Levis (motorcycle)

Levis was a British motorcycle brand manufactured by Butterfields in Birmingham from 1911 to 1941 . From 1911 two-stroke machines were built there , four-stroke motorcycles were added in 1928 and production was discontinued in 1941.

Howard “Bob” Newey designed the first Levis at the Norton factory , but James Norton rejected it.

Then Newey connected with the Butterfield siblings ( Arthur, Billy and Daisy ) and built up a motorcycle production. (Howard Newey later married Daisy Butterfield.) The first model had a displacement of 211 cc.

Two-stroke models

A Levis two-stroke motorcycle with a typical belt drive

In 1916 the 211 cc engine made 3 bhp (2.2 kW). An encapsulated chain connected the crankshaft to the Fellows magneto . The rear wheel was driven by a Pedley V-belt . The machine weighed approximately 54 kg.

The first racing success for the manufacturer was achieved in 1920 with the Lightweight TT (250 cm³ of the Tourist Trophy ) with a 247 cm³ motorcycle and was repeated in the same class in 1922. The company advertised with the slogan “The Master Two Stroke” (Eng .: “The masterful two-stroke”).

Levis built triple-port single-cylinder machines with a displacement of 211 or 246 cc, including sporty versions. Most had a 67 mm bore and 70 mm stroke. There was also a six-port model.

Four-stroke models

Levi's Model A2 with 346 cc ohv engine (1932)

From 1928 motorcycles with overhead steering four-stroke single-cylinder engines. The displacements began at 247 cm³ (bore × stroke = 67 mm × 70 mm) and continued over 346 cm³ (bore × stroke = 70 mm × 90 mm) and later also 498 cm³ up to 600 cm³. For a short while there was the 346 cc side-controlled engine and the 247 cc engine with a single overhead camshaft driven by a chain.

Competitions

Levis two-stroke motorcycles ridden by Geoff Davison , RO Clark , Phil Pike and others have won many competitions, such as B. 1922 the Lightweight TT (see above), while the four-stroke models scored points off the road. Percy Hunt drove a 346 cc model successfully in various races and immediately before the Second World War , Bob Foster won trial and motocross events with his Levis 598 cc ohv .

Other successful manufacturers of two-stroke motorcycles in the UK were Scott and Villiers .

Models (selection)

1911–1925: Levis Popular (211 cc two-stroke)
1926: Levi's Model K (246 cm³ two-stroke)
1927: Levi's Model O (246 cm³ two-stroke)
1928: Levi's Model A (346 cm³ four-stroke ohv)
1938: Levi's Model D Special (496 cm³ four-stroke ohv)

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Ian Chadwick: British Bikes 1 . Retrieved November 16, 2006.
^ Levis motorcycle, 1916 . ScienceAndSociety. Retrieved November 16, 2006.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Erwin Tragatsch (editor): The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles . New Burlington Books 1979. Revised 1988 edition. ISBN 0-906286-07-7 . Pp. 193-194.

Web links

Commons : Levis Motorcycles - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

[brit1-1] Ian Chadwick: British Bikes 1 . Retrieved November 16, 2006.

[S&S-2] Levis motorcycle, 1916 . ScienceAndSociety. Retrieved November 16, 2006.

[Tragatsch-3] Erwin Tragatsch (editor): The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles . New Burlington Books 1979. Revised 1988 edition. ISBN 0-906286-07-7 . Pp. 193-194.