A Brief History of the Marque
Manufactured: 1926 to 1955
J.CHAPOLARD
Av. de la Gare, Bourg also 9 Avenue Pierre Sémard, Bourg (Ain)
The marque used engines from AMC, Aubier & Dunne, Chaise, Ducati, Moser, NSU, VAP, JAP and Nervor.
Joseph Chapolard, a smart businessman, began his endeavours in 1904. The first shop sold and repaired various brands of sewing machine, bicycles, motorcycles and automobiles. He soon created his own brand - Radior - with an assembly plant for cycles and sewing machines. In 1911, he moved to larger premises in Avenue Pierre Sémard opposite the station, with a modern factory at the Pont de Lyon added in 1920.
Radior began building motorcycles in 1926. The first model, presented at the Paris Salon of that year, had a 175cc Moser engine. By 1927 the range expanded, with 250cc, 350cc and 500cc offered using engines from various specialist manufacturers. With the introduction of the new BMA tax class for 100cc machines with pedals, the Radior Radiorette, with an Aubier & Dunne engine, became popular. Chapolard and Goubet also began making their own 2-stroke engines under the brand Nervor.
Postwar Radior BMA's featured a variety of proprietary engines: in 1952, Mosquito and Cucciolo engines were used; VAP were fitted in 1953; in 1954 they offered a choice of models, with VAP or Mistral 48cc or the 98cc NSU. VAP motors were used again in 1955. They also built various postwar 125cc and 175cc machines, using their own Nervor engines; these engines were also supplied to other companies such as Hurtu and Manufrance.
The Radior Mouette of the mid-fifties is a little hard to classify - it was a scooter-like machine with large wheels and enclosed bodywork with a smallish tank mounted well forward. The headlight was perched precariously on the front guard. Hidden beneath the fairing was an NSU 98cc engine (49 x 52 mm). This engine was shared with the R98 which has some similarities to the Mouette, but was completely unfaired.
In 1954, a 250cc twin 2-stroke called the Bison was introduced. The market at this time was extremely competitive and sales of the Bison were insufficient to stave off the company's cashflow problems; unfortunately the company ceased production a year or two later.
Radior Models include:
Information on a number of models may be found at Radior
at Bikelinks
Sources: BuyVintage.com, Amis Terriens, period literature, et al.
30-Mar-2020
mike.knott at hotmail.co.uk
Radior
Good morning from England,
I hope you can help,
i have just bought what i believe to be a 1932 100cc Radior motorcycle which i am currently doing a light restoration on.. i would be very grateful if you can confirm the following for me.
what model is the Radior?
is it 100cc?
is it a 1932 motorcycle?
i have the following information
engine markings say: Nervor BMA Type C. NO 7349
Frame number under pedals: 2280 G 0
front wheel hub says: DIPLOME DU TOURING CLUB DE FRANCE AU CONCOURS DE FREINAGE CHANTELOUR 1932.
The only information i have from the previous owner is the bike is 1930s
i cant find anything like it on the internet, especially with teardrop style tank and twin fish tail exhaust pipes.. the bike has been painted but original colour was a dark military green.
i would like to road register the bike so any information you can give me would be hugely appreciated
Cheers Mike Knott
ps i have more photos but will only allow me to upload 4..
Michael Knott
Dorset UK
17-May-2018
alstettler at bluewin.ch
Hirondelle motor Norvor-E Radior Type R.N.3T 1948
Einstellen der Zündung wie viel mm vor OT
Ernst Stettler
Schweiz
Wed Sep 30 2015
markus.zon at gmx.de
radior 350 sport
Hallo ich bin im besitz von einer Radior bj 1930 mit orginalpapieren 350 ccm sport. falls sie bilder brauchen können sie mich jederzeit kontacktieren. gruß von deutschland
Sun Mar 03 2013
galluc1943<at>libero.it
RADIOR 1930 ?
Contact B M 100 cc 2 Stroke
Sono in possesso di questa MotoBici RADIOR di fabbricazione francese
degli anni fine anni 1920 inizio 1930 con Motore NERVOR a 2 Tempi di 100cc.
Monomarcia con Frizione e avrei piacere di essere contattato da collezionisti
o esperti di questo marchio per consigli e scambi di informazioni, grazie,
saluti, luciano
Torino - Italy
Fri Oct 26 2012
platzerr<at>web.de
Motorcycle
Radior 350 JAP, 28/29
Mesdames, Messieurs,
Je suis en possession d'un "Radior JAP OHV 350cc, construit en 1928/29." Comme j'ai trouvé dans la littérature spécialisée seulement l'indication selon laquelle la moto a été produite à Bourg (Ain), je vous demande un éventuel soutien pour la restauration. Peut-être est-il possible pour vous de m'envoyer une photo concernant la peinture/couleur d'origine ou trouvé quelqu'un dans votre club qui pourrait me donner des informations et pourrait me contacter.
Je serais reconnaissant pour tout renseignement!
Je me réjouis de votre réponse et je vous remercie d'avance pour vos efforts.
Meilleures salutations de Munich
Rudolf Platzer
Munich
Sat Oct 13 2012
jengpotze<at>home.nl
restoring Radior
Radior RN3T 125 cc Nervor
i need any info about this bike.
Netherlands
English
Thu Nov 05 2009
a.duyn at Chello.nl
RADIOR / nervor
1930 100 cc
Hallo, I'm restoring a Radior/Nervor 100 cc. of
abt. 1930. De you know perhaps the Size of the tyres? Thanks
in advance!
Atty Duijn / Holland.
Eefde
January 1, 2001
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
seit längerer Zeit besitze ich eine Radior Superieure im restaurierten Zustand. Leider fehlt mir sämtliches Informationsmaterial über das Motorrad. Es sieht aus wie ein Fahrrad mit Motor. Baujahr etwa 1930.
Motor: Nervor, Nr.: 5751 mit Morel Zündanlage. Fahrgestellnr.: 5179. Da ich einige Probleme mit der Fliehkraft-Kupplung?? habe, benötige ich dringend jede Information wie eine Kopie des Kfz-Briefes, Bedienungsanleitung, evtl. Reperaturanleitung usw. Für jede Information bin ich dankbar. Mfg B. Kirchhoff -- b.kirchhoff at surfeu.de
Sheldon's Lame Translation:
Ladies and Gentlemen, for some time I have owned a Radior Superieure
that was restored. Unfortunately all the documentation is missing for this
motorcycle. It looks like a bicycle with an engine. The year of construction
was about 1930. Engine: Nervor, No.: 5751 with Morel ignition system. Chassis
No.: 5179. I believe it has a centrifugal clutch?? I am in urgent
need of information such as a copy of the Kfz letter (??????), operating
instructions, repair manual, etc.. I will be grateful for any information.
Mfg B. Kirchhoff
July 17, 2000
Mister
Have you please some informations about the brand RADIOR (year of manufacturing,
quantity, photos, web site, price...)
Thanks in advance.
Cyrille MAILLET -- JChristophe.Anger at wanadoo.fr
I own a Radior made in 1930. It has a JAP engine; a 350 cc overhead valve type. I've had it for 6 years and bought it at a fair in Belgium. I have some important data about the engine, but lack all on frame and such. I have not been able to locate any information about that.
Later I will enlarge the Radior site with pictures and technical information.
First I will have to find out how vehicle registration was done in France and Belgium back then. One question I have is for example: did frame and engine numbers match (back in 1930) when it left the factory. Or were they different?
If you know anything about it, please inform me. -- Groetjes, Raymond Willems -- willemsrip at noknok.nl
If you have a query about Radior motorcycles please contact us
