Coventrys' Motorcycle Heritage

The only book of its kind to cover indepth, Coventry’s motorcycle manufacturers and marques.

Considering that Coventry was the birthplace for the British cycle industry, it is perhaps no surprise that the city became heavily involved in the development of the British motor industry during the mid-1890's.

From the first velocipedes built here in 1868, most of the later well-established cycle manufacturers quickly turned their attention to motorized vehicles, and many of the early motoring pioneers moved to Coventry to become part of this revolutionary work.

Local companies such as Bayliss, Thomas & Co., Coventry Eagle, Humber, Riley and Swift were just a few of the cycle firms quick to catch on, and steadily, new companies were formed solely to manufacture motorcycles.

Coventry’s Motorcycle Heritage covers the history of all these companies and their products, focussing on the individuals who both founded and worked for such firms. From world famous companies like Triumph, to the more obscure marques like Wartnaby & Draper, it provides a brief summary of each manufacturer, as well as an insight into the social history of Coventry at its peak in the involvement in motor manufacturing.

It is sure to appeal to anyone interested in motorcycle history and Coventry’s industrial past.

A COVENTRY TRANSPORT MUSEUM PUBLICATION
(in association with the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust and the History Press.)