Motorcycle Brands in the 1960's and 1970's

[ossa95d]

I have been compiling a list of Motorcycle brands in the 1960's and 1970's and have 140 on the list. It's based primarily on dealership based ads in old motorcycle magazines. Some of them are rebranding of the same motorcycles in different countries, such as Puch and Alstate, or Sprite and American Eagle. Many of them used Sachs, Rotax, Villiers or even Hodaka engines, but were different companies. 140 brands and counting!

[taber hodaka]

My numbers I referenced in the response to throttles was taken from Hap Jones blue book. ----------------- Clarence

[ossa95d]

Clarence,
When I figure out a good way to get my list on this forum I'll attach it so you can see and remember. It's kind of fun. Frame making companies like Rickman are listed because they did sell complete motorcycles. To answer Ed's question on the other thread, I would venture to guess that nearly 100 of them did not survive into the mid 80's

[Bullfrog]

The 100-140 count of motorcycle companies world wide in 1970 is what I had found when lightly researching the issue in the past . . . and two thirds (or more) were gone in the next ten years.

Ed

[ossa95d]

And just to be clear, on my list several of the brands that were available in the early 60's were gone by 1970 and there were several more that started after 1970. I believe the number of companies in 1970 might be closer to the 100 count that you mentioned.

[taber hodaka]

Interesting. All of my references were from the Hap Jones, blue books I have from 1960 through 1070 and up to 1984. Also the black book or Ken Johnston 1972 and The Kelly blue book 1977. they list new motorcycle prices and used prices. They listed scooter companies by themselves. The last year used hodakas were listed was 1983. In 1960 Hap Jones listed and gave list cost for 35 companies and gave a used price guide for used motorcycles. In 1970 it lists 39 companies producing new motorcycles. And in 1980 it lists 25. The 1972 Ken Johnston's black book lists 19 companies also used prices wholesale and retail like Hodaka used prices per model from 1966 to 1972.
The Kelly Blue Book 1977 lists used prices from 1970 to 1976 and lists the average market value guide, a wholesale and retail section. The total number of companies listed is 46. I did not count the scooters and did not see the Merry Weather or Tulie Trooper. The blue books do not list Moto Beta and I was a dealer for them although compared to the Hodaka they just didn't sell. Hodaka is not listed in the 1964 Hap Jones Blue book until 1965 Pacific Basin is also listed then. My books do not lists like the BN hodaka but I do see SWM Laverda and RoKon?? I have a Hill Billy kinda looks like a Tote Goat but it is not listed in my books you mite have an add for it.. Good to see a Ossa Man as I sold them also.
Anyways I conseed. ---------- Clarence

[taber hodaka]

The 1977 cycle magazine buyers guide shows 33 new makers from Benelli to Yamaha listing 30 makes(companies) motorcycles only. The 1977 Hap Jones Blue Book lists 30. and you know I am a blury eyed counter. Hap Jones also lists a electric unit 3 wheeler in 1977?? I once had a Tohotaho but I never hear of them anymore or Bridgestone. Clarence

[ossa95d]

Let me see if this works,
Motorcycle Brands in the 1960’s and 1970’s
1 Aermacchi
2 Agrati
3 Alron
4 Allstate
5 Alouette
6 American Eagle
7 Ancillotti
8 AJS
9 AMP
10 Aprilia
11 Ariel
12 Aspes
13 Attex
14 Bella
15 Bennelli
16 Beta
17 Bianchi
18 Bimota
19 BLM
20 BMW
21 Bombardier
22 Bonanza
23 Bridgestone
24 Bronco
25 BSA
26 Bultaco
27 BVM
28 Can-Am
29 CCM
30 Capriolo
31 Carabella
32 Chapparell
33 Cheney
34 Cimatti
35 Cooper
36 Cotton
37 Cushman
38 CZ
39 Dalesman
40 Deckson
41 Derbi
42 DKW
43 DOT
44 Ducati
45 Dye Rebel
46 ESO
47 Fantic
48 Frigera
49 Garelli
50 Gilera
51 Greeves
52 Guazzoni
53 Guilietta
54 Harley Davidson
55 Hedlund
56 Hercules
57 Hiro
58 Hodaka
59 Honda
60 Husqvarna
61 Indian
62 Islo
63 Italjet
64 IZH
65 James
66 JAP
67 Jawa
68 Kawasaki
69 Kramer
70 KTM
71 Lambretta
72 Laverda
73 Lito
74 Maico
75 Malaguti
76 Manx
77 Marusho
78 Matchless
79 Mazzilli
80 Minarelli
81 Mi Val
82 Monark
83 Montesa
84 Motobi
85 Moto Guzzi
86 Moto Morini
87 Moto Villa
88 Munch
89 Mustang
90 MV
91 MZ
92 NSU
93 Noguchi
94 Norton
95 OSSA
96 Pannonia
97 Parilla
98 PDV
99 Penton
100 Progress
101 Puch
102 Rickman
103 Riverside
104 Rockford
105 Rokon
106 Royal Enfield
107 Rupp
108 Sabre
109 Sachs
110 Sanglas
111 Saracen
112 Seeley
113 Simonini
114 Simplex
115 Simson
116 Solex
117 Speedway
118 Sprite
119 Suzuki
120 SWM
121 Taco
122 TGM
123 Tomos
124 Torrot
125 Triumph
126 Tunturi
127 Tyran
128 Ural
129 Velocette
130 Vespa
131 Victoria
132 Villiers
133 White
134 Whizzer
135 Yamaguchi
136 Yamaha
137 Yankee
138 Yezdi
139 Zanella
140 Zundapp

[Joe Ormonde]

Nice List !!! I have the 1972 Motorcycle Buyers Guide and it seems that countless Companies were manufacturing Mini Bikes. I will list a few soon BUT how did you Miss STEENS !!! Anyhow, let me add a few more not on your list. Steens, Power Dyne, Attex, K&P, Heathkit, Viking. Let`s have some fun and add to the list provided by Ossa95d ! I can bet we can find Many more !!! Joe Ormonde.

[Scribbler]

A few more:

Heinkel
Komar
MDS
Mondial
Motobic Seata
Osa scooter
Panther
Rajdoot
SFM Junak
SHL
Tohatsu
WSK

[Joe Ormonde]

I see Attex was on the list but I found one more: Marco. Joe Ormonde.

[Joe Ormonde]

The list is getting Longer !! Wonderful ! Joe

[Scribbler]

And from a Ghost Motorcycles ad:

Centaur
Danuvia
J-Be (Actually Hercules imported by Joe Berliner)
Mobylette
Moto-Rumi
Steyr

[Joe Ormonde]

Six More ! Gori, GRM, Gina, Gemini and Premier. Joe

[Scribbler]

More scooters!

Rabbit scooter from Fuji Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon scooter
Powell scooters and trail bikes

[taber hodaka]

Herders made in Minn. Wow What a list I can remember some of them,but many I have never heard of. Herders also made boats, they did have ads but I think they only manufactured about 25 motorcycles. Clarence

[taber hodaka]

Herders made in Minn. Wow What a list I can remember some of them,but many I have never heard of. Herders also made boats, they did have ads but I think they only manufactured about 25 motorcycles. Tule Trooper. Clarence

[givergas]

as a side note , george herders of herders of minnesota wrote some VERY entertaining books , a man ahead of his time

[ossa95d]

What fun! I've been adding to this list from time to time but had really slowed down until now. With the assumption that all these additions are correct, the list is up to 172 at this point! I'll post it again later.

[ossa95d]

Collectively we added another 32 in one day!

[Scribbler]

Yes, the Herter's Minibike from Waseca, MN. George Herter's inch-thick mail order catalogs provided hours of entertainment.

[taber hodaka]

Joe the Cori was called Moto Gori good looking bike. Also the Silver pigeon scooter was cool, made in the mid 40's to 1963. +++ The Fuji rabbit made at least a 75,000 units, The 1964 200cc Fiji rabbit sunflower is beautiful, some had a torque converter transmission. They also mad made a sleek 90 and a tote goat looking model I seen Google pictures of 1964 and 1967 models . Clarence

[Bullfrog]

That is a pretty nifty list! However, I'm pretty sure there are mfgs. on it which were gone by 1970 (and probably some which were gone by 1960). But it is wayeeee neat to have the list!

A note about Herters, their inch-thick catalog didn't have a single listing which wasn't the absolute best or most ingenious in all the world!!! (It said so right there in the description in the catalog!) Somewhere around here I still have the world's absolute best beginner's fly tying vise (which I would classify more closely to stamped steel, soft-jaw junk . . . but cheeeep . . . cheap probably being what made it "the world's best"
Ed

[BrianZ]

I remember riding a Moto Skeeter back in the 70’s. It was a mini bike made by Moto Ski.

Brian

[ossa95d]

I remember the Moto Skeeter too. After reading an article in the new VMX Magazine I added two British trials bikes from the 70's also, Frasier and Scorpion. This brings the list up to 175...
Ed is correct that many of these were either gone or not yet available in the year 1970, but I tried to research and confirm, as I added them, that the older brands were still in production in 1960. There were many more brands that started in 1980 or '81 (Many of them Italian MXers). I did not include them. Buell also for example started in 1983 I think, Therefore not on the list.