Manufacturers History

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Last update: Oct. 11, 2003

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I think that there are too many riders that have experienced too few motorcycles. Never turn down the opportunity to ride a different motorcycle. If you're afraid that someone might see you, get a full face helmet. :>)

The following is a list of some of the Motorcycles, Motorized Bicycles, Motorwheels, Autocycles, Minimotos, Scooters ect. and motorcycle engine builders that have made motorcycling what it is today since the first "Roper" steam motorcycle was produced in 1867. This list should not be taken as complete (there are literally thousands more) or totally accurate as there is a lot of conflicting information on some models. I will try to fill in the blanks when time allows me to research them. 
Orginally I started out not including the manufacturers that produce what I call "Harley Clones" but soon realized that three quarters of the names on this list made some of their own parts and assembled motorcycles using other makers engines. S&S is the J.A.P. of today. 

How many of them ring a bell?

 I try to spend about an hour a week researching and add one to ten motorcycles a week. I don't add an entry unless I can verify it with at least two or three sources. 
(which usually conflict with each other, so the verification doesn't mean much except that it probably did exist )
 

A

Aaen Racer, designed by Olav Aaen in the 1960's. It's unclear how many, if any, were produced
AAR Finland, Ice racers. Jawa engines
Abell USA, 1901 - ?, Rollin Abell built a steam powered bicycle and patented the coaster brake around 1901
Abako Germany, 1923 - 1925
ABC England, 1913 - 1921?, All British Engine Company Had a transversely-mounted flat twin engine in 1918? 1919?
ABC England, 1919 - 1924? All British Cycle Co.
ABC Germany 1922 - 1924? A.B.C. Werk in Berlin
ABC USA, 1901 - 1902, The American Bicycle Co. built motorcycles as the American Cycle Manufacturing Co.
Abbotsford England and Australia, early 1900's
Abendsonne Germany, 1930's
Aberdale England, 1930's - 1950's?, Aberdale was run by the Levy bros. and bought Bown Cycles from William Bown in the late 1930's
Abe-Star Japan
Abingdon England
ABJ England, 1949 - 1954? Started by A B Jackson from Raynal Auto
ACE Motorcycles Bill Henderson Of Henderson Motorcycles started the Ace Motor Corporation in 1920 in Philadelphia. They had a four cyl. engine like the Henderson's but were lighter. They built the XP racers, Sport and Street Aces. Indian bought the rights to ACE in 1927, after Henderson was hit by a car and killed while testing an Ace Sport in 1922   see Henderson
Achilles Czechoslovakia
Achilles Germany, mopeds 1953 - 1957, Sold to Norman Cycles Ltd in England
Ackland England
Acme England, 1902, became Rex-Acme 
Acme Motorcycles Australia 1940's?? Not affiliated with Acme England. Built by Bennett & Wood in Sydney, used Villiars engines. There were also two other companies in Australia that used the Acme name in the early 1900's
ADB USA, 1993, California, American Dirt Bike Co. Rotax Engines
Ader France
Adler Germany, Adlerwerke Frankfurt until 1958
Adly Taiwan, 1978, built by Her Chee, scooters, motorcycles and ATV's
Adma Germany, 1924 - 1926
Adriatica Italy, 1979? 1980? 250cc Grand Prix racer
ADS
Advance England
AEL England
Aeolus England, 1913 - ?, built by William Bown
Aeon Taiwan, Mopeds, scooters
AER England, 1937 - ? A. E. Reynolds either built them and or assembled and rebadged Scotts as AER? see Scott
Aermacchi Started as an airplane manufacturer in 1912. Started making motorcycles in 1950. Aermacchi set many world records and partnered up with Harley Davidson in 1960 and took over Harley's light weight bike production when Harley stopped their small bike line, commonly known as the "Hummer", around 1965 or 1966. Aermacchi was bought by Cagiva in 1978
Aero Australia
AGF France, post war to about 1956
Agrale Brazil, Agrale manufactures some parts and assembles and distributes Cagiva, Husqvarna and MV Agusta under license from Cagiva who owns all three names 
Agrati (Garelli) Italy, Small cc scooters
Aiglon France, 1900? 1908? - 1953 or 1954, 1955? Bought by Peugeot in the 1920's but still carried the Aiglon badge 
Airman USA
Airmoto Italy
Airolite England
Ajax England, The Stevens bros. built engines using the Ajax name for AJW for a short time in the 1930's?
AJP Portugal, They make motocross bikes with Casal engines 
AJR England
AJS Was created by the four Stevens Brothers, who started the Stevens Motor Manufacturing Co. in 1899 to build engines and A. J. Stevens & Company in 1909 to produce motorcycles. The AJS came from Albert John (Jack) Stevens' initials. They built their first AJS in 1910 (1911?), a 298cc side valve engine motorcycle. They possibly experimented building motorcycles as early as 1897. They had a semi-partnership with Wearwell motorcycles in 1901 with the production of the Wearwell - Stevens motorcycle and with Clyno Motorcycles for a while around 1910. In 1931 Matchless Motorcycles Ltd purchased the AJS name and manufacturing rights. The brothers then started Stevens Brothers Ltd. in 1932 to produce Stevens Motorcycles. see Wearwell. The AJS name later became part of AMC and then was sold to F. Brown around 1967. Brown build trail bikes using the AJS badge into the 1970's, some (or all) using Villiers 250cc Starmaker engines. At least one model was called the FB-AJAY. 
AJT 
AJW  England, 1926 - 1953?, Arthur John Wheaton Used Ajax (built by the Stevens bros), Anzani and JAP engines up to 996cc. The AJW name has been used by at least three owners up into the 1980's?
AKD England, 1926 - 1933, Abingdon King Dick Co. started as a tool maker in 1856, briefly made motorcycle engines and complete bikes and now still makes tools. The King Dick name came from the owners bulldog
Akkens England
Alba Germany, 1919 - 1924
Albertus Germany, 1922 - 1924
Alcyon France, 1904 - 1956
Alecto England
Alert England
Alfer Spain, Supermoto and enduro bikes
Algat Italy, Scooters
Alp England, 1913 - 1916, English branch of Swiss based Moto-Reve. Beta of Italy now makes a model called Alp
Alpino Italy
Alldays England, Early 1900's - 1927?, Alldays & Onions made motorcycles, 3-wheelers and autos. Some were used by the postal service. Alldays-Matchless?
Alligator USA, The Alligator is a project that Dan Gurney has been working on since 1979. The current stage is the A4A, which has carbon-fiber bodywork, a single-sided swing arm (with in-arm shock), fuel injection and built around a Honda XR600cc single engine. The object is to have a very stable cornering machine that will go 150mph
Allon England, 1915 - 1926, Made by Alldays
Alma France, 1950's?
Allright Germany, 1901 - 1928, they were also sold as Tiger, Roland, Vindee and VS in various markets. They used JAP, MAG, Kelcom and other engines
Allstate Sold by Sears they were made by Cushman, Puch, Gilera? and Vespa
AMAG Swiss, 1950's?
Amag Germany, 1924 - 1925? Allg. Motorfahrzeug Berlin
Amazonas Brazil, 1978 - 1990, made by Amazonas Motocicletas Especiais Ltda. Used a 1600cc VW car engine. Not a very well engineered motorcycle
Ambassador England, Bought by DMW in 1965
Ambra Germany, 1921 - 1926, The Carl Brandt Motor Company in Berlin
AMC England, Associated Motor Cycles Ltd. Is the name eventually used, until it ceased to operate in 1966, by the Group that ended up with the rights to AJS, Matchless, Norton, James, Francis Barnett, Enfield, Indian, Douglas?, Vincent? and ? They were taken over by "Manganese Bronze Bearings" who then formed NVT
AMC USA, The Allied Motors Corp. Had a 1000cc V-Twin around 1915
1918 America USA, They were replicas of a 1918 Harley Davidson. They had a one piece frame that incorporated a non-detachable side car. They used a Harley Evo type engine with electronic ignition and disc brakes. The gas tank on the bike was used to hide the electronics. The real gas tank was under the seat of the sidecar. The builders sent Malcolm Forbes a brochure hoping he would be interested in one, his secretary sent back the brochure with a note saying "Mr. Forbes only buys new motorcycles..."  They must have been made in the 1980's as Forbes died in 1990. They were forced to stop making them because of a threatened lawsuit by Harley.  About a dozen were built. The jigs and molds were later sold to Arlen Ness and he has made several since.
America USA, 1904 - 1905?
American USA, 1901 - 1902, The American Cycle Manufacturing Co. was taken over by Pope. The American name was used by at least five other early builders plus at least a half a dozen later Harley clone fabricators 
American USA, 1913 - ? Also sold as Armac 
American Dirt Bike USA, California (ADB)
American Eagle USA, 1966 - 1970's?, The name that Sprites, made in England, were sold under in the U.S. One model was the American Eagle 405 Talon  see Sprite
American Eagle USA, Harley style clones, was founded in 1995
American Iron Horse USA, Harley style clones, S&S engines up to 113"
American King V USA, Sells kits and complete motorcycles using Chevy small block engines, up to 525 hp
American MotoScoot
American Quantum USA, Harley clones
American Rocket USA, 1950's, Indian engine
American X USA, 1910-1930, British Excelsior's were rebadged by the U.S. importer in Chicago because American Excelsior had the rights to the name
AMI Germany, 1921 - 1925, AMI-Auto-Motoren-Ind. Berlin
Ammon Germany, 1923 - 1925? Ammon & Co. Berlin
AMO Germany, 1920's and again in the 1950's
AMS Spain, 1954 - 1965
Ancilotti Spain, 1967 - 1984
Andrees Germany, 1920's
Anker Germany, 1949? - 1953? Sold in 1952 and moved from Bielefeld to Paderborn, produced until 1958?
Anthony USA
Anzani British Anzani Engine Co. a subsidiary of Anzani France, was established in 1912 in London. They made engines for airplanes, cars, motorcycles (up to 998cc), boats, and equipment. They when out of business in 1980
Anzani France, Engine builder
A.P. USA, 1901, Possibly the first "motorwheel" for bicycles
Apache USA, 1907-1911, Thor engines
Apfelbeck Speedway racers, JAP engines. Ludwig Apfelbeck? 
Apollo Sweden, 1950's?, M Berlin & Co, Mopeds
Aprilia is the second largest manufacturer in Europe. The made over 290,000 scooters in 1997. They race Grand Prix and have won at least 9 world titles in three classes. Has raced in the World Superbike Series since 1999.
AR USA, 1997, They make street legal flattrack type bikes using Yamaha 650 engines. They were AR Streetracker but are now called Robinson Streetracker
Arbinet France, 1907? - 1934
Arco Germany, 1922 - 1931
Ardent France, 1950's?
Ardie Germany, 1919 - 1958, Early models used 305 to 350cc two strokes and changed to around 350 to 1000cc JAP engines in the twenties. After WWII they used their own two strokes and later, engines and parts from Durkopp who bought them out in 1955, but still used the Ardie name
Argeo Germany, 1924 - 1927, Argeo Fahrzeugwerk Berlin
Argyle USA, 1957 - 1961, by C&E Manufacturing, small folding scooters 
Ariel was founded in England in 1898. Who hasn't heard of an Ariel Square Four? The 997cc engine is a legend. Later taken over by BSA in 1940's and discontinued in 1965
Aristos Germany, 1923 - 1924, Aristos Motorfahrzeugwerke Berlin 
Armac USA, 1905, St. Paul, MN - 1906-1913, Chicago. Singles & V-twins. Sold to AMC
Armstrong England, Armstrong manufacturing bought Cotton in 1980. In 1984 Armstrong bought the rights from the bankrupt Italian SMW company to build the SMW Tornado. The Armstrong MT 500 is used by the English, Canadian and Jordanian armies. 506cc Rotax engines
Arno England
Arrow USA, 1909 - 1914, Chicago
Arrow Canada, Arrow Custom Cycle, Harley Clones
Ascot England, 1905? - ?
Ascot Pullin England, 1928 - 1930?
ASL England, early 1900's
Aspes Italy
Astoria Italy, 1947 - 1958, Made by Virginio Fieschi with engines designed by Alfredo Bianchi 
Astra Italy, 1931? 1933? - 1951, Used imported Arial engines
Atala Italy, Small cc scooters. see Rizzato
Atco USA, 1912, made by the Auto Trading Co.
ATK became the second major American motorcycle company in 1983. They build a variety of off road bikes. Rotax engines. Joined in a partnership with VOR in 2001. Purchased rights and inventory from Cannondale in 2003
Atlantic Germany, autocycle early 1920's
Atomette England, 1921 - 1922, a three wheeler with two wheels in front, Villiers engine
Auranthetic USA, Was a small electric motorcycle produced in the 1970's
Aurora USA, Iowa, made small engines used for motor bicycles
Aurora USA, Illinois, Aurora Automatic Machine Co built their own Thor motorcycle and sold parts to other companies that assembled them and sold them as American, Emblem, Light, Rambler, Racycle, Warwick, Thor-bred, Thoroughbred, Reading-Standard, 
Aussi Australia, Aussi-Also
Austin USA, 1868,  Steam
Austria Austria, 1903 - 1939?
Austro-Motorette Austria
Auto-Bi USA, 1901 - 1909, made by E.R. Thomas in Buffalo, NY. Floyde Clymer had a dealership for them in Colorado at age 12. Thomas built the first prototypes around 1900 and they were called "Thomas". The company sold frames, engines, bicycle kits and complete Thomas motor bikes. They also had an Auto-tri and an Auto-quad. In 1908 they added the a bicycle kit called the Buffalo. In 1909 the Auto-bi name was replaced with Grayhound. In 1912 Glenn Curtiss took over Greyhound
Auto-Bike USA
Auto Car 1919-1924, Philadelphia, PA - 1925, Blossburg, PA - 1926, Detroit
Auto Cycle USA, Not to be confused with the generic term "autocycle" which is used to describe a lightweight motor cycle with pedals
Autocylette USA, 1921? - 1924?, Autocylette Manufacturing and Sales Corp. Also sold as Pam
Autoette USA
Autoflug Germany, 1921 - 1923, Berlin
Autoglide USA
Autoglider England, 1921 - ? 
Autoped USA, 1914 - 1926, Scooters, made by the Autoped Company of America then became part of the American Ever-Ready Company. Some were sold as EverReady Autoped. They were designed by Hugo Gibson and for a short time, by Joseph Merkel who had built the Flying Merkel 
Auto-Fauteuil France (Holland?), Early 1900's
Auto-Four USA, 1971? The Gelbke Auto-Four was made by Bill Gelbke, Chevy 4 cyl engine and automatic transmission. Only 7 or 8 were made 
AutoMoto France, 1930's?
Avanti India, Monto Motors makes Mopeds and small motorcycles that are exported world wide. Recently started a joint venture with Renault 
Avenger USA, built by American Dirt Bike
AVG USA, Makers of kit three wheelers using VW engines
AWO Germany, 1949 - 1961, AWO Simpson

B

Babetta Mopeds made by Jawa
BAC see Meier BAC
Badger USA
Baier Germany, 1924 - 1929, Baier-Motorenbau Berlin
Bajaj India, Started importing vehicles in 1948, started building two and three wheelers in 1959, has a partnership with Kawasaki
Bakker Holland, Makes frames and uses engines built by Yamaha, BMW, Harley, and others
BAM Germany
Barb Austraila
Barber USA, 1904? Barber Special? Albert or William Barber? New York
Barigo France, Rotax engines
Barnsley England, late 1890's
Barr Steam powered
Bartali Italy
Bastert Germany, 1945 - 1955, Scooters, made by Einspur Auto
Bat England, 1902?
Batavus Dutch, Started making bicycles in 1904 and small motorbicycles and mopeds from the 1930's to about 1984 
Battey USA, Sumpter Battey patented a rotary engine for a bicycle in 1895. It's not clear if any were built
Bayern Germany, 1923 - 1926
Baylis Thomas
Bayley Flyer USA, 1914 - 1917
Baysdorfer-Dumbleton
B&D Czechoslovakia (BD?)
Bean USA?
Bearcat USA, 1900's, If any were made
Beard & Able USA
Beare Australia, Malcolm Beare designed a "six stroke" engine based on the Ducati V-Twin. He designed a new cylinder head that has intake and exhaust ports in the sides (like a 2 stroke engine) of what is basically an extension of the cylinder. Above this is a small crankshaft that drives a piston up and down past the ports at half engine speed. The area between the engine piston and this small piston becomes a variable combustion chamber and has quite a few advantages over a standard 4 stroke engine. It is patented and a new head using this concept could be designed for any engine.  
Beau Ideal England, 1904, Beau Ideal Cycle company. Used 3.5hp Fafnir engines
Be-Be Germany, 1924 - 1927, The Berlin-Burger EisenWerke in Berlin
Beeston England, 1898 - ? Beeston Cycle Co
Bekamo Czechslovakia and Germany, 1922 - 1925?  1923 - 1930?
Bellini Italy, Paolo Bellini, manufacturer of the Bellini engine for speedway racers
Benelli Italy, Started in 1911 by six brothers. They had many racing championships building both racers and street bikes. In 1948 Guisseppe Benelli broke away and started his own company called "Moto B" (Motorcycle Benelli) that later became Motobi. After Guisseppe died, the family bought Motobi. Benilli/Motobi was sold to Alesandro De Tomaso in 1971 (De Tomaso also bought Moto Guzzi about this time) and it built a six cylinder street bike called the 750 sei in 1972. In 1989 Benelli was sold to the Selci Corp. and they built only small cc scooters until 1996 when it was sold to Andrea Merloni. Merloni builts Benelli/Motobi scooters from 50 to 250cc and in 2001 introduced the Tornado 900 TRE and a racing version the WSB Tornado, to compete in Superbike competition. 
Bercley Belgium, 1905 - 1909, Designed by Gustave Kindermann,they had a 616cc V-Twin engine in 1905 
Bergfex Germany, 1904 - 1909, Berlin
Berini Dutch, small motorbicycles 
Bernadet France, 1940's - 1950's? Scooters
Bernet France
Beta Italy, Established in 1904, won world trials championships in '87, '89, '90, '91, '97, '98, '99
BFG France, 1980's?, 1300cc Citroen car engine
Bianchi Italy, Started in 1897 by Eduardo Bianchi. Had a 650cc V-Twin around 1916, stopped motorcycle production in 1967
Bi-Auto-Go USA, 1913, an autocycle with a 323 cu in eight cylinder engine, resembled a two wheeled car with training wheels (outriggers) that retracted at speed, had a body w/doors and a motorcycle fender on the front wheel
Bi-Car USA, 1912 - 1914?, Four cylinders, The Ner-A-Car used many of the aspects the Bi-Car
Big Brute Canada, API Racing builds motorcycles with Chevy V8 or V6 engines. They also sell mini bikes called Little 
Brute with various engines sizes up to a  20hp, 570cc Briggs and Stratton V-twin
Big Buffalo Germany, Manufactured by Güstrow Motocycle GmbH uses a small block Chevy  V-8 engine. It is badged as an Indian
Big Dog USA, Wichita, Kansas Big Dog® Motorcycles L.L.C. manufactures a line of 5 HD Clone cruisers with retail prices ranging from $18,900 to $26,900. (1999)
Bimota This Italian motorcycle company has survived by copying other company's engine designs or using other peoples engines. BIMOTA SET A 202.247 mph LAND SPEED RECORD On September 26, 1998, at an event sanctioned by the East Coast Timing Association at the Maxton Air base facility in North Carolina, the 200 mile per hour barrier was officially broken for the first time by a gasoline powered, normally aspirated motorcycle. The bike was a Bimota SB6 Powered by the Suzuki 1100cc engine
Binks English, Early 1900's
Bismarck Germany, 1904 - 1956
Bleha Germany
BMW Germany, Bavarian Motorcycle Works (Bayerische Motoren Werke) started in 1923
Boar USA, Harley clones
Boge Germany
Bohme Germany, 1925 - 1930, Built by Dr. Martin Bohme in Berlin
Bohmerland Czechoslovakia, 1920 - 1939, First motorcycle with electric starter
Boisselot USA, 1901 - 1903, The Boisselot Automobile and Special Gasoline Motor Company built engine kits for bicycles
Boland
Bond England, 1950's, Built Scooters
Boom Trikes Germany, VW powered trikes
Borile Italy, They make a 500cc single in 2000
Boss Hoss USA, makes 1100 lb Chevrolet 350 cu. in. V8 powered bikes
Boudier France
Bourget USA, Harley clones, S&S engines up to 126 cu. in.
Bovy Belgium, 1906 - 1930's 
Bowman USA, 1905? The Bowman Automobile in New York, may have produced motorcycles
Bown England, 1913 - Taken over by Aberdale in the 1930's. Started by William Bown. Built the Aeolus and the Bown autocycle
Boxer France, Voxan
Blackburne English Engine manufacturer, quit making motorcycle engines in 1937.
Blackhawk
Black Diamond
Blake Australia, 1919?
Blata Italy, Motorized scooters and minibikes
Bleha Germany
Blucher Germany, 1938?
Blue Bird Australian, 1920?
BM Czechoslovakia, Speedway bikes
Bohme Germany, 1925 - 1930
Bombardier Can-Am motorcycles made in Canada. Rotax engines
Borile Italy, Started by Umberto Borile in 1988, their first motorcycle was the Piuma 520, a single cylinder, four stroke, 500 cc, off road bike
Bowman
Bradbury England, Bradbury and Co. were making sewing machines in 1852, they made their first motorcycle in 1904 the company closed in 1923
Bradford
Bradley
Brand Germany, 1925 - 1930, made by Brand and Sohn in Berlin, also called B&S 
Brandenburg USA, 1901 - 1915? Thor engines
Breed
Breeze USA, 1905? Breeze Motor Company
Brennabor Germany, 1902 - 1912, The Brennaborwerke in Brandenburg started making bicycles in 1893, motorcycles in 1902 and cars in 1908. Stopped motorcycle production in 1912 to concentrate on cars. Apparently Brennabors were made again around 1933? - 1940? but it is unclear to me if they were made in the same plant
Breton France
Bridgestone Japan, 1949 - 1971, Displacements: 350cc, 200cc, 175cc, 100cc, 60cc, 50cc,  They began exporting to the U.S. in 1963, Rockford Motors of Rockford, Illinois was the original importer. Motorcycle production always took a back seat to producing tires at Bridgestone. While the motorcycle division was profitable, all of the money it made went back into the company's main division's account. Bridgestone quit making motorcycles in 1971. It is said that other manufacturers threatened to stop buying Bridgestone tires if they continued making motorcycles. They sold all of their tooling to  BS Tailung in Taiwan who continued to make motorcycles and export them to the U.S. where they were sold by Rockford Motors using the Rockford badge. BS Tailung closed in 1975 and all production stopped  
Briggs-Stratton USA, Bicycle engine kits
Britten Motorcycles are made in New Zealand by John Britten. State of the art, extremely high tech. The 1998 Britten V1000 had a 999cc 60 degree V-Twin engine that put out 166 hp @ 11,800 RPM! and the bike only weighed 304 lbs.
Brondoit Belgium, 1924-1929
Brough-Superior England, George Brough started making motorcycles in 1921. Maybe the most coveted motorcycle ever made, it was called the Rolls Royce of motorcycles. Only about 1000 of them still exist. They used JAP, Motosacoche, Matchless, Barr and Stroud and other engines until 1935, from then on they used only Matchless motors. A perfect one will sell for upwards of $100,000. Almost every piece on them was hand made, nuts, bolts, fittings. What do George Forman and T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) have in common? Forman named all of his kids George and Lawrence named all of his Brough-Superiors George. Lawrence had eight of them and was killed in 1935 on George VII. They stopped production in 1940
Brown England
B&S see Brand
BSA England, Birmingham Small Arms company built weapons until around 1910 when they started making motorcycles. They made many well known models. "Gold Star", "Bantam", "Victor", "Royal Star", "Thunderbolt", "Lightning", "Firebird", "Rocket". They purchase Sunbeam around 1938, Ariel in 1944, then Triumph and eventually merge with Norton - Villiers to become Norton - Villiers -Triumph (NVT)
BSA Regal England, After the formation of NVT, William Colquhoun formed a company and got the rights to the BSA name around 1975 and made light weight bikes using Rotax, Yamaha and Morini engines. In 1991 this BSA Company was merged with Andover Norton International Ltd and in 1994 was bought by newly formed BSA Regal Group. They make the Gold SR 500 on a one off basis for individual customer orders only
Bucker Germany, 1922 - 1958, They made their own frames but bought most of the other components. Used engines made by Bekamo, Villiers, Blackburne, ILO, JAP, MAG, Columbus and others
Buckeye
Buell USA, Eric Buell started putting Harley motors in roadrace type frames and selling them in the early 1980's.
Buffalo USA, see Auto-bi
Buffalo USA, 1981 - 1990, The Buffalo Motorcycle Works Corp produced several prototypes for testing with 500, 750 and 1000cc singles in them. And some prototypes with 90cu in. V-twins. The Corp was dissolved before production started 
Bull Dog England
Bullock Australia
Bultaco Founded in Spain by Francisco Bulto in 1958. Won many a world title
Butler Petrol-Cycle England, 1884 - 1896, Edward Butler patented a gasoline fueled two stroke twin tricycle and showed it at the Stanley Bicycle Show in 1884. For the next ten or twelve years he made improvements to his design, changing to a geared drive four-stroke water-cooled engine that ran at about 600 rpm. He is credited with inventing or developing the spark plug and coil ignition, magneto and the spray jet carburetor, as well as the word "petrol" His "Petrol-cycle" was broken up for scrap in 1896, the few remaining pictures of this first British motorcycle are in the Science Museum in London, England
Butterfield (Willis 4) USA, Late 1960's early 1970's?, Butterfield owned Jacks M/C in Fresno California, a Ducati, Moto Guzzi , BMW Dealership, Willis worked with him in the mid 60's into the 70's. They built a complete motorcycle made to accept a 1500cc Volkswagen engine and used a BMW /2 transmission. The bike looked very much like a R60/2 BMW and was available as a kit or complete motorcycle. They are the best looking motorcycle I have seen that incorporated a VW engine. Apparently Butterfield and Willis had a falling out and a lengthy court battle ensued over the rights to the motorcycle and Willis won. Willis used a badge for them that said "Willis 4's"  it resembled the BMW badge so closely that BMW threatened legal action.. Willis died shortly after. Approximately 100 were built. see picture


C

Cabri France, 1950's, Made by Bernadet, Scooters
Cabton Japan, 1954 - 1960
Cagiva Italy, Started in 1950 as a small machine shop. They entered the motorcycle business in 1978 when they bought the Aermacchi factory from AMF-Harley Davidson, Italy. They now own Ducati, Moto Morini, Husqvarna, MV Agusta and others
Califfo Italy
Caille
California USA, California Motor Company of San Francisco started in 1901, in 1903 the Consolidated Manufacturing Company in Toledo, Ohio, bought the rights to the California motorcycle and made the Yale California
Capriolo Italy
Calthorpe England, 1909 - 1938, Calthorpe was owned by George Hands in Birmingham. Early models, used a 3.5hp White & Poppe engine. After WW 1 he used engines made by Villiers, JAP, Peco, Blackburne and Precision. Around 1925 they started making their own 348 overhead valve and 500 overhead cam engines. The Ivory model was introduced in 1928 and was built until 1935. They also made a "Speedway Special" racer
Camden
CanAm In 1974 the factory team won National motocross plates #1, 2, 3. and set a speed record at Bonneville of 136.5 MPH with a 125cc bike.
Canda USA 1901?
Cannondale Connecticut, USA, Started making bicycles in 1983. Made their first motoXer in 1999. Filed for bankruptcy  in 2003, sold inventory and name to ATK
Caproni Italy, Gianni Caproni started producing airplanes around 1908. Started making motorcycles in Arco after WWII until 1962. NSU engines?
Carabella Mexico, They used Jawa and Minarilli engines and also made their own two strokes. I think they are still made. They made a lot of mopeds and scooters as well as dirt  and small road bikes. I think the small scooters used Suzuki engines. I don't know if they built the other engines under license or if they imported them. They exported to the US for a while around the 70's
Casal Portugal, Started using Zundapp engines in the 1960's but now make their own
Cazenave France
CCM Canada, 1908 - 1912, The Canadian Cycle and Motor Company modified their bicycle frames and inserted a 230cc Swiss Motosacoche engine 
CCM UK, Started in 1971 by Alan Clews, they make competition motocross, trail and supermoto bikes
Ceccato
Cemec France, produced bikes from 1951 - 1958
Centaur USA,
Century England, 1899 - 1905? 1902 - 1905? 
CF Italy, 1928 - 1970
Champion USA, 1911 - 1917?, The Champion Motor Car Co. of St. Louis made a motorcycle much like the Militaire ( possibly under license from Militaire). It had a 1281cc inline four engine w/shaft drive
Champion USA, Builds racing frames for Flattrack, TT, Speedway
Chater Lea England, built motorcycles and many components used by other bicycle and motorcycle builders
Chell England, 1939, Chell Motor Company Ltd, Villiers 2 stroke engines
Chicago 400
Chinese Motorcycles...
1950 - 1980 
In order to meet the demand of the army, the PLA Beijing No.6 Automotive Works began to develop motorcycles in 1950. It used German Zundapp K500 motorcycles as the prototype and patterned bikes after it. The first five motorcycles were developed in July,1951. They were named "Jing Gang Shan". 4248 motorcycles were turned out by the end of 1954. The production was stopped in 1955 when the works was incorporated in the new Beijing No.1 Automotive Accessory Factory.
1981 - Now
The Chinese motorcycle industry began to develop rapidly after the country underwent some political reforms that allowed companies to open up to the rest of the world. This period underwent three "Five Year Plans". The Main Engine Displacements now made are 50,60,70,80,90,100,125,150 and 250cc.and at least one 750cc. In 1997 there were 2000 different models with production of around 7,000,000 bikes.
Some of the major brands in China are:
Chang Jiang Makes a 750cc bike with sidecar that is copied after a prewar BMW R71, a 250cc that is a replica of a 1950's Jawa 353, a Solex moped replica and assorted mini bikes & ATV's
Ek Chor
Geely
Hainan Sundiro
Han Wei Small folding bikes
Huari Jincheng
Jialing
Jing Gang Shan
Kangda
Lifan Builds engines for many of the other companies
Qingqi
Shanghai Xingfu
Wuyang-Honda, A long term partnership with Honda
Zongshen
Chiorda Italy, made bicycles and mopeds. Taken over by Bianchi
Cimatti Italy, small cc motorcycles and mopeds
Clark
Clemcut
Clement France, early 1900's, Made a bicycle engine kit. There was a subsidiary in the USA that sold engine kits and complete bikes
Cleveland England, 1911 - 1914, Precision engines
Cleveland USA, 1915 - 1929, Bought Reading Standard in 1922. Had a 996cc inline four in 1928
Cleveland USA, Harley clones
Clinton Tower
Clyno England, The Clyno Engineering Co. made motorcycles from 1910 until 1916 - 17?. The first models used Chater Lea frames and engines bought from the Stevens Brothers (later of AJS). The same year they bought Stevens Manufacturing Co. and all of the machine works that went with it. Motorcycle production stopped in favor of car production
Cnopm Russia
Cobra USA, North Lima, OH. Makes small motocross bikes for kids
Cockerell Germany, 1919-1924
Columbia
Comet USA, Chicago, 1911, produced a board track racer
Comet Italy, 1950's
Commander England, Early 1950's, Autocycles with Villiers engines
Condor Swiss, 1901 - 1978, Built a Transverse flat twin, 680cc in the 1940's that was used by the Swiss Army
Confederate USA, Harley Clones 
Copeland Steam Motorcycle United States, 1885. Lucius Copeland put a steam engine on a Star (large wheel in front, small wheel in back) bicycle in 1885. Around 1888 he built a steam tricycle using the same type of engine. The engine and boiler of the Copeland steamer are in the Arizona Museum at Phoenix
Corgi UK, 1945?, built by Brockhouse it was a civilian version of the Welbike
Coronet England, 1903 - ? Coronet Motor Co.
Cossack Russian, It's actually a Dnepr that was imported to England by a company named Nevil and sold there, some were exported to the U.S.
Cotton 1920-1934 and again 1954?-1964?, Francis Cotton was an English racer who developed stronger frames than the usual bicycle frames of the time. He patented, and started building and selling his triangulated cross braced frames in 1914. Around 1920 he started to manufacturer motorcycles himself. The first Cottons used 269cc Villiers engines. TT racing success in the twenties made a reputation for the company, and in its first 11 years the company turned out over 6,000 motorcycles. They used Villiers, Blackburne, Anzani and JAP engines over the years. Armstrong now owns the rights to the Cotton name
Coventry-Eagle Was a turn of the century (the twentieth, that is) English builder that used JAP engines and lasted into the late 1930's
Coventry-Victor England, 1918 - 1939, Built motorcycles and three wheelers but known mostly as an engine manufacturer 
CPI Taiwan, Scooters and motorcycles
CP-Roleo France
Crawford USA, 1912?, Michigan
Crescent USA, Crescent Auto Manufacturing produced a motorcycle engine in 1902. Western Wheel Works made the Crescent motorcycle in 1905 - 1906, I'm not sure if there is a connection  
Crocker USA, 1936 - 1941, Al Crocker worked for both Thor and Indian, then bought an Indian Dealership in L.A. In 1933 he debuted his 30.5c.u. modified Indian Scout engines and put them in frames that he built. They were raced successfully on Speedway tracks until the end of the 1934 season when JAP engined bikes started to dominate. He then concentrated on building street machines and built, amongst others, an 80c.u. V-Twin cruiser
Crosley England, Long time car maker, they stopped production of autos during WWII to work on the war effort. Around 1939 they were contracted to build both 2 and 3 wheeled motorcycles that were powered by pre-war Crosley opposed two cylinder, air cooled engines and were shaft drive. They also built small tracked vehicles 
Crouch USA, 1905 - 1908, 32.5cu single, belt drive
Crown
Cesepel Hungary, ? - 1975?
Cucciolo Italy, A bicycle engine kit made by Ducati
Culp
Curtiss USA, 1902 - 1911 or 1912, The G.H.  Curtiss Manufacturing Co was started by Glenn Curtiss later of the Curtiss airplane fame. For the first few years they were called Hercules, then the name was changed to Curtiss in 1905?. Glenn Curtiss rode a V8 powered one to 136 MPH in 1907, setting a world speed record for land vehicles that would stand for 11 years. Even though they were producing 1000 bikes a year, Glenn's involvement with his company started to decline in 1909 when he decided to pursue airplane development. The company went through many hardships over the next few years as their production slowed. Another firm that he was a partner in, the Marvel Motorcycle Co. started in 1910 and continued to sell motorcycles badged as Marvel for a few years. He was involved in the end of the Grayhound Co., at the time of his involvement it seems that they were only producing sidecars
Cushman The Cushman Motor Works of Lincoln, Nebraska, started building engines around 1902 and built complete motorscooters between 1936-1966. Sears sold them as Allstate from 1951 - 1961 They also imported and sold Vespa. They still make golf carts and industrial vehicles 
CVS
CWS Poland, Started in 1932 building motorcycles, mostly for the army. They became Sokol in 1936. The factory was destroyed by the Nazis at the end of 1939 and production started again in 1947. Sokol was taken over by SLH in 1948 and stopped production in 1950 
Cyc-Auto England, 1934 - 1958?, Cyc-Auto Limited built the first British autocycle (A bicycle that was manufactured with an engine attached)
Cyclemaster England, 1950?- 1960? Built a complete powered wheel that was substituted for a bicycle's normal rear wheel.
Cyclemobile
Cyclemoto Peugeot
Cyclemotor Canada - USA, 1914 - 1925? Sold as Evans Powercycle in the later years. Cyclemotor is also a generic term for any add on engine for a bicycle
Cycle Scoot
Cycles Delight USA, Harley clones
Cyclone Sweden?, 1910?
Cyclone USA, The first Cyclone was introduced in 1912 or 1913 by the Joerns Motor Manufacturing Co. It had a 996cc overhead cam V-twin designed by Andrew Strand that did very well in racing competition, but the company was only in business from 1911 - 1915? - 1912 to 1917?
Cyclone USA, Harley Clones
Cyril Huze USA, Harley Clones
CZ (Jawa) Frantisek Janecek started making motorcycles in 1929 in Czechoslovakia. They are famous for their Speedway and Ice racing bikes

D

Daelim Korea, Started in 1962. They make around 300,000 scooters and motorcycles a year.
Danuvia
Daihatsu Japan
Daimler Germany, Gottlieb Daimler (not Otto) put a 1/2 horsepower, 1 cylinder, 265cc four stroke engine in a wooden chassis with wooden wheels and steel tires in 1885
Dalesman England, 1969 - 1974, Motocross bikes with Sachs engines
Dandy Czech
Day USA, Early 1900's, Kelcom engines
DayStar USA, Harley Clones using TP Engineering engines and Transmissions
Dayton England, 1913 - 1961, Dayton Cycle Co Ltd
Dayton USA, Dayton, OH 1914 - ? Manufactured a motor bicycle engine kit and a twin cylinder motorcycle 
Daytona Harley Clones
De Dion Bouton France, 1890's?, Single cylinder tricycle in 1896, built engines for bicycles. A U.S. company in NY built engines under license
Delaware
Della Ferrera Italy, 1909 - 1948?
DeLong USA, 1901 - 1903, The Industrial Machine Co.
De Luxe England, 1920's, Made by A. E. Bradford 
DeLuxe USA
Demm Italy, 1950's - 1970's?, Mopeds and 50cc racers
Denali USA, Makes a line of electric motorcycles
Derbi Spain, started by Simeon Rabasa Singla as a bicycle repair shop in 1922. They built scooters and motorcycles up to 600cc. In 1987 they begin selling Kawasaki products and build primarily scooters. In 2000 they build and race a very well engineered 125cc motorcycle
Derny France, 1938 - 1958, Originally made as a pace bike for bicycle racers, later they made mopeds 
Deronziere France, 1903 - ?
Desperado USA, Harley Clones - Rev Tec and TP Engineering Engines
Detroit USA, 1910?
Diamant Germany
Diamond England, 1908 - 1928, then again 1930 - 1932, JAP, Barr & Stroud and Villiers engines. Designed by A.J. Dorsett 
Di Blasi Italy, 1974, Folding scooters
Didik USA, Frank Didik makes several solar vehicles including a solar, electric, human powered motorcycle called the Sun Shark it is capable of speeds up to 40 miles per hour. It has an enclosed body with retractable outriggers 
Dilecta France, 1920's - 1939?
D.K.R. England, 1957 - 1966, Built scooters with Villiers engines, up to 175cc
DKW Germany, Motorenwerke Rasmussen started by J. S. Rasmussen in 1906. They were making a steam powered car in 1917 the " Dampf Kraft Wagen" (DKW) and their first motorcycles in 1919. in the 1930's they combined with Audi, Wanderer and Horch to form the Auto Union AG. They were at one time the worlds largest manufacturer. In the 1950's? they merged in the ?Zweirad-Union? with Victoria and Express. That group was taken over by Sachs in 1965. They lasted until the sixties and closed down but still sort of live on through MuZ, even though Sachs owns the DKW name now.
D.M.W. England, Dawson's Motor Works started making grass track racers in the early 1940's. The company was sold and became D.M.W. Motorcycles Ltd around 1945. Used Villiers, JAP and AMC engines. Bought Ambassador Motor Cycles in 1965. Around 1971 they bought the jigs from Villiers to produce spare parts for Villiers engines, and stopped producing their bikes and scooters
Dnepr (KMZ - Kiev Motor Works) Russian, started in the 1950's
Dolf Germany
Dollar
Dolphin 
Doodlebug USA, Beam Manufacturing in Webster City, Iowa, produced this scooter from 1946 - 1949 and possibly again? or by someone else? from 1954-1958. Distributed by Gambles Hardware and Western Auto stores. 
Dot England, Started in 1903 by Harry Reed, was sold in 1932 when Bernard Wade took over the company and Wade's family runs it today, however now they only make Dot-Armstrong shocks
Douglas English, 1907 - 1957, Used by the military in WWI. Had some dirt track racing success in the 20's and 30's. Douglas was bought out by Westinghouse Brake & Signal who discontinued production to build scooters
D-Rad Germany, 1921 - 1933, made by "Deutsche Werke" Bought by NSU
Dream Toki Japan, They make 2 wheel drive on and off road bikes 
Driver USA
Drysdale Australian, They make a 750cc and a 1000cc V-8 engined street bike that has a 17,000 rpm redline and 19,000 rpm on their race motors
DS Malterre France
Duck USA
Duesenberg USA
Ducati Italy, started building complete motorcycles in 1950. 1958 was the first year for the desmodronic valve system. They have won the World championship many times with their water-cooled four valve per cyl. 996cc V-twin. It puts out 163 bhp at 11500 rpm. They are now owned by Cagiva
Dufaux see Motosacoche 
Dukelow USA
Dunstall England, Around 1964 Paul Dunstall started building complete motorcycles that were based on Nortons, much the way Eric Buell later did with Harleys. By 1979 he had built complete "Dunstall" Nortons, BSAs, Triumphs, Metisses, Hondas, Kawasakis, Suzukis, and Yamahas. The Dunstall organization became a victim of the decline in the motorcycle market at the end of the 1970's. Dunstall sold the name in 1982. It disappeared by 1985
Durandal France
Durkopp Germany, Early 1900's to about 1958. They produced their own single, twin and four cylinder engines. They stopped motorcycle production around 1912 to about 1927, during this time they built only cars. They restarted making motorcycles but used mostly Sachs engines until around 1951 and there after used their own engines again, concentrating on scooters. In 1955 they bought Ardie, who they had previously been making parts for
Duzmo England, Early 1920's, Some of them were successful in early hill climb competitions 
Dyke USA
Dynacycle USA, 1949-1953, St. Louis, MO Sold 165cc engines that could be mounted on a bicycle frame and sold a complete bike for $229


E

Eagle USA, 1913?
EBS Germany
Ecomobile Swiss, 1982 - ?, Used a full body fairing that enclosed the rider, BMW engine
Economy
Ecstasy USA, Ecstasy Cycles makes Chevy V8 powered trikes
eCycle USA, eCycle plans to release limited numbers of their hybrid motorcycle in 2002. It uses a 219cc Yanmar diesel engine and an 8kW brushless electric motor drive. They are still designing their own 125cc engine. The bike is supposed to get 180mpg with a top speed of 80mph and acceleration of 0-60 mph in 6 seconds
Edmond USA, E.J. Edmond designed and built a motorcycle in 1899 using a DeDion engine, he later went to work at Auto-bi. Oscar Hedstrom from Indian motorcycles called Edmond a motorcycle pioneer
E&F USA, see Fleming
Egli Swiss
Electra USA, 1913?, Electric
Electrobike USA, Electric mopeds
Elf France?, Made several racing models in the 1980's using Honda engines
Elf England, Early 1900's also Elf-King
Elk
Elliott 1920's?
Elswick England, 1903 - 1920's, Elswick was a bicycle maker and made purpose built frames to attach Cyclemaster engines to. They later made complete motorcycles
Emblem USA, 1907 - 1925, Emblem Manufacturing Co. Used Thor engines until about 1909 then built their own singles and V-twins up to 1255cc
EMC England, Ehrlich Motor Co. Made racers and street bikes on and off from the 1930's to the 1990's
Erie USA see Marvel
Esarati Esarati Electric Technologies Corp. is developing a line of electric motorcycles in 2002
Eshelman USA, Eshelman's were made by Cheston Eshelman an airplane builder and owner of the Cheston L. Eshelman Company in Dundalk, MD. the 1940's and later owner of the Eshelman Motor Co. in Baltimore MD. They made an assortment of small vehicles. Small single cylinder 3 to 8.5 hp microcars, garden tractors, golf carts, scooters, ect. The garden tractors and scooters were all probably powered by Briggs and Stratton engines like the small cars they built.
ESO Czechoslovakia, 1950 - 1963, In 1950 Jaroslav Simandl bought the rights and all of the spare parts from Josef Linhart for the JOLI engine, which was a copy of a JAP engine. They made speedway and ice racers. Taken over by Jawa in 1964
Esse motorcycles were made in Sweden in 1913 by Monark. 
E-Ton Taiwan, The Ji-ee company makes scooters and small motorcycles
Evans USA, 1919 - 1925, Evans Powercycle, was Cyclemotor
Excelsior England, 1896 - 1964
Excelsior Germany, 1901? - 1939, Excelsior Fahrrad Motorad-Werke in Brandenburg used JAP and other engines
Excelsior USA, Excelsior Supply Co. started making motorcycles in Chicago in 1907 and was purchased by the Schwinn bicycle company in 1912. They made V-twin bikes up to 1000cc. see Henderson - see Super-X
Excelsior Henderson after Schwinn bought both Excelsior and Henderson motorcycle companies he called his motorcycle co. Excelsior-Henderson. see Henderson
In 1999 the Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Manufacturing Company shipped its first bikes after purchasing the rights to the name. They filed for bankruptcy within two years
Exile Cycles USA, Harley clones
Express Germany, 1901 - 1959?, The name was acquired by Sachs in 1965
Eysink Dutch, Eysink at Amersfoort started in 1897. They made cars until 1920 and motorcycles until around 1956 and then made mopeds. Over the years they used JAP, Python, Villiers, Kelecom, Minerva, and Sarolea engines. Was bought by NVT in 1975
F

Fabianski Poland, 1936 - 1939
Fafnir Germany, 1904? - ?, Fafnir-Werke was an engine builder
Fairy England, 1907?, First motorcycle made by Douglas?
Fantic This Italian company builds bikes for motocross and trials, where it has been a leading contender since it began in 1960
Far Italy, They make the Twip electric scooter
Farmbyke New Zealand, 1970's? Designed and made in New Zealand, using Suzuki parts
Farron
Favorit Germany
FB-AJS see AJS
Federation/Federal England, The Co-operative Wholesale Society was founded in 1869 by a group of retailers and manufacturers as a way to buy large amounts of goods at a lower price. Around 1920 they started making motorcycles that were called Federation and Federal using JAP and Villiers engines. They stopped around 1937
Feilbach Limited USA, 1904 - 1914, Used by the Milwaukee Police Dept.
Ferbedo Germany
Ferrari Italy, 1951 - 1954, No connection to the car, made by Fratelli Ferrari 128 to 248cc 
FKS
Fichtel & Sachs Germany, Engine builders
Flanders USA, 1911 - 1914, Inline four engine? Had a v-twin in 1914
Flandria Belgium, 1950's - 1981, Started by the Claeys brothers
Fleming USA, 1900 - ? The Fleming Motor Vehicle Co. built engine kits for bicycles and produced a complete motorbike in 1901. Also sold as Ellis and Fleming and E&F
Flying Merkel USA, 1901 - 1917, Was a small company started by Joseph Merkel in Milwaukee.  Sold as Merkel until 1910. Some had 1000cc Thor engines. Bought by the Miami Cycle Co. around 1911?. Merkel left the business with the sale and went to Autoped in 1913
Flink Motorcycles were powered by a Kurier two stroke engine and was the first motorcycle built by BMW in the early 1920's
FN Walter Kelicom of the FN arms factory in Belgium began making motorcycles in 1901, offered a shaft drive in 1903 and made the first successful four-cylinder motorcycle in 1910
Francis-Barnett England, Gordon Francis and Arthur Barnett got together in 1919. The wheels they used were mounted on spindles and most used JAP, Blackburn, Villiers or AMC engines. It was taken over by Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) in 1947
Frera Italy, 1906-1956
Freras Italy, 1920's?
Freyer & Miller
Freze Russia
FSO Poland, Polish car maker that made a trail bike in the 1970's
Force Austria
Fowler Four
Fowler Manson-Sherman
Foxinette Austria?
Francke-Johannsmeyer
Franklin
Fuki Planning Japan, Developed the first "Pocket or Minimoto bikes" in 1975 (Minimoto's are small displacement minibike sized racers with fairings that resemble full scale racers)

G

Gambler USA, Harley clones
Garelli (Agrati-Garelli) Italian, 1913 - ? Small cc scooters
Gazelle Dutch, Bicycle maker that started making motorbicycles in 1950 and mopeds in 1954, they lasted until 1975 and now again produce only bicycles 
GD Italy, 1923 - 1942?, Founded in Bologna by Ghirardi and Dallolio. The company was taken over around 1942 and manufacturing switched to wrapping and packing  machinery
Gearless USA, 1905 - 1906?, The Gearless Motorcycle Co. Shaft drive with a variable friction transmission
Geco-Herstal Belguim, France? 1927 - 1930?, Gillet-Herstal bought French maker Gerkinet and made the Geco-Herstal
Geer
Gem MiniMoto England
Gemini see Shin San Tong
Geneva USA, Manufactured by the Geneva Bicycle and Steam Carriage Co. in Geneva Ohio in 1896. It was front wheel drive and had the steam engine over the front wheel 
Gerhart Four
Gerkinet France
Germaan Dutch
Gerosa Italy
G&G Swiss, Started in 1983,  Makers of customs using Guzzi and BMW engines
Ghezzi & Brian Italy, 1995, they build a racer and a 1100cc street bike based around a Moto Guzzi engine
Giggle Tiawan, 1992, Folding gas and electric scooters
Gilera Italy, Founded in 1909 and was heavily involved in racing until the late 1950's. The company was sold to Piaggio in 1969 and they still make motorcycles and scooters using the Gilera badge
Gillet-Herstal Belgium
Gitan  Italy, 1950 - 1980?, Small mopeds, early ones used Lavalette engines
Glas-Goggo Germany, 1951- 1956, Built the Goggo Scooter with 120cc,125cc, 150cc and 200cc. Some came with a side-car
Globester
GM Italy, Giuseppe Marzotto builds Speedway racers and engines for Speedway and Ice bikes
Gnome Rhone France
Godden Speedway racers
Goericke Germany, 1903 - 1960
Gough England, 1901 - ? Bicycle builders Joseph and Thomas Gough built the Minerva Motor Bicycle in 1901, using a Gough frame and Minerva engine. They later built motorcycles using other engines
GrcMoto Italy, Minimoto racers
Greeves England, Started by Bert Greeves the company made street bikes, scramblers, road racers and trials bikes from 1953 until 1978. Early ones used Villiars engines
Greyhound USA, see Auto-Bi
Greyhound England
Griffon France, 1902? - ?,  Won the first international motorcycle race in 1904. The name Griffon was used by Greeves in the 1960's and 70's
Grindlay Peerless England, 1920's - 1934
Gripen Sweden

H

HADC see Motosacoche 
Haggo Sweden, 1970's, Hagglunds, a large industrial manufacturer,  won a contract to build a military motorcycle. Husqvarna took over the production of the Hagglunds designed motorcycle
Haleson England, 1903? - 1914? Steam powered
Hampden
Harley Davidson If you're reading this page you already know. Also see Aermacchi  and Hummer
Harper England, 1950's Scooters
Harper USA, 1911? - ? The Harper Engineering Co. built and sold a 45 degree V-twin engine for motorcycles
Harris England, 1970's - 1980's, Cafe racer builders, using various Japanese engines
Hartford
Hausmann USA
Haverford USA, 1911 - 1924? Haverford Cycle Co. 
Haveloc Australia -Tasmania, 1903?
Hawker England, 1920's
Hawthorne
HB England, 1919 - 1923, Made by the Hill Brothers. Blackburne engines
Healing Austrailia, 1903 - ?, JAP and other engines. Rebadged as Mostyn, Bullock, De-Luxe, Blue Bird, Pearless, Big Four and more?
Heavy Duty Canada, Donny Petersen builds custom Harley clones
Hec England, 1922 - 1924, Hewins Engineering Company
Hec England, 1938 - 1940, Hepburn Engineering Company. Used Levis engines
Hecker Germany, 1922-1956
Hedlund was a Swedish company 1955 to 1987
Hedstrom USA, Oscar Hedstrom built his first motorcycles around 1898. They were tandem seat motorcycles that were used to pace bicycle races. Also called Henshaw-Hedstrom. He later went on to establish Indian with George Hendee 
Heinkel Germany 1952 - 1965, Started as an airplane manufacturer in 1922 - 1945. Started making scooters and mopeds around 1952
Helios Germany 1921-1922, was the first motorcycle made by BMW that used their own engine, a 486cc side-valve
Henderson Was started in Detroit in 1912 by Tom W. Henderson and his brother William G. Henderson, who later started Ace Motorcycles. They built mostly inline four engines up to 1340cc and was sold to the Schwinn bicycle company in 1917 and then marketed by Excelsior  which was also purchased by Ignatz Schwinn. Both bros continued to work for Excelsior, Tom until 1917 and Bill until 1920 when he left to Start Ace Motorcycles. In May, 1922 at the Tacoma Speedway, here in Washington where I live, a rider named Wells Bennet set a new 24 hour endurance record of 1,562.54 miles on a stock Henderson De-Luxe. The depression started in 1929 and Schwinn stopped all production of both Excelsior and Henderson in 1931
Hemingway USA
Herring
Hercules USA, 1902 - 1905?, The name Glenn Curtiss used for the first motorcycles he made. see Curtiss
Hercules Germany, made their first motorcycles in 1904. Taken over by Sachs in 1963. Sachs built bikes and sold Yamahas and other makes under the name Hercules until around 1995
Hercules W2000 Germany, Was the first production rotary motorcycle in 1974. It had a Wankel engine and was made by Sachs and was also sold as DKW because Sachs owned the name.
Hercules Australia
Hero India, Started in 1956 as Hero Cycles and became the largest bicycle maker in the world. Majestic Auto Limited was established in 1978 to build the Hero Majestic Moped. In 1984 Hero Honda Motors Limited was formed in a partnership with Honda. They manufacture mopeds and small motorcycles up to 100 cc. Including models called Panther, Stalion, Ankur and Gizmo. In 2002 the Hero Group has 18 divisions and has an annual gross earnings of over $1.5 billion  U.S.
Hesketh England, 1981 - 1983
H&G Australia, They build the Sporton, a Harley Sportster engine in a copy of a Norton featherbed frame
H & H
Highland Sweden, 1997, They build a 950cc V-Twin dirtbike as one of their models
Hilaman USA, 1906 - 1912? The A.H. Hilaman Co.
Hildebrand and Wolfmuller In 1889, Heinrich and Wilhelm Hildebrand of Munich made a prototype motorcycle using with a small steam engine. After their prototype steam motorcycle, the brothers joined with Alois Wolfmuller to manufacture a design patented by Wolfmuller and Hans Geisenhoff in 1894. It is considered to be the first production motorcycle, it was made in both Germany and France until 1896. The engine was a twin cylinder, water cooled, four stroke with 1488cc. The pistons traveled together (firing alternately) with their connecting rods pushing cranks on the rear wheel, like a locomotive engine. The rear wheel acted like a flywheel and it used rubber bands to pull the pistons back up the cylinders. There are still many examples of the Hildebrand & Wolfmuller "Motorad" in the Deutsches Zweirad-Museum, Neckarsulm, Germany, the Science Museum in London, England and the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit
Hobart England, 1920's?
Hodaka was a Japanese/American company that started shipping bikes in 1964 and lasted about 16 years. They started the street/trail bike craze. They had some of the best model names like, Wombat, Combat Wombat, Super Rat, Road Toad and Thunderdog
Holden Motor Bicycle England, 1896 - 1902, Brig. Gen. Sir H.C.L. Holden had a four cylinder design in 1896. It used the same inefficient design that Pennington and Hildebrand Wolfmuller and others used with the connecting rods directly driving the rear wheel 
Holley USA,  In 1897 George and Earl Holley a single-cylinder three-wheeler. They started the Holley Motor Co. in 1899 to build engines and then started producing motorcycles around 1901 using Holly engines on frames made by the Olive Wheel Co. but stopped making motorcycles in 1903. They bros also produced a few cars. Their fame, however came from carburetors. Who hasn't heard of a Holley Carb? 
Horex (Horex-Columbus) Germany 
Honda Japan, Started by Soichiro Honda and was making motorbikes in 1946. Entered the U.S. market in 1959
HRD England, Started by Howard Raymond Davies in 1925, he won the 1925 Isle on Man Senior TT on one. Originally HRD created three racing models using JAP engines. The company went bankrupt in 1928. The name was later sold for the price of 500 pounds to Phil Vincent who produced the Vincent HRD 
Hudson England, (New Hudson?) 1914?, Used to deliver mail in England
Humber England, 1899? - ?, Built motorcycles and cars
Hummel Bremen Germany, 1950 - 1955 - 56?,  Motorcycles, mopeds/scooters. ILO engines. Apparently most of their bikes were badged and sold as "Sitta".  I think that Hummel's were last sold in '54 or '55 and Sitta's in '55 or '56. DWK got the rights to the name around that time and used the name for a time.  Using possibly Sachs engines?
Hummer USA, 1948 - 1965, made by Harley Davidson, first called the model 125. Hummer is the name usually associated with this line of bikes which had several different models. It was a copy of a German DKW. BSA made the same bike and called it the Bantam. The design was taken by the allies after WWII
Hunwick Hallam is an Australian Superbike manufacturer. The Hunwick Hallam X1R has a high tech frame, carbon fiber components and a 1000cc V-twin engine that makes more that 170 hp at the rear wheel 
Hunwick Harrop Australia, They make limited production cruisers 
Hurley-Pugh England, 1904 - 1943, established in by Sir John Hurley and Alaric Pugh. The Excalibur model had a 1212cc side valve single engine. They made a military model in the 1930's called the "Wildebeeste Cavalryman All-Terrain MkVIII" that had a single track in place of the rear wheel
Hurricane Japan, 1953-1968, manufactured by Fuji Kogyo (Fuji Heavy Industries) . The engine was a 346cc overhead-valve single
Husaberg Sweden, Was started in 1988 by a group of former Husqvarna engineers and make top of the line off-road and enduro four stroke racers
Husqvarna Sweden, Started production in 1904? and was bought by Cagiva in 1986
Huy
Hyosung Korea, 1978, affiliated with Suzuki 


I

Ideal Jawa India, Started in 1961 in collaboration with Czechoslovakian Jawa Limited until 1968. Badges their motorcycles as Yezdi
IKH Russian
ILO Germany, Engine builder with plants in Hamburg and Pinneberg, the Hamburg plant was destroyed by allied bombing 
Imperia Germany, 1920's - 1930's
Imperial USA, 1902? - ?, Some had a 90 degree v-twin. They were made by American Cycle Manufacturing Co.
Indian USA, Started in 1901 by George Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom in Massachusetts. They battled with HD on the race track and in the marketplace. The company was taken over by a British company called Brockhouse in 1950 and then combined into the English AMC group who stopped its production in 1953. 
Indian Enfield England, With the end of production of the "real" Indians in 1953, Brockhouse/AMC started selling Enfields as Indians until 1959 or 1960
Industrial USA, 1903, Syracuse, NY
Invincible Australian, 1920's, JAP engines
Irbit Russian built, also sold as Ural
Island Hopper USA, Manufacture fold up bicycles with electric or Tecumseh Viper 2 hp gas engines
Italemmezeta Italy
ItalJet Italy, Mini bikes, scooters, motorcycles
Italvel Italy, Electric scooters
ITOM Italy, 1944?, 45? to late 1960's. Originally made a bicycle engine kit, later made mopeds and very successful 50cc racers 
Iver-Johnson 1907-1915, Fitzburg, MA., up to 1090cc V-Twin
IWL Germany, 1955 - ? Industrie Werk Ludwigsfelde built scooters
Ixion
Izh/Planata Russian, Started in the 1930's, I believe it later became Ural
Izh Iran, The Izhroosta Co.

J

JAC Czechoslovakia
James England, Started in 1902 and was very successful until the 1920's when their factory burned. They made lightweight bikes for the military during the second world war. Taken over by AMC around 1960 and continued in limited production until around 1964 -1966? 
James A Smith England, 1904
Jamathi Dutch
JAP J.A. Prestwich of London manufactured engines from 123cc to 1098cc which were used by many motorcycle builders. JAP built their own motorcycles from 1904 to 1908, from then to 1945 they built only engines
Jawa CZ
JB Special USA, 1950? It's unclear if this motorcycle was built in the U.S. or was imported and rebadged by the Joe Berliner (Berliner Motor Corp.?) Berliner later Imported motorcycles built in Germany with Sachs engines and sold as Je-Be
Jeepette USA
Jefferson USA, 1913? see Waverly
Jewel USA, 1908?
Jincheng Singa
Jing Shing Taiwan, Scooters
Joerns (Joerns-Thiem) USA, 1911? - 1916? Fred Joerns from  St. Paul, Minn. bought the Thiem Mfg. Co. from  Edward A Thiem around 1911 and it became the Joerns-Thiem Motor Mfg. Co. They built the Thiem motorcycle and the Cyclone which was sold as made by the Joerns Motor Mfg. Co. see Cyclone
Johnson Motowheel USA, 1918? Bicycle engine kits
Johnson England? 1901? - ?
JOLI see ESO
Jordan Taiwan, 1997, Scooters
Juckes England, 1902 - 1925, T. C. Juckes owned the Efficient Engineering Company, they built their own engines and gearboxes
Junak Poland, 1954 - 1965, Closed due to pressure from the USSR, who's grand plan said that motorcycle production should be left to the USSR, East Germany and Czechoslovakia
Junior Canada, Harley clones, S&S engines
K

Kaestner Chicago
Kahena Brazil, 1991 - ?, Like the earlier Amazonas, it used a VW car engine
Kane Pennington USA, 1895?
Kannon England, They make V-6 and V-8 Chevy and Ford powered bikes
Kasea Korean
Kanuni Turkey, This company started importing MZ's in 1987, after MZ became MuZ the old plans and machinery were shipped to Dudullu, Istanbul and are sold as Kanuni
Kawasaki started producing motorcycles when they bought out Meguro in 1963. Their first Model was the W1 (K1) Introduced in 1965 and sold in the U.S. in 1966, the W2 in 1967 and the W3 was last produced in 1974. It had an Air-Cooled , 4-stroke, Twin OHV 496cc engine mounted in a double-cradle frame. It was a copy of a BSA A7 
Keating USA, 1901 - 19??, Keating Wheel and Automobile Co
Kendal England, 1927? Scotts that were modified and rebadged and then sold as Kendal or Kendal Scotts
Kenilworth England, 1919?-1924? A small scooter with around a 150cc engine and a variable speed drive 
Kent Australia, 1910 - 1920?
Kenzler-Waverly USA, 1910-1914, Used Waverly engines
Kerry England, Belgium?  1902 - 1914?, Kerry made motorcycles and sidecars. There was also a Kerry-Abingdon made in conjunction with Abingdon motorcycles. May have been a Belgium made motorcycle but sold by the East London Rubber Co., who marketed many products by catalogue 
Kettenkrad Germany, Was a tracked military motorcycle that was conceived by Heinrich Kniepkamp. Most were produced by NSU
Kiefler USA, Early 1907 - 1912?, Kiefler Motor Works had a 5hp single in 1909
Kievlyanin Russia?
KillaCycle USA, A one off electric motorcycle built for drag racing. It set a world record for electric powered bikes in Aug. of 2000 with a run of 9.45 seconds at 152.07mph. The battery powered motor uses 624 batteries that put out 312 volts and 3600 peak amps. A new more powerful one is under construction in 2002
Kinetic India, 1972, Mopeds to 124cc Motorcycles in partnership with Hyosung 
Kirby Special English racer Alf Hagon built light weight racers with JAP engines, he won eleven national titles with them
Kirkham USA, 1903 - ? Kirkham Motor Manufacturing Co. Built engines for the first Curtiss Hercules motorcycles and produced a limited number of complete motorcycles
KMZ Dnepr
Kobas Spain, 1970's - 1980's, Racers using Rotax engines
Kodiak USA,. 1999, Custom Harley Clones
Koehler Escoffier France, They built some street motorcycles, but are best known for their limited production machines mostly for racing. Looks along the lines of a Brough-Superior they were a work of art. Thirteen of them were made between 1927 and 1935 they had a four stroke 45 degree V-Twin, 980cc engine with 2 Amal carburetors, and a four speed gear box. They started out with 35hp but after racer Georges Monneret had his hand with them they put out 78hp on alcohol and a top speed of around 125mph
Kokomo USA, Kokomo, IN
Komar Poland, 1960 - 1974
Komet Germany? France? 1902
Kossm Korea, Korea Special Small Motors started making three wheeled scooters and utility scooters in 1988
Kramit Italy, builds competition motocross bikes
Krauser Germany
Kreidler started making bikes in 1951 in Germany and stopped in 1983. Garelli rebadged some of their small cc bikes as Kreidler until around 1988
Kreidler Florett Holland, They have four models that are produced in limited numbers. A Taiwanese company also makes a line that uses the name
KTM Austrian, Hans Trunkenpolz started a motorcycle sales and repair shop in 1934 selling DKW's. Introduced their first production series of KTM motorcycles in 1953. They won the first 5 places in the 2001 Paris to Dakar Rally
Kulture USA, 1909 - 1917, The Deninger Cycle Co. perhaps made their own motorcycles or just rebadged others such as Manson and Emblem with the Kulture badge
Kumoto started in 1997, they are assembled in China with engine parts imported from Honda
Kurier Germany, In 1920 Kurt Hanfland developed an engine called the Kurier that was used BMW's Flink motorcycle and others
Kymco Taiwan, Made their first bikes in 1970, Kymco is one of the world's largest manufacturers of Scooters and Motorcycles. They are also assembled under license in Argentina and sold as ISMA 

L

Lady Belgium 1924 - 1939? Rudge, Villiers, JAP engines. Also built Speedway bikes
La Foudre France, 1902?
La Mondiale Belgium, 1923 - 1934
Lamson
Landgraf
Langford
La Ray USA, 1940's? La Ray Powercycle was a motorized bicycle
Laurin and Klement Austria, Early 1900's (1899? - 1908?)
Laverda Italian, opened in 1949 and still is produced
Lea Francis England, 1911 - 1937, Started by Richard Henry Lea and Graham Inglesby Francis. They also built cars
Leader
LDE England, 1951
Lech Poland, 1929 - 1932, The first Polish motorcycle? 
Lectraa USA, 1995, makes electric motorcycles powered by a brush-less Variable Reluctance "VR" motor that has no magnets. Made by Electric Motorbike Incorporated (EMB) 
LEM Italy, They make high end mini dirt bikes and off road racers for kids, since 1974
Leo
Leopard German Panthers were badged as Leopard's when they were sold in England because Phelon & Moore (P&M) owned the rights to the Panther name in England
Levis England, 1911 - ? Built motorcycles and sold engines
Lewis USA
Liberty
Light Thor-Bred see Aurora 
Lightning USA, V-8 trikes
Lilac Japan, see Marusho
Lincoln Elk England
Linto Italy, 1970's, The Linto 500 racer used two Aermacchi 250cc engines that were coupled together
Lion-Rapide Belgium? France?
Lito Speedway bikes and engines
Little Giant England, 1913 - 1915
LLoyde Germany
Lohner Austria, 1950's
Lomart USA 1970's?, mini-bikes
Long USA, 1880, steam tricycle
Lot Poland
Lucznik Poland, 1938 - 1939
Lunford
Luquin Coudert