Based in France, Moto Corki was the brainchild of Lucienne Cordonnier. He built his own frames – as noted by Satanic Mechanic it was a backbone design ‘probably inspired by Egli but unlike the Egli and its successors, the backbone extended down to the swingarm pivot in a 110 degree angle.’ Another website suggests that the Corki name came from …
Rare Project – 1938 Genial Lucifer
Here’s one I had never heard of before – a Genial Lucifer!
1939 Peugeot P135 HL
Post Sale Update: This P135 sold for a BIN of $17,000 on eBay in Oceanside, California. In 1936, Peugeot introduced the P135 (350cc) as a lower-cost variant to their 350/500 “Grande Puissance” (“high power”) lineup, which was quite expensive to make, and therefore sell. A HL (Haute Luxe or High Luxury) option added extra chrome on the tank and tool …
1939 Terrot BMA 100
Post Sale Update: This Terrot sold for $3,500 after 44 bids on eBay in Clinton, Ohio. In 1926, the French manufacturer Terrot introduced the “Bicyclette Moteur Auxiliaire”, or BMA. The model name was directly stolen from French regulations which defined a category of motorized bicycle that had to be less than 100cc, under 30kgs (~66 pounds), have pedals, and top …
No Reserve Project – 1977 VéloSoleX 4600
Post Sale Update: sold for $102.50 after 21 bids on eBay. After Motobecane took over the company in 1974, VéloSoleX made several changes to their front-wheel drive motorized bicycle to comply with US DOT regulations. Updates to the 4600 in 1977 resulted in the V3 model, including CEV switchgear, ULO taillight, and UNION pedals.
Custom CB750 in Europe – 1973 Japauto 950 SS
Sensing that Honda was about to take over the motorcycle industry, Christian Vilaseca expanded his family’s GM automobile dealership by founding Japauto in 1966. Thanks to the success of the CB750, Japauto quickly became Europe’s largest motorcycle dealership. So when he decided to campaign in the 1970 Bol d’Or, he wanted to race with a bike bearing his companies name …
1968 Solex Micron
Post Listing Update: This Solex did not get any interest at the opening bid of $3,900 on eBay. I’ve featured a few two-wheelers from the French manufacturer Solex over the years, but this is the first example I’ve seen of the Micron, their smallest creation.
Guest History – BFG / MBK 1300 – Boxeur Français
View Post1953 Motoconfort 125
8-4-19 Update: 18 months later, Rod M notes that this bike is back up for sale. It’s a bit suspicious that the photos are screengrabs, but the asking price is down from $6,100 to $3,400 and the seller claims that it was recently serviced with a new crankshaft. Find it for sale here on Craigslist. Founded in 1925, Motoconfort was …
Rare Project – 1960 Peugeot S57
In 1953, Peugeot introduced a new model called the S55, and it stood out from the competition with dramatic styling. The French manufacturer updated the model to the S57 the following year, and by 1957 it had taken its final form with a new gear shifter and a few smaller revisions.
The French Bimota – 1980s Moto Martin M16 1135 EFE Suzuki
In a nutshell, Moto Martin was something akin to a French Bimota; the boutique firm dropped the latest engines of the day — in Martin’s case primarily from Japanese manufacturers — into bespoke frames, adorned them in unique bodywork, and then tacked on the latest and greatest track-focused running gear. The company is the brainchild of George Martin, who, prior …
BikeEXIF Featured in France – Bad Winners’s 1991 Yamaha XT600
If you follow the modern customs scene, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Bad Winners. The Paris-based shop churns out bespoke machines that are routinely featured on elite sites like BikeEXIF. The French outfit’s latest one-off two-wheeler is a 1991 Yamaha XT600E that’s been transformed into an urban supermoto toy.
Ending Soon – 1972 Motobecane LT 125
Post Listing Update: This Motobecane did not meet reserve despite 11 bids up to $1,957. Rarely found in the US, the Motobecane LT series utilized a two-stroke twin paired with a five-speed transmission. It was introduced in 1972 to compete against bikes like the Yamaha DT125 and Honda CB125. For more information, check out this translated page from Motobecane Passion.
Front Wheel Drive Moped in England – 1962 VéloSoleX 2200
Post Listing Update: This Solex was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. The brand name of Solex goes back to the 1910s, back when they were known for the production of automotive parts like radiators and carbs. In 1940, one of the founders (Marcel Mennesson) built a prototype motor and mounted it on a bicycle. After years of …
Little French Tracker – 2014 Mash Seventy Five 125cc
Mash Motorcycles is one of those manufacturers you’ve probably never heard of before. First founded in 2014, the low-volume boutique manufacturer offers good looking inexpensive motorcycles powered by small-displacement (50cc, 125cc, 250cc, and 400cc) Chinese crate engines. Think Cleveland CycleWerks, but French. In its handful of years since being established, Mash has released a surprisingly expansive lineup including factory ADV …