Humber Motorcycles


Humber Limited was a pioneering British motorcycle manufacturer. Humber produced the first practical motorcycle made in Britain by fitting one of their Humber bicycles with an E. J. Pennington two-horsepower motor in 1896.
Limited sales at the onset of the Great Depression in 1929 brought an end to their manufacture.

History

Early Humber motorcycles were built under licence to Phelon & Moore with a single-cylinder P&M engine and two-speed chaindrive transmission. Disputes over royalty payments and P&M's desire to make their own motorcycles led to this licence being terminated in 1905, so later models had Humber 496 cc, 596 cc and 746 cc engines.
Success with one of Pennington's 340 cc two-speed V twin engined Humbers in the first ever Isle of Man Junior TT in 1911 boosted the motorcycle sales.

Models

ModelYearNotes
Humber 4.5 hp1921601cc with chain transmission and three-speed gearbox
Humber 350cc Side Valve1927
Humber Beeston19032.75HP
Humber 340cc19112 speed V twin Humber
Humber 3½ HP1912
Humber 350 OHV1929
Humber 600cc1921Flat twin
Humber 350cc OHC1930