Historic Motorcycle Brands
Coventry-Eagle
Coventry-Eagle was a British bicycle and motorcycle manufacturer, established in 1897. The first motorcycle was released in 1899 and the last one was made in 1940.
Coventry-Eagle – SV1ambo
The motorcycles were hand-built from bought-in components and well finished. Coventry-Eagle motorcycles proved reliable and by World War I the range was included a Villiers-powered, 269cc lightweight, with two-speed gearbox; a 3.5hp single and a 5hp V-twin, with three speed box.
After Word War I, the Coventry-Eagle range expanded and specifications depended to large extent on what engines were available. Suppliers included Abingdon, JAP, King Dick, Aza and Villiers.
1926 Coventry-Eagle Flying 8 – ZoomViewer
Coventry-Eagle’s best-known motorcycle was the ‘Flying 8’. Initially powered by a 976cc, side-valve JAP V-twin, it was fitted with an overhead-valve version in 1926. Performance was stunning, with a top speed of 80mph.
The Flying 8’s fuel tank had more than a passing resemblance to the distinctive Brough Superior’s tank and so did the price tag, only slightly cheaper than a Brough.
With its girder front forks, eight-inch brakes, electric lighting and a steering damper it was a class act.
Coventry Eagle Flying 6 – TR001
The last Flying 8 was built in 1930, as the world entered the Great Depression and Coventry-Eagle’s staples became twin-port, Villiers two-stroke engines in 147cc, 172cc and 172cc displacements, fitted to smaller model motorcycles.
1938 Coventry-Eagle Villiers 125cc – AutoMoto
Although performance was modest, these bikes were functional and their model names promised much: ‘Silent Superb’, ‘Marvel’, ‘Wonder’ and ‘Eclipse’ among them.
The ‘Pullman’ was launched in 1935, featuring a pressed-steel, perimeter frame and enclosed rear wheel. The frame allowed fitment of semi-elliptic leaf rear springs on each side of the rear axle.
1936 Coventry-Eagle Pullman
As the economy improved, in 1937, Matchless four-stroke singles in three sizes joined the range.
Parallel with motorcycle production in the 1930s Coventry-Eagle launched a range of sporting push bikes under the ‘Falcon’ brand. After the War, motorcycle manufacturing never restarted, but the company concentrated on their racing bicycles. It was under this marque that the company relaunched itself as Falcon Cycles.
Coventry-Eagle racing bike – State Library of NSW
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