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British Bikes / Re: “Star” motorcycles
« Last post by 33d6 on March 12, 2026, 12:58:30 AM »Yes, the Villiers industrial side is boring. Their four stroke industrial engines were in response to War Office demands for small engines opening up a new market for them which they kept on with post war. Their motorcycle engines and post war industrial two stroke engines diverged mightily with little in common. The industrial side essentially stayed with 1930's design and technology, basic and cheap but irrelevant for motorcycles..
They bought out both JAP and BSA industrial engines but eventually got caught up in the whole motorcycle industry amalgamation thing when AMC folded. By then Francis Barnett and James were their major motorcycle engine customers, both owned by AMC who also owned Norton. I don't know all the financial shenanigans but the British manufacturing industry was collapsing everywhere which left Villiers no one to supply with their engines. It doesn't matter what you make, if your customers disappear you're dead in the water.
About all the industrial side is good for is as a source of ignition spares and the occasional piston otherwise irrelevant.
They bought out both JAP and BSA industrial engines but eventually got caught up in the whole motorcycle industry amalgamation thing when AMC folded. By then Francis Barnett and James were their major motorcycle engine customers, both owned by AMC who also owned Norton. I don't know all the financial shenanigans but the British manufacturing industry was collapsing everywhere which left Villiers no one to supply with their engines. It doesn't matter what you make, if your customers disappear you're dead in the water.
About all the industrial side is good for is as a source of ignition spares and the occasional piston otherwise irrelevant.