p295




Y

Yuki
Established in 2006 the marque produces motorcycles using 50cc, 125cc and 250cc engines.
Source: en.yuki-club.net


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