Triumph is one of the most famous British motorcycle brands with a long history, innovative ideas, and a wide range of bikes, from old-fashioned to modern. It started in 1902 in Coventry, England. Over the years, it changed owners and faced money troubles, but it's still doing well.

Triumph makes different motorcycles, like old-fashioned ones, adventure bikes, cruisers, street bikes, and sports bikes. They have well-known models like the Triumph Bonneville, Triumph Tiger, and Triumph Speed Triple. The Bonneville is famous for looking classic and riding smoothly.

Triumph also has a rich racing history, with their motorcycles winning big races, including the famous Isle of Man TT races. The Triumph Bonneville T120, in particular, is a big deal in the racing world.

Nowadays, Triumph is all about high-tech bikes and new ideas, like electronic controls and custom settings for riders. Triumph is famous worldwide and has many stores and devoted fans. Their talent for combining history with modern style and tech has made them a respected motorcycle brand that's still going strong.

Founded: in 1902

Headquarters: Coventry, England

Website: https://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/

Founded way back in 1898 as the Norton Manufacturing Company in Birmingham, England, Norton is a famous British motorcycle maker known for creating high-performance bikes. They've been around for over a hundred years, always coming up with new ideas and making great stuff.

Norton has famous motorcycle models, like the Norton Commando, Norton Dominator, and Norton Manx. The Norton Commando, which came out in the late 1960s, is especially well-known for its special Isolastic frame tech and smooth performance. If you get a Norton bike, you can choose how you want it to look and perform.

In recent times, Norton Motorcycles made a comeback with new owners. They started making modern bikes like the Norton V4 RR and V4 SS, which have the latest technology and work well.

In 2020, Norton was bought by TVS Motor Company, a big motorcycle company from India. This partnership gave Norton a stable future and lots of new possibilities. Norton plans to make new bike models and add more to their product list to keep up with all the changes in the motorcycle world. Even as things change, Norton is still a big deal in the motorcycle business.

Founded: in 1898

Headquarters: Shirley, United Kingdom

Website: https://nortonmotorcycles.com/

AJS Motorcycles started in 1909 in Wolverhampton, England, thanks to the Stevens brothers, Albert John and George. It's one of the oldest motorcycle companies in the UK. At first, AJS mainly made engines and parts for other motorcycle makers, but they soon started making complete bikes. They became known for making fast and reliable bikes in the early 1920s.

AJS has a great history in motorcycle racing, winning many famous races like the Isle of Man TT. Their AJS Porcupine is renowned for having a different kind of two-cylinder engine and has become a symbol of the brand in racing.

AJS is also known for being clever with its engineering. They used modern ideas like cams connected with chains and a unique engine design called "double overhead cam" (DOHC), showing they like to keep up with the latest technology.

Even with changes in who owns the company, AJS kept making classic models like the AJS Model D, AJS Model 16, and AJS Model 18. The AJS brand has recently returned to life with new models resembling old AJS bikes.

Founded: in 1931

Headquarters: Wolverhampton, England

Website: https://www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk/

AJW Motorcycles, a British motorcycle history, started in the 1920s. They mostly made motorcycles, with a focus on light and medium-weight ones. Some of their best models were the AJW Grey Streak, AJW Two-Port, and AJW Villiers.

AJW used Villiers two-stroke engines in their bikes, which were popular in the middle of the 1900s. These engines made AJW bikes work efficiently and with strong power, perfect for their lighter motorcycles. AJW was also good at racing, especially in the small and off-road categories.

AJW was smart about how they designed their motorcycles. They brought in new things like telescopic forks and a swing-arm rear suspension, considered advanced in their time. Even though AJW Motorcycles doesn't make bikes anymore, they still play a part in the history of British motorcycle making.

People liked AJW's bikes because they worked well, were made with great care, and had new ideas. Old AJW motorcycles, especially the ones from the middle of the 1900s, are now really popular with collectors. If they're restored well or kept in good condition, these bikes are worth much to people collecting them.

Founded: in 1928

Headquarters: Exeter, United Kingdom

Website: https://ajwmotorcycles.uk/

BSA, which stands for Birmingham Small Arms Company, is a well-known British motorcycle maker with a long history that goes back to when it started in Birmingham, England, in 1861. They made their first motorcycle in 1903, and that's when their journey in the motorcycle world began.

BSA became famous for making motorcycle racing that worked well and had clever designs. They made different kinds of bikes, like single-cylinder and V-twin bikes, which riders worldwide liked. When World War I and II happened, BSA was important because they gave the military motorcycles, especially the M20 model.

BSA's best time was after World War II. During this time, they made famous models like the BSA Gold Star and BSA Bantam, which many people loved. The BSA Gold Star was especially good at motorcycle racing and won many races, even the big ones like the Isle of Man TT races.

But in 1973, BSA stopped making motorcycles, which was the end of an era for them. Even though they no longer make bikes, people collect old motorcycles like BSA ones. The BSA Gold Star and their other classic models are still seen as symbols of how great British motorcycles can be.

Founded: in 1861

Headquarters: Southampton, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.bsacompany.co.uk/

Armstrong-CCM Motorcycles, also known as Clews Competition Machines (CCM), started in the late 1960s. Alan Clews founded it, and it was all about making magnificent off-road and motocross motorcycles. They became famous as both professional racers and amateurs.

CCM always used the latest stuff in their motorcycles, like lightweight materials and fancy suspension systems that worked great for off-road riding. In 1971, CCM set a land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats - the road racing history showed how good they were at engineering.

In the late 1980s, CCM had a fresh start when they teamed up with Armstrong. They started making a new kind of motorcycle you could use on and off the road. Some of the famous ones from this time were the Armstrong MT500 and Armstrong MT350, which the British Army used.

Nowadays, CCM makes custom and unique edition motorcycles. They look like the old ones but work well; you can even change things on them if you want. Even though things have been challenging and changed for CCM, they're still a sign of how good motorcycles can be for going off-road and having adventures.

Founded: in 1980

Headquarters: Crewkerne, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.arielmotor.co.uk/

Cheney Racing is a well-known British motorcycle brand for off-road motorcycle racing. They're famous for making perfect, custom frames for motorcycles. These frames became popular with pro racers and regular riders because they were super strong and gave riders an edge in racing.

During the 1960s and 1970s, many motocross and off-road racers used Cheney frames. The riders on these bikes won a bunch of big races both in the UK and around the world. This made Cheney a top name in the motorcycle world.

Cheney Racing worked with big motorcycle makers like BSA and Triumph to make special motocross racing bikes. These partnerships led to factory-supported racing bikes, like the famous Cheney BSA. These bikes had a unique frame with a front suspension ahead of time, making the bike handle well.

Old Cheney Racing frames and motorcycles are gold to motorcycle fans and collectors today. Finding a restored motorcycle with a Cheney frame is a big deal in the collector's world. It shows how good Cheney Racing was at making frames and how important they were in the history of off-road racing.

Founded: in 1964

Headquarters: Petersfield, Hampshire, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.cheneyracing.co.uk/

Started back in 1899 in London by Henry Herbert Collier, Matchless is a famous British motorcycle maker with a long and varied history in motorcycles. People quickly noticed them because they made magnificent motorcycles with new ideas. In the early 1900s, they developed things like the first swing-arm rear suspension, which made rides much more comfortable.

During World War I and II, Matchless motorcycles were super important because they were given to the British military. Soldiers used a lot of the Matchless G3/L and G3/W models. After World War II, Matchless made more motorcycles that people liked, such as the Matchless G80 and the Matchless G9. These bikes had one-cylinder and two-cylinder engines, respectively.

Matchless is a famous brand, and it's come back recently with new owners. They make modern motorcycles, often with an old-fashioned style, and they're primarily for people who love motorcycles.

Matchless is a big name in British motorcycle history. Even though it's had some problems and different owners over time, it's still known for its classic motorcycles and for starting again to make a new generation of motorcycle fans happy.

Founded: in 1899

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

Website: https://matchlesslondon.com/

Brough Superior, a famous British motorcycle brand, was started in 1919 by an intelligent guy named George Brough in Nottingham, England. They wanted to make motorcycles that were top-notch in quality and speed and were like art. People often called them the "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles" because they were so good.

Customers could choose different parts and features to make their bikes as they liked. Brough Superior also used the latest tech, strong engines, and fancy suspension systems. They were among the first to use four-speed gearboxes and overhead camshaft engines.

They had famous bikes like the SS100, SS80, and SS680 in their lineup. The SS100 was especially well-known as the "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles" because it was super fast and one of the quickest motorcycles you could buy. Brough Superior also did well in motorcycle racing, setting speed records and winning races in the early 1920s.

Now, Brough Superior motorcycles are the world's most wanted and expensive ones. They get sold for crazy prices at auctions. Brough Superior keeps on being good at making quality motorcycles, and people who love and collect them like what they do.

Founded: in 1919

Headquarters: Nottingham, England

Website: https://www.brough-superior.com/

Founded in 1905 by John Goodman, Velocette is a well-known British motorcycle brand. They're famous for making motorcycles with clever designs. One of their fantastic ideas was an extraordinary foot gear change that made shifting gears on motorcycles easier.

Most of the motorcycles Velocette made had just one cylinder. Some of their best-known models are the Velocette Venom, Velocette Thruxton, and Velocette MSS. They also made something different called the Velocette LE, which had an unusual design with an engine that looked like it was lying down flat. It was used by other police departments and got the nickname "Noddy Bike."

Velocette motorcycles did well in motorcycle racing, especially in the Isle of Man TT races. The Velocette KTT series, which emerged in the 1920s, became one of the most famous racing motorcycles of its time. It won many races and championships and was known for being fast and dependable.

Velocette is still a big name in the world of British motorcycles. They're known for coming up with new ideas, doing fantastic in racing, and making classic motorcycles that people still love. Even though they had some problems in their later years, motorcycle fans and collectors still appreciate what Velocette did for British motorcycle history.

Founded: in 1904

Headquarters: Birmingham, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.velocetteclassics.com/