Veteran French Motorcycles
Chapleur Collection
Chapleur Collection
Chapleur Collection
Chapleur Collection
Chapleur Collection
Motorcycle Combination
Notes on some of the rarer French marques
This page lists brands for which we currently have only an historical precis. There is also a page on really obscure French brands.
For a more complete listing visit the French Index.
Macquart et fils
1900 Macquart and Vexiau petrol bicycle with clutch and chain transmission named the Pétrocyclette. The manufacturer is also given as Macquart et Fils, with a date of 1907.
Bourdache p112, p438
Magali 1903
Magaty
Built autocycles using 98cc engines from Train and Stainless, 1931 to 1937.
Source: Tragatsch p198.
Magnat-Moser
A division of Magnat-Debon which built Moser engines under licence at Grenoble between 1906 and 1914.
Source: Wikipedia NL
Mahelin-Foucher
63 rue Frédéric Petit Amiens (Sommes)
Winner of the first motorcycle race on the velodrome at Amiens, 1901, ridden by Baudelocque
Bourdache p438
Maitre 1928-1938
Mallen
Victor Mallen built a two-seater pedal tricycle in 1898. This was followed by a similar but somewhat more robust machine which was designed to accept a De-Dion engine. It is unclear whether a motor tricycle was constructed.
Source: lestricars.es.tl
Manocar
Manufactured by Etablissements Manom, Pantin, in 1953.
A SABB 125cc two-stroke drove the front wheel by chain. Only two of the two-seaters were built.
Source: Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum
Manon 1902
Marly
150 avenue du Roule, Neuilly
Presented motocyclettes at the 1908 salon.
Bourdache p438
Marmonnier
Constructed lightweights with Aubier-Dunne 125 and 175cc two-stroke engines in Villeurbanne from 1947 to 1951.
The same firm built Marmonnier and Imperial sidecars.
Sources: Wikipedia NL, bernardet.com.
Marquet Engines
17 rue Antonin, Perrin, Villeurbanne
Manufactured by Soma, founded 1912. In the years 1952~1956 they produced engines fitted to Automoto, Follis, Helyett, Magnat Debon, Monet Goyon, Peugeot, Terrot and others.
Models include:
Sources: Motos dans la Loire, et al.
Mascotte 1923-1924
Mash 2012-2024
Mathis c.1904-1906, 1946-1950
Mauxion and Devinant
5 rue Jouvenet, Paris
Entered the 1903 du M.C.F., ridden by Mauxion
Bourdache pp 186, 438
Max
Manufactured by Ets. Motos Max of Levallois from 1927 to 1930, these were motorcycles using engines of 98cc to 500cc along with components from both British and French suppliers.
Source: Wikipedia NL, Tragatsch p205
Mayeski
In 1904 a Mayeski-Deckert engaged in the qualifiers for the September 25th Coupe Internationale du Motocycle-Club de France (M.C.F.) ridden by Mayeski.
Their address in 1907 was 3 rue du Pas de la Mule, Paris
Bourdache p190
MBK
This company was the successor to Motobecane, with Yamaha as the majority shareholder. It was based in Saint-Quentin.
M.C.
A photograph exists showing the rider Moret on an M.C. at the Paris-Nice race, 1921
Mecatwin 1997-2021
Megy
Motocyclette exhibited at the 2nd Salon of 1901
Bourdache p439
Mercier (1899)
4 rue Jacques Coeur, Paris
Built tricycles powered by De Dion-Bouton engines. One model was named Washington.
Source: Bourdache
There is also a much later marque, Mercier 1930s-1950s
Meteore
One of the many marques produced under the France Motor Cycles mantle.
Météore
These were engines built in Paris by société des frères Caffort, one of which was fitted to a c.1902 Brilliant.
Sources: Guélon Collection
Mic Per
Michel Perret constructed a racing moped in St Etienne in 1951.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Microma Engines
In 1947, Mignon, Croleak and Malaprade developed a motorcycle engine based on a Gillet-Herstal unit. The single-cylinder four-stroke disc-valve "turntable" engine had no poppet valves, the disc being driven via a shaft and bevel gears, it is understood. The Austrian Freyler engine used a similar concept in 1928-29.
Après les ingénieurs anglais Cross et Aspin, un français s'est penché sur le problème de la distribution par boisseau tourant. Nous présentons aujourd'hui le résultat des travaux de M. Croleak, un remarquable moteur « sans soupapes » dont les essais au banc sont plus que prometteurs.
After the English engineers Cross and Aspin, a Frenchman looked into the problem of distribution by rotating bushel. Today we present the result of Mr. Croleak's work, a remarkable "without valves” whose bench tests are more than promising.
See also Cross Rotary
Sources: Moto revue July 18th 1947, et al
Micromoteur see Labinal
Midroit
Midroit was a rider for Ravat who in 1927 built his own machine powered by a JAP engine.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Midual
Built by Olivier Midy, this is a modern superbike of typical French beauty. The first of his machines, a flat twin, was presented at the Paris Motorcycle Show in 1999. Further development followed and the first road test was by Alan Cathcart in 2014.
The liquid-cooled 975cc DOHC 8v engine is inclined at 25º and produces 90 HP via a 5 speed gearbox and chain drive to the rear wheel. Yours for just 140,000 Euros.
Sources: midual.com, et al.
MIG
GP rider Jean-Louis Guignabodet began building racing motorcycles in 1985 using 250cc Rotax twins equipped with a carbon-fibre fuel tank. Later he built racing exhaust systems.
Source: OTTW
Mignorac
Between 1924 and 1937 the Mignorac firm of Romainville (Seine-Saint-Denis) built motorcycles under the brand names Lalo, Mignorac and Poinsard, along with LMP engines.
Source: OTTW
Mildé 1900-1903
Millet
See Darracq
Minimotor
Ets Minimotor, 310 avenue d'Argenteuil, Asnieres (Seine)
49cc cyclemotors built in 1951 and '52, possibly other years. It is unclear whether these were actually built in France under licence, or the company was the main agent in France for the Italian firm.
See also Mini-Motor by Piatti
Source: La Moto Francaise
Minerve
30 rue du Point du Jour, Boulogne Billancourt
Minerve motor tricycle, 1899
Caption to Bourdache image: The very personal architecture of the Minerve engine (unrelated to the Belgian Minerva) is determined by the shape of its piston. In order to improve the internal cooling of the engine, this piston is extended by a hollow sleeve and open at both ends.
Bourdache p83
Minima Bicycle Engines
3 cité Griset (125 rue Oberkampf), Paris
Engine adaptable to all bicycles, 1903
Bourdache p439
Mira
13 rue de l' Aquedue, Paris
Stuart & Stichter built motorcycles, 1904
Bourdache p439
Mireille
Gayon et Cie, 22 rue Galloy, Levallois
Built in 1904 by the same company responsible for the Magali, apparently, but at a different address - 10 Rue Danton, Levallois. The motorcycle had a fourstroke side-valve engine. The Mireille was a competitor in the 1/3 litre qualifiers of 1905.
This machine had chain drive and there all semblance of common sense seems to have evaporated, according to a somewhat humorous account Bourdache gives of its convoluted drive-train.
Bourdache pp 223, 251.
Mistral
Schneider built an "adaptable rear wheel drive" in 1902 named Mistral
Bourdache p439
MN
ca 1905
Meunier et Nexon, Limoges, builder of motorcycle engines
Bourdache p439
Mobyvelo
A 1952 65cc example of the type Mehari is described on the site of M. Dumas.
La Moto Francaise
MOC
Philippe Moc prepared two Benelli Sei racing machines for Motobécane to compete in the 1977 Bol d'Or.
Termed the Benelli-Moc R900, they had their own frames, a TZ700 dry clutch, the fuel tank position low in the frame and six mufflers on a "spaghetti" exhaust system.
Source: OTTW
MOM
Ateliers de Construction Mécanique Maurice Charotte
169/173 bld Pereire et 51 rue Laugier, Paris
From 1905 built 3hp single cylinder and 6hp V-twin motorcycles; also tricars, automobiles and motorboats
Bourdache p439
Monarque
1904, Motorcycles and Engines
Monarque has emulated Buchet with this elegant machine on offer at a very competitive price. Under the name of L'Elégante, this 250cc (70x70mm) engine is also sold by Ets J.B. Mercier, 6, rue St-Ferdinand, Paris.
Bourdache p200
Mondia
Manufactured by Etablissements F. Simon of Agen, built (or rather, assembled) mopeds between 1950 and 1960 under the brands Elite (Agen), Esper, Prester (Agen), Semper, SIF and Sport.
Source: OTTW
Moneclair Motos
S.C.M.S.
77, Av A-Briand Cachan (seine)
98cc and 175cc two-stroke motorcycles 1955, perhaps other years.
La Moto Francaise
Monin Tricycles
3 Bld Poissonnières, Paris
Tricycle exhibited at the Paris salon, December 1896
Bourdache p439
Monoroue
See Schlenker Monoroue under German Marques (S)
Mont
Messrs Mont, father and son, patented an internal combustion engine in December 1903
Installed on the front wheel and driven by a roller, the engine was rated at 1½ hp. It was named Le Quand Même.
Bourdache p439
Moraco
Built in 1974 by Bernard Droulhoile who worked with the French Yamaha importer Sonauto, the Moto Moraco was based on the TZ250/350 using a monocoque frame and an enlarged engine. It was campaigned by Christian Bourgeois and Patrick Pons in the 500cc GP.
Sources: wikipedia.nl, Phil Aynsley.
Morel 1897
Mors
1900
The famous car manufacturer also built tricycles which probably used De Dion-Bouton engines.
Bourdache pp 131, 174, 175, 329.
Moto Payan
Founded in 1896 in Marseille by Victor Payan whose grandson was the cyclist André Payan. In the 1950s the firm began marketing rebadged lightweight motorcycles built by Automoto or Hirondelle, with a nameplate stamped "Moto Payan St Etienne". At least two examples are known to have Aubier & Dunne 125cc engines, and another is listed with an Ydral 125.
The company ceased trading in 1996.
Sources: Motos dans la Loire, cyclememory.org.
Motocar F.R.
(Breveté France et Étranger)
SOLUTION DÉFINITIVE D'UNE MOTOCYCLETTE A DEUX PLACES
Pour le Catalogue et Renseignements :
MOTOCAR F. R., 41, Avenue de la Grande-Armée PARIS (IF)
N.B. Thought to be from 1927. Not Cerreti Motocar 1929, which was in Courbevoie (Seine), 40km from Paris.
Motosolo 1919-1923
A Mototouriste lady's bicycle fitted with spring forks.
Mototouriste
An ordinary bicycle frame fitted with a spring fork. Velotouriste proprietary engine unit. Chain transmission. 26 x l¾ in. tyres.
Paris Salon, 1922
Moto-Union
C.I.C.M. Compagnie Internationale de Constructionde Moteurs, Chemnitz
23, ave; Grande Armée, Paris
From 1950 to 1955 built motorcycles with two-stroke engines of 125 and 250cc, and 340cc OHV. An advertisement from the period indicates that they sold IFA machines.
La Moto Francaise
Moteurs Bi-temps.
"Moteurs Bi-temps, Paris, specialise, as their name implies, in two-stroke engines, both air and water-cooled. These engines have ball bearings in the main bearings and big ends, and are of 2 h.p."
Paris Salon, reported in
The Motor Cycle, October 1919
Motolux
1933-1938
Built powered bicycles using auxiliary engines from a variety of different manufacturers.
Source: wikipedia.nl
Motorette 1900
Motoporteur A.R.M.
A motor-driven trailer intended for pedal cycles, the Motoporteur. A.R.M.
One of the most curious vehicles in the motor cycle exhibit was a self-propelled trailer intended for attachment to pedal cycles. A small sidecar body contains the passenger, and the outfit is propelled by a single-cylinder Anzani engine through an almost incredibly short belt drive.
Motox
Cyclememory.org gives the following information:
Ets Paul Ladeveze, 50 rue Brunel, Paris (17°)
Ets Darris, 8 rue de Richelieu, Paris (1°)
Engines: Type MD and Type A, both 40cc.
Mot-Saralegui
Manufactured at 130 Rue du Bois, Levallois Perret
The firm built compact vehicles which typically offered space for two occupants in tandem. A Jan 1899 advertisement in Le Vélo gave the powerplant as a 3 hp Dumond, and a listing from circa 1900 shows a quadricycle with a de Dion et Bouton moteur.
Sources: Amis de Maurice Chapleur (FB); period literature.
Motte
D. Motte et Cie, 101, Quai de Courbevoie, Courbevoie (Seine)
1910 Built a motorcycle with a Zurcher 2hp engine.
From the early 1900s the firm manufactured steam and petrol engines, pneumatic and hydraulic pumps, compressors and bicycles. They were in operation until at least 1921.
Bourdache (p439), encycloduvelo.fr
Mouette d'Or 1905~1928
M & P (Lille)
Marechal & Poste, Fives, Lille-Nord was established by Francesco Ferrier. From c.1928 to the beginning of WWII (or possibly 1928-1932), these were lightweights with 100 and 125cc Aubier & Dunne engines.
Source: Wikipedia NL, Tragatsch p221
MSR Sidecars
Manufactured at rue Thomas Edison, ELNE
Two models are available - the Neptune (sports) and the Cocoon (touring).
The MS-R company makes arrangements to adapt the MS-R sidecars for disabled people, whatever the disability.
Source: sidecars-rds.fr
Myster
Erroneously listed elsewhere as a moped manufacturer, the name applies to a moped engine built by Le Poulain.
Rarer French Marques
