Motosacoche was founded in 1899, by Henri and

Armand Dufaux Armand Dufaux (1883–1941) was a Swiss aviation pioneer who became famous for flying the length of Lake Geneva in 1910. His mother was Noémie de Rochefort-Luçay, daughter of French politician Henri Rochefort and his father was Swiss artist A ...

, in

Geneva Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. Motosacoche was once the biggest Swiss motorcycle manufacturer, known also for its MAG (Motosacoche Acacias Genève) engines, used by other European motorcycle manufacturers.Motosacoche History
''Albisteam.ch'' (retrieved 25 December 2006).

History

From 1900 Motosacoche produced a bicycle auxiliary engine in a subframe that could be installed into a conventional bicycle. The details of the engine were hidden behind covers, and to some this looked like an engine in a bag, hence the Motosacoche name, meaning "engine in a bag". In 1910

Royal Enfield Royal Enfield was a brand name under which The Enfield Cycle Company Limited of Redditch, Worcestershire sold motorcycles, bicycles, lawnmowers and stationary engines which they had manufactured. Enfield Cycle Company also used the brand name "E ...

used Motosacoche 344 cc 2.75 hp engines in a successful V-twin model. They are reputed to have supplied

Triumph The Roman triumph (Latin triumphus) was a celebration for a victorious military commander in ancient Rome. For later imitations, in life or in art, see Trionfo. Numerous later uses of the term, up to the present, are derived directly or indirectl ...

Ariel Ariel may refer to: Film and television *Ariel Award, a Mexican Academy of Film award * ''Ariel'' (film), a 1988 Finnish film by Aki Kaurismäki * ''ARIEL Visual'' and ''ARIEL Deluxe'', 1989 and 1991 anime video series based on the novel series ...

Matchless Matchless is one of the oldest marques of British motorcycles, manufactured in Plumstead, London, between 1899 and 1966. A wide range of models were produced under the Matchless name, ranging from small two-strokes to 750 cc Four-stroke cy ...

and Brough-Superior with engines at times too, first through H & A Dufaux England Ltd, and then, by 1912, Motosacoche Ltd (GB), with Osborne Louis De Lissa. Motosacoche had factories in Switzerland, France and Italy, and supplied MAG engines to continental manufacturers including Clement, Condor, Imperia, Neander and Monet Goyon. When the Bol d'Or 24-hour event was first held on the outskirts of Paris in 1922 the winning rider covered more than 750 miles (1206 kilometres) on a 500 cc Motosacoche. In 1928 they made a name in the

Grand Prix Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to: Arts and entertainment ...

, with the Motosacoche 350 M 35 ohc racing bike, built by

Dougal Marchant Dougal Marchant was an English motorcycle designer, active from the 1920s to the 1950s. Work Chater-Lea He was hired by Chater-Lea in the early 1920s. The company wanted to change their touring image into a sportier one and employed Dougal ...

of England, ridden to two European championship titles, 350 and 500, by

Wal Handley Walter Leslie Handley (5 April 1902 – 15 November 1941) born in Aston, Birmingham,
Kolumbus.fi Walter Leslie Ha ...

Bert le Vack Herbert 'Bert' le Vack (1888 London – 16 September 1931 Berne, Switzerland) was a motorcycle world speed record holder throughout the 1920s and earned the nickname the 'Wizard of Brooklands' for his exploits at Brooklands. An expert racing ...

joined Motosacoche in 1930. He had ridden in the 1914

Isle of Man Tourist Trophy The Isle of Man TT or Tourist Trophy races are an annual motorcycle racing event run on the Isle of Man in May/June of most years since its inaugural race in 1907. The event is often called one of the most dangerous racing events in the world ...

and became the works rider, chief designer and tuner. Le Vack was killed in an accident in the Swiss Alps on 17 September 1931, while testing the Motosacoche A 50 near Bern. He was to present the motorbike to a Swiss Army officer. During the 1930s Motosacoche were eclipsed by the

Norton Motorcycle Company The Norton Motorcycle Company (formerly Norton Motors, Ltd.) is a brand of motorcycles, originally based in Birmingham, England. For some years around 1990, the rights to use the name on motorcycles was owned by North American financiers. From ...

and went into decline. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, an unusual Marchant-designed 200 cc sv was shown in 1947, but not produced. In 1953 Richard Kuchen-designed German UT motorcycles were marketed under the Motosacoche name, but this was unsuccessful, and by 1956 motorcycles were no longer produced, but MAG stationary and industrial motors continued. The Motosacoche Brand is now held by MAJ Holding SARL in Geneva. The company Motosacoche S.A. started in 2020. An e-bike prototype is being produced, to be made public at the beginning of 2021. The official Motosacoche book, in French, described as "Motosacoche: the story of the legendary Swiss motorcycle" was available in 2021.

Models

*Type-A, 1901 - 1910, *D4, Motosacoche for women 1908, *2C10, 1911, *Autosacoche, 1913 *1C9H Sport, 1928–39, 498 cc, o.h.v.,20 hp *2 Cylinders, 1930 & 1932 *209, 1928 *210, 1928 & 1929 *212 twin, 1954, 247 cc, o.h.c *2C7, 1914, 496 cc, s.v. *304 Tourer, 1927, 346 cc, i.o.e. *309, 1928 *310, 1928 & 1929 *310 BL, 1933 *318, 1933 *319, 1933 *322 Competition, 1933 *350 Competition, 1930 & 1932 *350 Sport, 1930 & 1932 *350 Tourer, 1930 & 1932 *409, 1928 & 1929 *409 BL, 1933 *410, 1928 & 1929 *410 LL, 1933 *419, 1933 *420, 1933 *422 Competition, 1933 *425 Luxe, 1933 *426 Luxe, 1933 *439 Tourisme Luxe, 1939, 498 cc, s.v. *500 Competition, 1930 & 1932 *500 Sport, 1930 & 1932 *500 Touring, 1930 & 1932 *720, 1933 *720 Tourisme Grand Luxe, 1939, 846 cc, s.v. *A1, 1908, 214 cc, a.i.o.e *A50 (works racer), 1928, o.h.c. *BL, 1929 & 1930 *Jubilee Sport, 1931, 498 cc, o.h.v. *L, 1928 *R10H, 1929 *R14H, 1929 & 1930 *R14K, 1929 *R9K, 1930 *877TL, 1931 & 1932History of Swiss Motosacoche
''Benvanhelden.nl'' (retrieved 26 December 2006).

Sources

External links

Albisteam Motosacoche History

VIATHEMA Motosacoche History

Motosacoche Official Website
{{Authority control Manufacturing companies based in Geneva

Motosacoche Motosacoche was founded in 1899, by Henri and Armand Dufaux, in Geneva, Switzerland. Motosacoche was once the biggest Swiss motorcycle manufacturer, known also for its MAG (Motosacoche Acacias Genève) engines, used by other European motorcycle m ...