James

James or James Cycle Co. was a motorcycle manufacturer located in Birmingham, England.

History

Harry James began making Ordinary bicycles around 1880. The company was floated on the stock market in 1897 with Harry James as the first managing director. He retired in 1898. James was known for building four stroke single cylinder and large V-twins in the 1930s. In the 1960s the company switched its focus to two stroke engines, notably the 250cc Commodore single and its twin-cylinder successor the Superswift. The company was also involved in trials bikes, and fielded a factory team for many years. In 1963 James became part of the AMC, and ceased production when the group collapsed in 1966.

Models

1956 James Comet 100

98cc

• James Autocycle (1946-1953)
• James Comet rigid frame (1949-1953)
• James Comet "Plunger" (1954-1955)
• James Comet J11 (1954-1955)
• James Comet "swing arm" (1956-1964)
• James Commodore J4 (1951-1953)

125cc

• James M.L. (1945-1948)
• James Cadet Rigid-frame (1949-1952)
• James Cadet J5 (1953-1954)
• James Cadet J6 (1952-1956)

150cc

• James Cadet J15 (1955)
• James Cadet L15 (1956-1959)
• James Flying Cadet L15a (1959-1961)
• James Cadet M15 150cc (1962-1965)
• James M16 (1965-1966)

175cc

• James Cavalier L17 (1958-1959)

200cc

• James Captain Rigid-frame (1949-1953)
• James Captain J8 Deluxe "Plunger" (1950-1953)
• James Captain K7 (1954-1959)
• James Captain L20 (1961-1966)
• James Sports Captain L20S (1961-1966)

225cc

• James Colonel K12 (1954-1957)

250cc

• James Commodore L25 (1957-1962)
• James Superswift (1962-1963)
• James L25T Commando (1959-1962)
• James M25T Trials (1963-1966)
• James Cotswold L25S scrambles (1959-1962)
• James M25R Scrambler (1963-1964)
• James M25RS Scrambler (1964-1966)

Links

• James at Simply Wizard