Notes on a number of Canadian makes
This page lists brands for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the Canadian Index.
Alouette 1973-74
Brantford
Manufactured by Brantford Autocycles Ltd, 1912
In 1912 the trade magazine, Canadian Machinery, described construction of the firm's factory.
Source: documents.techno-science.ca.
Campagna
Manufactured by Campagna Motors, Quebec, Canada
The firm was founded by Daniel Campagna, who began construction of the T-Rex prototype in 1994.
In January 2019, the firm's president Andre Morrisette announced that Campagna Motors entered bankruptcy. The following February 2019 they stated that new investors had been found, and production was soon back under way.
Models
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, campagnamotors.com, et al
Canjamoto
Manufactured by Canadian Jamaican Motorsports
The Canjamoto Scorpion was based on a BMW R1200S, and was displayed at the 2007 Montreal Motorcycle Show. There were no gauges - all instrumentation was via a heads-up display. Bodywork was either fibreglass or carbon-fibre.
Production was planned to start in 2008, but doesn't seem to have eventuated.
Source: Graham Clayton
CCMC 1903-1912 (Ontario)
Crocker
Manufactured by The New Crocker Motorcycle Company of 1719 Flint Road, North York, Ontario (and later Los Angeles, CA.)
Markus Karalash and Michael Schacht formed a partnership in 2002, and by 2007 the first production machine kits were almost ready. In 2012 the workshops had moved to Los Angeles and production of complete motorcycles was underway. In 2017 the price for one of these artworks was in the vicinity of US$300,000.
N.B. Andrew Schywiola writes in the comments on the Vintagent article that he is not greatly enamoured of Schacht, not least because he has been given little credit for the enormous effort he and Daryl Tearne put into building the first Crocker in Ontario in 1996/97. Further comments by others paint a less than rosy picture of Mr Schacht.
Sources: thevintagent.com, crockermotorcycleco.comet al
Emmo
Manufactured in Toronto, Ontario. Established 2009.
Products include: Electric Bicycles, Motorcycle Style Ebikes, Scooter Style Ebikes, Mobility Scooters, Electric Kickscooters.
Website: emmo.ca
Hannigan Sidecars
Manufactured in Canada from around 1975, Hannigan offered a dozen different models including the Astro with adjustable air suspension and which could be converted into a sleeper.
Their Classic model is built along the lines of the TR500 Steib, but has a fibreglass body and is therefore lighter.
Sources: Gespann-Lexikon; Hal Kendall
Havoc
Manufactured by Havoc Motorcycles of Prince Edward Island.
Jarrod Wiener established the company in 2014 and the first model, the "Iron Flight Mike Tyson Special Edition", was launched in September 2015.
In 2016 they formed an association with Wild West Motor Co., using that company's designs as a basis for two new models. The Havoc 124SS was announced in early 2017, and the 60s styled Havoc 127 VooDoo arrived in 2019. Their website was last updated that year.
Sources: havoc-motorcycles.com, fb.com/HAVOCMotorcycles, en.wikipedia.org, et al
Jordan
Albert Jordan of Toronto built DOHC 500cc motorcycles using an engine of his own design housed in frames from other manufacturers.
Sources: motorencyclopedie.nl, et al
Joshua Hill
Designed and built by Joshua Hill of Essex, Ontario in 1912, it is believed that only five of these 1000cc motorcycles were built and that they were the first Canadian-designed machines.
Sources: documents.techno-science.ca.
Junior
Manufactured by the Junior Motorcycle Manufacturing Company of 1096 Levis, Terrebonne, Montreal. The firm dealt in both motorcycles and automotive equipment.
They began building custom V-twins powered by S & S engines in 1996. Models include JR Roadster, Semental Luxor, Typhoon Stallion and Typhoon Sprint. Most were fitted JRM frames and exhausts, Showa front suspension, and Showa or Progressive rear suspension.
Source: OTTW
N.B. There are several Junior marques.
Moto-Skeeter
Manufactured by Moto-Ski of La Pocatiere, Quebec, a division of Bouchard Industries, 1971-1972 and possibly later.
Moto-Ski manufactured snowmobiles from 1964 to 1975. Bombardier bought the company in 1971 and moved production to their factory in Valcourt in 1976.
The Moto-Skeeter came in at least three models. A 1972 model had a 72cc two-stroke engine, auto transmission, alloy guards, drum brakes front and rear, and a fuel guage integral with the tank cap.
Sources: mecum.com, classicjapcycles.com, et al.
Paragon-Villiers
Produced by Fred Deeley Motorcycles, 539 West Broadway, Vancouver.
Fred Deeley began his business in 1917, and became Canadian distributor for Harley-Davidson and Triumph.
Deeley began importing parts from England to construct his own machines named Paragon-Villiers. These were Sun "kit" bikes which used a Villiers engine mounted in a Sun frame with a variety of other British components, delivered in crates ready for assembly.
The British firm named Paragon motorcycles ceased trading in 1921.
The Paragon-Villiers was powered by a 147cc 2-stroke single-cylinder Villiers engine, giving a top speed of approximately 50kmh (30mph). The engine unit was supplied complete with Villiers flywheel magneto, Villiers carburetor, canister muffler, and handlebar throttle lever.
The lone surviving Paragon-Villiers was found in 2014 by Terry Frounfelker in a Vancouver basement. A new condenser, some magneto parts, a new spark plug and ignition wire with a total cost below $100 had the bike running for the first time in 83 years.
Sources: winnipegfreepress.com; Graham Clayton
Further reading: Paragon-Villiers at driving.ca
Queen
In 1903 the Queen Cycle Company produced 3½ hp and 5½ hp motorcycles in Toronto.
Source: documents.techno-science.ca
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