Vintage French Motorcycles
Paris
Veteran French Tricycle
M. Lombard
French Boardtrack
Motorcycle and Trailer
Famous French Racer
This page lists brands for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the French Index.
There is also a page on really obscure French brands.
Sachs-Nauder 1981~1986
Sadem
Ets. Sadem of Bois-Colombes built 98cc lightweight motorcycles from 1951 to 1954
Source: Wikipedia NL
Salmson
Manufactured by Ets Jeanne & Philippe, 196-198 bd Voltaire, Paris
In the 1950s built mopeds fitted with Le Poulain, Junior and VAP 55 engines.
They marketed the Ydral-powered Cote d'Azur from Mercier under the Salmson marque.
Salmson also built La France bicycles, unrelated to the motorcycles of that name.
Sources: Motos dans la Loire, et al.
Salvator
1901
Bicyclette with Gillet engine and pedals. The same firm produced the Saltor.
Bourdache p112, 113.
Sambiase
Built in Marseille by the Sambiase brothers from 1985, these were high-performance machines using alloy frames and Kawasaki engines. They were associated with the Pernod racers.
Source: OTTW
Sanchis 1906~1912
Sanchoc
Motos Sanchoc of Paris built motorcycles using two-stroke engines of 98cc to 248cc and sidevalves of 345cc from 1922 to 1924.
Sources: Wikipedia NL, archives-moto.jlbweb.fr.
Sandford 1920s-1930s
Sanucta
Also known as Sanne, these were built by Manzat (P.-de-D.) in the 1930s.
Sartorette
Jean Sartori, a former cyclist, opened a bicycle shop in Meaux after the war and soon began fitting Le Poulain engines to quite attractive cyclomoteurs which proved very competitive in local racing. It appears that these machines were supplied to other manufacturers and sold under their own labels. Le Poulaine closed in 1956, and production of the Sartorette ceased around the same time.
Source: moto-scooter-annee50-60.over-blog
Sautel et Sechaud 1902-1904
Le Sauvage 1956-1958
Savard
Two-wheel-drive motorcycle built by the the Savard twins Frank and Patrick from 1987 with financial support from the French government for their Pro Top company. The Savard machines competed in beach races and supermotard, placing well. Driven by chain, the front wheel drive only engaged when the rear wheel lost traction. The name changed to Savage in 1990, but vanished the following year.
Engines employed included Honda CR500, Husky 510 and Yamaha TT600.
Source: Wikipedia NL
Savariaux
Possibly associated with La Tortue
Bourdache p146
Saving
1906. Brand with the same construction as Alcyon using Zedel engines renamed Kleder in the catalogue. It appears that these were in fact older model Alcyon machines.
Bourdache pp279, 378
Savoye et Cie
Established in 1905 at Saint-Chamond (Loire), the firm used the Keller Dorian engine in 1908. It is not clear whether they used their own name as the brand, but they were certainly marketed as Pernot
Sbarro
Manufactured by ESPERA Sbarro in Montbéliard, France, less than 20km from the Swiss border.
Franco Sbarro, from southern Italy, is famed for his exotic sports cars. His first love was motorcycles, and in 1989 he built a quite remarkable machine.
Source: moto-collection.org, e-sbarro.fr
Schlidge
Caption to image of Columbia engine: "For 230 F (mufflers included), Ets Schildge provides this 1 1/2 HP Columbia engine that fits all bicycles."
It is unclear whether Schlidge produced complete machines.
Bourdache p271
Schneider
1902. Motorcycle engine placed along the rear wheel - gear transmission
Schneider built his own carburettors.
Bourdache p149
Scoto 1949-1950
Scooter-Valise FR
Manufactured by Ets Francois in 1952, it was powered by a 72cc Sotecma engine and weighed a mere 27 kg.
See also F.R.
Source: Tous les scooters du monde
S.C.L.
Société Anonyme Nouvelles des Constructions de la Loire
Rue Parmentier, St Etienne
Similar catalogue to that of Automoto circa 1913
Bourdache p441
Scotta
A motorcycle/scooter hybrid with scooter wheels powered by a 125cc JLO engine, built 1952 to 1953.
Source: Wikipedia NL
Secma
Manufactured by SECMA (Société d'Etude et de Construction de Mecanique Automobile) in Aniche, about 50km south of Lille. The company was founded by Daniel Renard, who had previously run the ERAD microcar firm.
Secma produced a range of microcars including the "Fun Tech"" 3-wheeler which was sold in the UK as the QPod.
Sources: secma-performance.fr, en.wikipedia.org.
Selection
Manufactured by Selection Cycles of Paris, an upmarket bicycle manufacturer, the cyclomotors (the term "moped" was not yet in common use) were powered by Le Poulain two-stroke engines.
Five of these were found in a Paris warehouse in 2006, brand new, in storage since a paris shop had taken delivery of them in 1952 shortly before closing down.
Gallery: Selection
Source: buyvintage.com
SEPT
33, Champs-Elysees, Paris (8)
An advertisment dated 1923 advertises engines of 125cc and 175cc using aluminium pistons, with an image of a sidevalve engine.
SER 1955-1958
Serin
Manufactured in 1899 by Pierre Serin, 79, rue de Paris, Saint-Ouen (Seine)
The tricycle had a single wheel at the rear powered by a 4CV four-stroke engine and a very large external flywheel. The front wheels pivoted automotive-style and were steered via a straight lever or optionally a handlebar. There are two brakes, one at the front, the other at the rear. It had two speeds and neutral, could achieve 30 km/h, and was priced at 3500 francs.
Source: lestricars.es.tl
Serpollet
In 1889, Armand Peugeot, who believed in the future of the motor vehicle, built a steam tricycle which was in fact a modified Serpollet. In the fourth machine, he changed from steam to to the Daimler engine.
Bourdache pp 131, 165.
Serrus
Address: 14, rue du Général Haxo, Epinal (Lorraine)
Established 1922 or earlier, in 1926 advertised that they manufactured Cycles and Motocyclettes. The firm was still operating in 1947, and was probably still producing bicycles in 1951.
S.E.T.A.M.
ca. 1950
Built the 49cc Baby Star, a bicycle attachment engine which drove the front wheel.
It was also sold in Germany. The name Mepps is mentioned, and the design was apparently owned by Stellwagen. There appears to be some connection with Lavalette as a detailed description of the Baby Star is available in a document with their logo.
Sources: Moped SE, cyclememory.org.
Seurat
Marcel Seurat built a high performance motorcycle using a pair of OSSA 250cc engines on a common crankcase. Only two were built, of which one survives. The names OSSA Yankee and Jacky Doubre are closely associated with the marque.
See also BPS, Royal Moto (1970s) and SPQ
Source: OTTW
Sewa see Jeunet
S.F. by Heck 1902
S.I.C. 1921-1925
SIF
see F. Simon
Simonet
Simonet - Ch. Simonet, Cycles & Autos, rue Juge 23, Paris. c.1903. These are possibly rebadged Valter machines. Charles-François Simonet had a bicycle workshop in rue Juge (Paris XV). His brother Alexandre, also a keen cyclist, had a workshop nearby.
Source: lestricars.es.tl
Siphax
Manufactured by Atéliers de Mécanique Siphax in Paris from 1951 to 1956, these were lightweight sport roadsters with 98cc AMC engines.
Source: Wikipedia NL
Smart
Motorcycles manufactured by Les Atéliers de Sedan of 55-57, Quai de la Tournelle, Paris, from 1922 to 1927, using 2hp two-stroke engines possibly of their own manufacture. They claimed to build 100 machines per day.
N.B. There was also a Smart built in Austria, see Smart (AT)
Sources: period literature, et al.
Societe Mecanique
Societe Anonyme Mecanique et Moteurs
Stanley Show, The Motor Cycle, Nov 25th 1903
S.O.C.O.M.I.A.
67 Rue Lamartine, Drancy (Seine)
In 1951 they built 60cc and 72cc machines
La Moto Francaise.
Socvel 1951~1954
Solano (Engines)
R.Poisson, 6 rue Chartran, Neuilly (seine)
Built engines in 1953-54 of types S1 and S2, 49.9 and 49.8 cc. The engine was used by BGA of Saint-Etienne in those years.
Source: La Moto Francaise
Soltner
Victor Soltner of Pfastatt in Alsace began building his own motorcycle in the late 1930s. The machine has a 250cc two-stroke HO twin with separate gearbox. It had telescopic forks and a rigid rear end, and chain drive to the rear wheel. The machine was completed and made roadworthy in 1952, and was restored in recent times.
Victor was the mechanic for the Mulhouse motoball club. He built the flat-twin engine using 125cc Peugeot pistons, and everything else - crankshaft, conrods, casings - he made himself. He patented the design in 1951 and registered it in 1952.
Source: lalsace.fr
Soncin
68 rue Caumartin, Paris
Emel, Cuzon et Cie in 1900, and later Soncin, Gregoire et Cie
Louis Soncin built engines some of which were very large and powerful in the day. A racing machine with a 500cc Soncin was part of the Guélon Collection.
In October 1902 Soncin withdrew from the company leaving the rights to Pierre Joseph Grégoire.
In 1905 , the company developed a twin-cylinder 8/10 HP engine, and began car racing. In 1906, the Poissy factory expanded, and in 1907 the company transferred its head office to Levallois - Perret , then to Neuilly-sur-Seine, with production remaining in Poissy.
A Soncin engine powered a motorcycle built by the Chase Brothers in 1903.
Sources: Bourdache (pp 88, 96); Guélon Collection; wikipedia.org.
Souriau
Manufactured by A. Souriau et Cie of Montoire-sur-le-Loir, 1912 to 1914.
The company built Delta style motor-tricycles (Dreiräder). The front wheel was driven by a 625cc engine which was mounted behind it. Another version had a four cylinder engine of 1465cc.
The firm also marketed vehicles under the "Obus" marque, 1907 to 1908.
Sources: 3-wheelers.com, Wikipedia DE, et al
Souvairan
Displayed at the Salon of 1902
Bourdache p146
Spada
An open frame miniature, resembling the Skootamota, but with its power unit immediately in front of the rear wheel. This is a side-by-side twin two-stroke, embodying reduction gear and driving the small rear wheel by chain. The cylinder dimensions are 44x49 mm.
Paris Salon, 1922
Sparting 1930s~1950s
Sphinx Engines 1899
Sphinx Cyclecars
F. Terrier of Courbevoie, Seine built cyclecars between 1912 and 1925.
Sphinx Automobiles Usines Perfecto 1920-1925
Sphinx-Globe Automobilettes of 1913 had J.A.P. twins and Anzani single-cylinder engines.
Sources: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx_Automobiles, allcarindex.com
Sphinx 1933~1939
Star-Fling
Models ST125 & ST175, circa 1955, AMC engines.
The S.T. 175 Sport was quite striking, with extensive contoured bodywork and deeply flared mudguards. It had a dual seat, rear swinging arm and telescopic front suspension.
Starnord
Dangre Frères
49 , La Briquette, Valenciennes (Nord)
Established as a bicycle firm shortly before the war, from 1953-1957 built 100, 125 and 170cc two-strokes. A moped with a VAP engine was also produced, and a 100cc model named the SR5 Motostar with legshields and footboards.
La Moto Francaise
Stimula 1902-1914
Strock
20 bld du Port Amiens
Cycles and Motorcycles. 1903
Bourdache p441
Sublime
Construction of these 350cc parralel twins commenced in 1954.
Source: Wikipedia NL
Succès
Built motorcycles in 1904 with P.A.L. engines of 2½ hp or 3 hp
Bourdache p441
Superior
Thimonier et Cie, producer of sewing machines in Lyon. Marketed the Deronziere under their own label c1910
Supplexa 1922-1932
Suquet
Manufactured by Ets. Suquet Frères of Courbevoie, 1929 - 1934.
Built lightweight motorcycles using 98 and 124 cc Aubier & Dunne engines. It is possible they also built engines - see S.I.C.
Source: Wikipedia NL
Suzy
Manufactured by Motos Suzy of Levallois, 1932 - 1933, these were motorcycles with 498cc OHC Chaise engines.
Source: Wikipedia NL
Suddard
Documented in 1903
Bourdache p441
Sylvania
S.C.M.S.
77 Av A-Briand, Cachan (Seine)
Built 98cc and 175cc two-strokes in 1955.
La Moto Francaise
Rarer French Marques
