Norman Cyclemate

After World War 2, new British cars and motorcycles were sold abroad to bring in much-needed foreign exchange. With a shortage of vehicles in Britain, low powered cycle-attachment engines were introduced. The Cyclemaster was the most popular of these, and could be purchased already fitted to a bicycle or as an engine-within-a-wheel to install into your own bicycle. But, by 1954, French and German ‘mo-peds’ started to creep into the British market: their stronger frames allowed greater speeds. By 1954, with the threat of the two-speed NSU Quickly dominating the market, British manufacturers decided to compete with their own home-built mopeds. The first two were Hercules with its Herc-u-motor, and Norman’s Cyclemate, which used the 32cc Cyclemaster engine. It made its debut on the Cyclemaster stand at the 1954 Earls Court Motor Cycle Show, where its top speed was advertised at 20-25mph.

The Cyclemate was Britain’s cheapest moped, and the smallest capacity machine. Despite its engine being under-powered, 7,000 were sold over its six years of production. (180,000 Cyclemaster engines were sold 0ver ten years).

Subject ID: 3964

More

After World War 2, new British cars and motorcycles were sold abroad to bring in much-needed foreign exchange. With a shortage of vehicles in Britain, low powered cycle-attachment engines were introduced. The Cyclemaster was the most popular of these, and could be purchased already fitted to a bicycle or as an engine-within-a-wheel to install into your own bicycle. But, by 1954, French and German ‘mo-peds’ started to creep into the British market: their stronger frames allowed greater speeds. By 1954, with the threat of the two-speed NSU Quickly dominating the market, British manufacturers decided to compete with their own home-built mopeds. The first two were Hercules with its Herc-u-motor, and Norman’s Cyclemate, which used the 32cc Cyclemaster engine. It made its debut on the Cyclemaster stand at the 1954 Earls Court Motor Cycle Show, where its top speed was advertised at 20-25mph.

The Cyclemate was Britain’s cheapest moped, and the smallest capacity machine. Despite its engine being under-powered, 7,000 were sold over its six years of production. (180,000 Cyclemaster engines were sold 0ver ten years).

Subject ID: 3964

Less