HRD Motors

HRD Motors Ltd
legal form	Limited
founding	1924
resolution	1928
Reason for dissolution	closure
Seat	Birmingham , UK
Branch	Motorcycle manufacturer

The HRD Motors Ltd was a British motorcycle manufacturer , which from 1924 to 1928 in Birmingham was a resident.

Company history

The company was founded by Howard Raymond Davies , a motorcycle racer who previously worked for AJS and Sunbeam . In the early 1920s, he found that he often couldn't finish races because the motorcycles available on the market were too unreliable. This inspired Davies to build a reliable, high-performance motorcycle, using "Built by a rider" as an advertising slogan. Others also went this way, such as B. George Brough of Brough Superior .

After the First World War , there were many manufacturers who built their motorcycles from purchased components such as engines, frames and other assemblies. Davies' goal was to build a really good motorcycle from the best components available.

The financially weak company only produced motorcycles for four years. It was known for its powerful motorcycles, but Davies had to sell it to OK-Supreme in 1928 . This company then sold the naming rights to Philip Vincent , a motorcycle designer. This then integrated the name with the good reputation in the motorcycle racing scene in his new company, the Vincent HRD Company Ltd .

Model and racing history

1924

In 1924, with the help of EJ Massey, the first HRD motorcycles were built. The engines came from JAP , the close-ratio gearboxes from Burman , the forks from Druid or Webb , the chains from Renolds , the oil pumps from Pilgrim and the carburetors from Binks .

• Models
• HD 90 - 500 cc JAP engine - 140 km / h - price: 90 guineas
• HD 80 - 350 cm³ JAP ohv double port engine - 130 km / h - price: 80 guineas
• HD 70 - 350 cm³ JAP ohv engine - 110 km / h - price: 70 guineas
• HD 70 S - 500 cc JAP sv engine - 110 km / h - price for a solo machine: 66 guineas, price for a sidecar machine: 83 guineas

1925

In 1925 Davies drove his own motorcycles on the Isle of Man TT . He finished second in the junior (350 cc) class and won the senior (500 cc) class. This earned him orders, but despite the success, his company lost money. The first company buildings were too small, so they had to be expanded, but the company was too financially weak. There was always a waiting list for customers, but only small numbers were produced. In September, H. Le Vack set a speed record of 168.03 km / h on an HRD in Brooklands .

• Models
• HD Super 90 - 500 cc JAP double port engine - 160 km / h - price: 98 guineas

1926

In 1926 the competition on the Tourist Trophy was faster; the best placement for HRD was fifth. The range of models was expanded, but the production capacity was insufficient. A general strike caused further financial damage.

• Models
• HD 75 - 500 cc JAP ohv engine - 121 km / h - price: 75 guineas
• HD 600 De Luxe - 600 cc J.AP-sv engine - price: 72 guineas
• HD 65 - 350 cc JAP ohv engine - 105 km / h - price: 65 guineas
• HD 60 - 350 cm³ JAP-sv engine - 97 km / h - price: 60 guineas
• For the HD Super 90 there was a 600 cc JAP ohv engine on request. The surcharge was 5 guineas.

1927

In 1927 '' Freddie Dixon '' won the Junior TT and achieved sixth place in the Senior TT for HRD. Despite these successes, the financial situation deteriorated again.

1928

In January 1928 the company dissolved voluntarily. The leftovers were bought by Ernest Humphries (OK-Supreme). In May 1928 he sold the naming rights, tools and molds to Philip C. Vincent for £ 450.

swell

• Roy Harper: Vincent HRD Gallery . Vincent Publishing 1974.
• Roy Harper: The Vincent HRD Story . Vincent Publishing 1975.
• Philip Vincent: PCV The Autobiography of Philip Vincent . Vincent Publishing 1976.
• Geoff Preece: HRD Motor Cycles. Produced by a rider . J. Bickerstaff 1992.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ HRD Motors . Local history. ( Memento of the original from September 16, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved October 7, 2006.  
2. ^ Vincent-HRD History - HRD . MyVincent.co.uk ( Memento of the original from July 21, 2005 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved December 4, 2014.