Levis (motorcycle)

Levis motorcycles (1911–1940), manufactured by Butterfields Ltd. of Birmingham, England were for many years one of England's leading marques of two-stroke motorcycle. Levis built two-stroke machines from 1911, adding a line of four-strokes in 1928, which ran to 1941 when production ceased.[1]

A Levis motorcycle with the distinctive belt drive

The first Levis was made in the Norton works by designer Howard (Bob) Newey, but James Norton turned it down.[1]

Newey then joined with the Butterfields, Arthur and Billy, and sister Daisy, to set up a motorcycle company (Newey later married Daisy). Their first model had a capacity of 211 cc.[1]

Two-strokes

In 1916, the 211 cc vertical two-stroke engine produced 3 hp (2.2 kW). An enclosed chain from the crankshaft drove the Fellows magneto and drive to the rear wheel was by Pedley ‘Vee’ belt. The machine weighed approximately 120 lb (54 kg).[2]

Their first racing success was in the Lightweight 250 class within the 1920 Isle of Man TT Junior race with a 247 cc machine, repeated in the 1922 TT Lightweight TT race. They then adopted the slogan, "The Master Two Stroke".[1]

Levis built 211 cc and 246 cc three-port single-cylinder machines, including sporting versions. Most had 67 mm (2.6 in) bore with a 70 mm (2.8 in) stroke, and there was also a six-port model.[3]

Four-strokes
1932 OHV 350 cc

From 1928 onward, Levis produced 247 cc (67 mm (2.6 in) bore x 70 mm (2.8 in) stroke) and 346 cc (70 mm bore x 90 mm stroke) four-stroke ohv machines and later added 498 cc and 600 cc ohv four-strokes. For a brief period, a 346 cc side valve single, and also a 247 cc sohc single with chain-driven overhead camshaft were available.[3]

Competition

Levis two strokes, ridden by Geoff Davison, R. O. Clark, Phil Pike and others, won many races including the 1922 Lightweight TT, while the four strokes excelled off-road. Percy Hunt rode a 346 cc model successfully in races, and just before World War II, Bob Foster gained many wins on a Levis ohv 598 cc bike in trials and moto cross.[3]

Present

In 2014, the brand of Levis motorcycles was acquired by David Redshaw of the Auto Crowd Group, a business providing online car, motorcycle, yacht, and aviation clubs.

Models
  • 1911–1925 211 cc Levis (TS Model 'Popular')
  • 1926 246 cc Levis (TS Model 'K')
  • 1927 246 cc Levis (TS Model 'O')
  • 1928 346 cc Levis (OHV Model 'A')
  • 1938 496 cc Levis (OHV Model 'D-Special')
(TS = Two Stroke)[3]
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References
  1. Ian Chadwick, British Bikes 1, retrieved 26 November 2006
  2. Levis motorcycle, 1916, ScienceAndSociety, retrieved 26 November 2006
  3. Erwin Tragatsch (ed.) (1979), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles (1988 Revised ed.), New Burlington Books, pp. 193–194, ISBN 0-906286-07-7CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
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