So neat is the Victory spring suspension that a second glance is necessary to realise that this Belglan-built Rush lightweight has not a rigid frame. Leaf and coil springs, a friction device, and a rubber buffer contribute to the design.
A Brief History of the Marque
Manufactured 1921-1931
The marque was established near Brussels by Omer Cravillon in 1921 and passed into the capable hands of Belgian motorcycle racer Maurice van Geert in 1923. The machines had JAP and Blackburne engines of 397, 497 and 597cc in sidevalve and ohv configuration, some with Sturmey-Archer 3 speed gearboxes. In 1928 motorcycles with Rush engines were added to the range.
A new frame and a larger capacity saddle tank were introduced in 1929.
Annual production peaked at some 300 or 400 machines, but the onset of the depression brought production to a halt in 1931.
In 1923 almost all Belgian records were taken by Rush motorcycles, along with a world record in the 250cc class.
Van Geert won the 1924 250cc Grand-Prix d'Europe at Monza on a Rush-Blackburne. This was the very first race in what later became known as the International Grand Prix. He became European Champion that year. He also took the podium at Assen in 1934, again on a Rush-Blackburne.
In 1926 and 1927 Leopold Demeuter performed very well on Rush machines, and in 1927 René Milhoux (formerly with Ready) joined the racing team.
Le Salon Belge
Rush construite par l'excellent coureur Van Geert ; machine d'avant-garde, bien dessinée, inspirée de la belle ligne anglaise ; mécanique impeccable. Nombreux détails pratiques qui dénotent l'influence du parfait motocycliste. 350 cmc. et 500 cmc. sport Jap ou Blackburne.
Rush built by the excellent racer Van Geert; avant-garde machine, well-designed, inspired by the beautiful English lines; impeccable mechanics. Many details practices that denote the influence of perfect motorcyclist. 350 cc and 500 cc Jap or Blackburne sport.
Le Salon Belge, Moto Revue December 24th 1927
Sources riutat.suntuubi.com, wikipedia, Tragatsch (p.268), bevemo.nl, et al
Wed Mar 14 2007
speed-photo at transmit.net
Rush Motorcycle in Birmingham, Alabama
I've taken some pictures of the Rush motorcycle (beautifully restored)
at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama.
You can feel free to link to the URL below or each individual pictures
URL if you'd like.
Birmingham, AL, USA
Thu Aug 18 2005
eloiduez at hotmail dot com
Rush Belgium?
hello, I a Rush 500 1926, do you have found documentations, photographs
for me?? thank you
.here the photographs of my motor bike, driving side Jap500, limps Stermey-Archer, I miss the carburateur (Amal), and some GCV on the order of limps, do you have addresses for me? thank you, and I you joint of the photographs of my Astra 500 1937, completely restored it has rolled for one month, Astra is a mark Italian importer of ariel has Milan, beautiful motor bike and rare, has more
If you have a query or information about Rush motorcycles please contact us
