Abingdon Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer in Tyseley, Birmingham between 1903 and 1925. It was renamed AKD (Abingdon King Dick) in 1926 and produced single cylinder motorcycles until 1933, when they concentrated on "King Dick" mechanics' tools.[1]
The tool and chain manufacturers Abingdon Engineering was founded in 1856 and started making motorcycles in 1903,[1] when the industry was still very new, with engines from a number of manufacturers before the company developed their own Abingdon four-stroke 350 cc single and 794 cc V-twin engines,[2] which were used by Ariel and Invicta. Much of the production was exported to the Commonwealth countries.[3] One innovation introduced by Abingdon was the first telescopic shock absorber. Motorcycles of the day often had no front suspension or some form of springs, but Abingdon devised the "Abingdon Spring Fork", a coil sprung, telescopic shock absorber.[1]
The First World War halted production but they continued in 1919 with the V-twin and 499 cc and 623 cc single cylinder motorcycles.[2]
The company was renamed AKD (Abingdon King Dick) in 1926 and concentrated production on 147cc to 346cc single cylinder motorcycles until 1933, when they decided to concentrate on their successful range of "King Dick" mechanics' tools.[1]
King Dick toolsedit
The Abingdon King Dick tool company still exists, and sponsors the Castrol-Honda British Supersport Motorcycle squad.[4] The company still manufactures its range of King Dick brand mechanics tools in the UK.
Sourcesedit
^ abcd"Abingdon King Dick". Retrieved 29 November 2008.
^ ab"Abingdon". from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
^"Abingdon & AKD Motorcycles". from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
Motorcycle Classics article on 1912 Abingdon King Dick: The King of Birmingham
Video of 1911 Abingdon motorcycle running
Abbots Tools: Official Seller of King Dick Tools 31 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine
January 01, 1970
abingdon, motorcycles, british, motorcycle, manufacturer, tyseley, birmingham, between, 1903, 1925, renamed, abingdon, king, dick, 1926, produced, single, cylinder, motorcycles, until, 1933, when, they, concentrated, king, dick, mechanics, tools, company, type. Abingdon Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer in Tyseley Birmingham between 1903 and 1925 It was renamed AKD Abingdon King Dick in 1926 and produced single cylinder motorcycles until 1933 when they concentrated on King Dick mechanics tools 1 Abingdon MotorcyclesCompany typePrivateIndustryMotorcycleFounded1903Defunct1925 AKD 1933 FateCeased motorcycle productionSuccessorAKD Abingdon King Dick HeadquartersBirmingham UKProductsMotorcycles mechanics tools and chains 1915 Ariel V Twin with 700 cc Abingdon engine Contents 1 History 2 King Dick tools 3 Sources 4 See also 5 External linksHistory editThe tool and chain manufacturers Abingdon Engineering was founded in 1856 and started making motorcycles in 1903 1 when the industry was still very new with engines from a number of manufacturers before the company developed their own Abingdon four stroke 350 cc single and 794 cc V twin engines 2 which were used by Ariel and Invicta Much of the production was exported to the Commonwealth countries 3 One innovation introduced by Abingdon was the first telescopic shock absorber Motorcycles of the day often had no front suspension or some form of springs but Abingdon devised the Abingdon Spring Fork a coil sprung telescopic shock absorber 1 The First World War halted production but they continued in 1919 with the V twin and 499 cc and 623 cc single cylinder motorcycles 2 The company was renamed AKD Abingdon King Dick in 1926 and concentrated production on 147cc to 346cc single cylinder motorcycles until 1933 when they decided to concentrate on their successful range of King Dick mechanics tools 1 King Dick tools editThe Abingdon King Dick tool company still exists and sponsors the Castrol Honda British Supersport Motorcycle squad 4 The company still manufactures its range of King Dick brand mechanics tools in the UK Sources edit a b c d Abingdon King Dick Retrieved 29 November 2008 a b Abingdon Archived from the original on 11 December 2008 Retrieved 29 November 2008 Abingdon amp AKD Motorcycles Archived from the original on 18 December 2008 Retrieved 29 November 2008 King Dick Tools Retrieved 29 November 2008 See also editAbingdon 1922 automobile List of motorcycles of the 1910s List of motorcycles of the 1920sExternal links editMotorcycle Classics article on 1912 Abingdon King Dick The King of Birmingham Video of 1911 Abingdon motorcycle running Abbots Tools Official Seller of King Dick Tools Archived 31 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abingdon Motorcycles amp oldid 1180585560, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
