Premier Motorcycles

Premier Cycle Co
IndustryManufacturing and engineering
Founded1908
Defunct1926?
Fate1914 name changed to
Coventry Premier
Successor1921 purchased by
Singer Motors
HeadquartersCoventry
ProductsMotorcycles

Premier Motorcycles were British motorcycles manufactured by a business founded as a bicycle manufacturer by W. H. Herbert and William Hillman in 1876. Their "Hillman and Herbert Cycle Company" was renamed "Premier Cycle Co." in 1891.[1]

White & Poppe engine

Their first motorcycle was produced in 1908, with a White & Poppe side-valve engine and Chater-Lea front forks. They made their first V-twin in 1909, followed by a 499 cc single-cylinder machine in 1910.[2]

The business changed its name to "The Premier Cycle Company (Coventry Premier Ltd.)" in 1914.[1]

After the First World War bicycle or motorcycle production was not resumed and the cyclecar business was acquired by Singer Motors in 1921[2] although Premier motorcycles were produced under licence in Czechoslovakia throughout the 1930s.

Models

Model Year Notes
Premier 1908 White & Poppe side-valve engine
Premier 500cc 1909 V-twin
998cc 1913 V-twin

References

  1. ^ a b "Premier". Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Premier Motorcycles". Retrieved 14 August 2008.