Aussie Made Bike?

[xrsism]

Just kicking back, pondering stuff, to much idle time, mulling over we have no wheels to call our own. Jap , German, Italian, American, Austrian, Chinese, Russian, English ahh but yeah s#@t no Aussie bike. Could be wrong, no idea, ever built our own motorcycles????? read too much about the little Italian firms becoming big. Big ideas wishin I could start building or at least ride a bloody motorcycle with the aussie symbol adorning it. Q. What would it be - fire breathing or would I just ride it cause it was aussie even if it wasn't? cruiser, superbike, sport-t , muscle bike or small to mid range featherweight. hmmm? . Anybody think the same? Would you give your left gonad to ride one?

[Desmo]

Bennett & Barkell
Waratah

[GreenMeanie]

Why not? Hell we subsidize the two big car manufacturers, why not have a bike industry and subsidize it as well.

[Roger Explosion]

This almost happened. It was mostly just a tad too ambitious for such a small firm.
It would have been nice if it got off the ground though.

[Roger Explosion]

Or if you have a big enough account, you can buy something from these guys:
Irving Vincent, Motorcycles, Australian Motorbikes, Daytona Bikes, Vintage Bikes, Motorbike Racing - Irving Vincent Motorcycles

[Old frt]

Would be hard to beat this guy from across the ditch...

Britten Motorcycle Company

[Barfridge]

We have had small volume manufacturers who use somebody else's engines in their own frame design.

eg. Vee Two who manufactured the Alchemy and Super Squalo (they're Perth based too, can't beat that)

[dennisw]

Alchemy Ducati Australia Vee Two Brook Henry

[thro]

Not my thing, but...


Barbarian V8 Motorcycles

[shan]

We have had small volume manufacturers who use somebody else's engines in their own frame design.

eg. Vee Two who manufactured the Alchemy and Super Squalo (they're Perth based too, can't beat that)

Dam beaten like a teen boys ????

[filbert]

If only there was something Australian made that wasn't as ugly as an arsehole full of hats...

[Phildo]

Waratah motorcycles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Waratah motorcycles were manufactured in Sydney, Australia, from before 1911 to around 1948, although Waratah badged motorcycles were sold into the 1950s.

They were Australia's longest running motorcycle manufacturer. However little information seems to have survived, presumably because these were low-value utility machines.

[Shortfuse]

I work with Maurice Wesson, grandson of Maurice Thomas George Wesson of Wesson Motorcycles, produced in the 20's in Cohuna, Victoria and patented a triangulated swingarm with leaf spring suspension, and girder front end, also with leaf spring.

Unfortunatly, World War 1 intervened, and post war was not conducent to starting a fledgling manufacturing company in Australia. Some English motorcycle builders took some interest, but post war technology soon surpassed the bike and capacity of the small Australian manufacturer resulting in the company folding.

Its listed at the bottome of over 100 Australian manufacturers here...
Australian Motorcycles

It is somewhat distressing that there is very little information on Australian motorcycle history available.

[Para045]

If only there was something Australian made that wasn't as ugly as an arsehole full of hats...

This^^ Most of those shown in pics above make me start to think the Busa aint that ugly

[Sprint]

I'd like a Drysdale, just for the sound

S.