Greeves (motorcycles)

Greeves are an English producer of motorcycles, mainly for the trials and offroad market.

Original Greeves

Founded by O.B. (Bert) Greeves MBE as an offshoot of the Invacar company, they began production in 1952 at Thundersley, Essex. [http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/greeves.htm Greeves] cybermotorcycle.com] The bikes exclusively used 2 stroke engines sourced from from Villiers Engineering and British Anzani. Gearboxes were supplied by Albion Motors, later replaced by their own designs from 1964 forward. [http://www.greeves-riders.org.uk Greeves History] greeves-riders.org.uk]

The lightweight high powered package made them successful in the trials market place against Triumph and BSA models. In 1957 Greeves signed motocross rider Brian Stonebridge, and started competing in the European Motocross Championship. After the death of Stonebridge, Greeves signed Dave Bickers who won the 1960 and 1961 championship. [http://home.earthlink.net/~frank1328/history.htm Greeves History] Frank Conley's] The company went on to win the Manx Grand Prix, the European Trials Championship and the Scottish Six Day Trial, taking Gold medals in the ISDT and the ACU 250cc Road Race.

Greeves began producing lightweight road machines, and by 1962 there were eleven models. The offroad motorcycles also developed through an association with Queen's University Belfast producing the later Greeves QUB model.

As the Japanese entered the market place - Suzuki dominated the European Championships from 1970 to 1973 - sales began to slow. Combined with a down turn in trade for Invacar and a disastrous fire, the company floundered in 1976 and went into receivership.

New Greeves

As Greeves machines aged, they were ideal for the new "classic" class of trials. However, parts were scarce and expensive, and Richard Deal started producing replica parts, and then a replica motorcycle called the Anglian. In May 1999, after gaining control of the trademarks of the Greeves name in the UK, USA and Europe, a new Greeves company was founded in Chelmsford which restarted production of mainly trials models. [ [http://www.greevesmotorcyclesltd.com/aboutus.html About Us] Greeves Motorcycles]

References

*Rob Carrick and Mick Walker "Greeves" Pub. Osprey Collectors Library

External links

* [http://www.greevesmotorcyclesltd.com New Greeves Motorcycles]
* [http://www.greeves-riders.org.uk Greeves Riders Association]
* [http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Greeves%20Bikes/Greeves%20Index.htm Greeves gallery at VintageBike.co.uk]
* [http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=315814241&channel=32445265 Video of Greeves 50th Anniversary meeting] at Battlesbridge - 6 July, 2003