Batavus
Encyclopedia
Batavus BV is a Dutch
bicycle
manufacturer, owned by the Accell Group
European Cycle conglomerate. Batavus Intercycle Corporation was the leading manufacturer of bicycles and mopeds in the Netherlands
during the 1970s. During its most productive years, the company’s 350000 sq ft (32,516.1 m²). Heerenveen
plant employed 700 to produce 70,000 Batavus mopeds and 250,000 bicycles a year. During this time, Batavus was exporting 55 percent of its production with the remainder going to the Netherlands, which had more than two million mopeds in 1977.
s and small farm machinery. Within two years, he had added bicycles, selling bikes manufactured by the German company Presto. Soon, he began making and selling bicycles under the Batavus brand.
By 1917, Batavus had taken over a large bicycle factory. The 1930s proved difficult as much of Europe
was in economic recession, but Batavus continued growing by diversifying to include carrier tricycles, motorcycles, and ice skates. World War II
saw the temporary shutdown of the factory. Business resumed in 1945 when the war ended and demand for bicycles increased. The company invested in a new factory with modern assembly line
s, which brought it to the forefront of bike manufacturing. In 1948, Batavus was one of the first to develop and manufacture its own moped
.
By 1954, the company's assorted of buildings produced a variety of machines, but in 1956, 52 years after Gasstra opened his shop, a new factory opened in the industrial park in Heerenveen. It had an area of 6000 square meters and the workforce had grown to 300. Further extensions and developments became necessary and today the company employs about 650. After the new premises opened the company continued primarily to be a bicycle manufacturer and benefited from growing demand all over the world. However, in 1969, Batavus acquired the bicycle and motorcycle production of another Dutch company, Magneet, and the following year took over three three-wheeler factories in Germany. Although sales of motorized two-wheelers were increasingly fluctuated, with model and style changes, there was steady growth every year.
The early Go-Go V was a rigid frame machine, discontinued, but after the introduction of the Go-Go VA, four new machines were added to the UK market in 1974 and two more in 1976. By this time the company had a reputation for quality machines, which, while not the cheapest, were good to look at and offered little trouble.
At Earls Court, London, in 1976, Batavus showed the seven-model range; six machines were powered by the 48cc Laura engine, with V-belt primary drive and automatic clutch. The exception was the top-of-the-range Mk 4S, with motorcycle styling and the Sachs four-speed motor. Specification include an electronic tachometer, battery-operated turn signals and heavy-duty suspension front and rear. This model, which has the overall dimensions of a full-sized motorcycle was the biggest machine sold by Batavus.
As early as 1972 total production of bicycles was 250,000 and mopeds 60,000 a year. Of these, 60,000 bicycles and 27,000 mopeds went abroad. Sales were strong in West Germany and Switzerland. Iran, Israel, Belgium and Greece were also important. In Turkey, Batavus mopeds began to be manufactured under license in 1972. In 1977, Batavus made more bicycles and mopeds than any other company in the Netherlands. It was the biggest Dutch exporter of machines, with 55 percent of production going outside the Netherlands to accommodate interest for fuel-efficient transport in the USA during the 1970s. Batavus set up its USA headquarters in Atlanta, GA.
In the early 1970s, bicycle demand continued to increase, prompting Batavus to expand the factory to 25,000 square meters. Moped demand declined, and although there was a significant increase in moped popularity in the USA during the fuel crisis of the 1970s, Batavus built and shipped the last moped in the early 1980s.
, Batavus was official supplier of the Dutch cycling Union (KNWU). Monique Knol
won a bronze medal during the 1992 Olympics on a Batavus. Leontien van Moorsel
won the Tour Feminin twice, riding Batavus bicycles.
In 2008, Batavus was a co-sponsor of P3Transfer-Batavus. Bobbie Traksel
rode a Batavus to victory in the 2008 Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
manufacturer, owned by the Accell Group
Accell
Accell Group NV is a Dutch holding company which owns several European bicycle manufacturers. Besides bikes, the Accell Group is also involved in the production of fitness equipment. Accell is one of the largest producers of bicycles and bicycle parts in the world.-Factories:The Accell Group has...
European Cycle conglomerate. Batavus Intercycle Corporation was the leading manufacturer of bicycles and mopeds in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
during the 1970s. During its most productive years, the company’s 350000 sq ft (32,516.1 m²). Heerenveen
Heerenveen
Heerenveen is a town in the Heerenveen municipality of the province of Friesland , in the north of the Netherlands.- History :The town was established in 1551 by three lords as a location for the purpose of digging peat which was used for fuel, hence the name...
plant employed 700 to produce 70,000 Batavus mopeds and 250,000 bicycles a year. During this time, Batavus was exporting 55 percent of its production with the remainder going to the Netherlands, which had more than two million mopeds in 1977.
History
In 1904, Andries Gaastra opened a shop selling clockClock
A clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
s and small farm machinery. Within two years, he had added bicycles, selling bikes manufactured by the German company Presto. Soon, he began making and selling bicycles under the Batavus brand.
By 1917, Batavus had taken over a large bicycle factory. The 1930s proved difficult as much of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
was in economic recession, but Batavus continued growing by diversifying to include carrier tricycles, motorcycles, and ice skates. World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
saw the temporary shutdown of the factory. Business resumed in 1945 when the war ended and demand for bicycles increased. The company invested in a new factory with modern assembly line
Assembly line
An assembly line is a manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner using optimally planned logistics to create a finished product much faster than with handcrafting-type methods...
s, which brought it to the forefront of bike manufacturing. In 1948, Batavus was one of the first to develop and manufacture its own moped
Moped
Mopeds are a type of low-powered motorcycle designed to provide economical and relatively safe transport with minimal licensing requirements.Mopeds were once all equipped with bicycle-like pedals , but moped has been increasingly applied by governments to vehicles without pedals, based on their...
.
By 1954, the company's assorted of buildings produced a variety of machines, but in 1956, 52 years after Gasstra opened his shop, a new factory opened in the industrial park in Heerenveen. It had an area of 6000 square meters and the workforce had grown to 300. Further extensions and developments became necessary and today the company employs about 650. After the new premises opened the company continued primarily to be a bicycle manufacturer and benefited from growing demand all over the world. However, in 1969, Batavus acquired the bicycle and motorcycle production of another Dutch company, Magneet, and the following year took over three three-wheeler factories in Germany. Although sales of motorized two-wheelers were increasingly fluctuated, with model and style changes, there was steady growth every year.
World-wide moped distribution
In 1970, Batavus joined the Dutch Laura group, which includes Laura Motoren, and Laura Engines used on Batavus mopeds in the UK, except the Sachs-powered sports machine and the Mk 4S. First imports to the UK were in 1973, with the setting up of Harglo by two former BSA/Triumph executives, Wilf Harrision and Peter Glover. They imported and distributed Batavus mopeds in the UK and Ireland.The early Go-Go V was a rigid frame machine, discontinued, but after the introduction of the Go-Go VA, four new machines were added to the UK market in 1974 and two more in 1976. By this time the company had a reputation for quality machines, which, while not the cheapest, were good to look at and offered little trouble.
At Earls Court, London, in 1976, Batavus showed the seven-model range; six machines were powered by the 48cc Laura engine, with V-belt primary drive and automatic clutch. The exception was the top-of-the-range Mk 4S, with motorcycle styling and the Sachs four-speed motor. Specification include an electronic tachometer, battery-operated turn signals and heavy-duty suspension front and rear. This model, which has the overall dimensions of a full-sized motorcycle was the biggest machine sold by Batavus.
As early as 1972 total production of bicycles was 250,000 and mopeds 60,000 a year. Of these, 60,000 bicycles and 27,000 mopeds went abroad. Sales were strong in West Germany and Switzerland. Iran, Israel, Belgium and Greece were also important. In Turkey, Batavus mopeds began to be manufactured under license in 1972. In 1977, Batavus made more bicycles and mopeds than any other company in the Netherlands. It was the biggest Dutch exporter of machines, with 55 percent of production going outside the Netherlands to accommodate interest for fuel-efficient transport in the USA during the 1970s. Batavus set up its USA headquarters in Atlanta, GA.
In the early 1970s, bicycle demand continued to increase, prompting Batavus to expand the factory to 25,000 square meters. Moped demand declined, and although there was a significant increase in moped popularity in the USA during the fuel crisis of the 1970s, Batavus built and shipped the last moped in the early 1980s.
In competition: bicycle races and sponsored teams
During the 1986 and 1992 Olympic GamesOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, Batavus was official supplier of the Dutch cycling Union (KNWU). Monique Knol
Monique Knol
Monique Knol is a retired racing cyclist from the Netherlands, who won a medal in two consecutive Summer Olympics , starting in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. There she won the road race, taking a bronze in the same event four years later in Barcelona, Spain.-References:...
won a bronze medal during the 1992 Olympics on a Batavus. Leontien van Moorsel
Leontien van Moorsel
Leontine Martha Henrica Petronella van Moorsel is a former Dutch racing cyclist.Van Moorsel started her career in the late 1980s and was soon one of the best cyclists in the world. She won major races both on the track, and on the road...
won the Tour Feminin twice, riding Batavus bicycles.
In 2008, Batavus was a co-sponsor of P3Transfer-Batavus. Bobbie Traksel
Bobbie Traksel
Bobbie Traksel is a Dutch professional racing cyclist for . In 2000, Traksel showed considerable promise by winning the Under-23 version of the Ronde van Vlaanderen and turned professional in 2001 with . In 2002, Traksel's surprise win at the Veenendaal–Veenendaal showed his speed and bicycle...
rode a Batavus to victory in the 2008 Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
The Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen is a stage race cycling race held annually in the West Flanders, Belgium. Since 2006 the race has been organized as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.Between 1945 and 1998 it was known a Omloop der Vlaamse Ardennen...
.