DMW Motorcycles
Encyclopedia
DMW Motorcycles was a British motorcycle
manufacturer. Based in Wolverhampton
, DMW was founded in 1940. The company took over Ambassador Motorcycles
in 1963 and continued production until they closed the company in 1965. Although DMW ceased motorcycle production in 1971, it was noted for trials and racing machines and many DMWs can still be seen at UK sporting events. DMW produced about 15,000 motorcycles and several other manufacturers used DMW forks and engines.
and Vincent
man Harold Nock to build light two-stroke motorcycles. Leslie Dawson was unsuccessful in raising venture capital and emigrated to Canada in 1948. Leslie died in Ellesmere Port on 6 January 1989.
Leslie was replaced by former BSA
engineer Mike Riley, who won the 1948 Scottish Trial on a 200 cc DMW. Production moved to Harold Nock's premises in Sedgley
and a 122 cc DMW with a Villiers
engine was launched in 1950. These were entered in and won numerous competitions and DMW exhibited at the Earls Court
Motor Cycle Show in 1952 with three road motorcycles and three racing bikes. A range of relatively successful two-stroke models were produced throughout the 1960s, notably the DMW Dolomite. DMW production ended in 1971 and Harold Nock sold the company in 1975 to Graham Beddall and Ivan Dyke, who concentrated on engineering and selling parts, although they did build one-off competition motorcycles, and a DMW 250 cc won the Midland Centre Group Trials in 1976 and 1977. Beddall and Dyke retained ownership of the DMW name until 2001, when it was wound up.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufacturer. Based in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, DMW was founded in 1940. The company took over Ambassador Motorcycles
Ambassador Motorcycles
Ambassador Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer. Founded by racer Kaye Don after the Second World War, the company produced lightweight motorcycles with Villiers and JAP engines and imported Zundapps from Germany. Production started in 1947 with a 197 cc Villiers-engined bikes...
in 1963 and continued production until they closed the company in 1965. Although DMW ceased motorcycle production in 1971, it was noted for trials and racing machines and many DMWs can still be seen at UK sporting events. DMW produced about 15,000 motorcycles and several other manufacturers used DMW forks and engines.
History
Founded by Leslie Dawson (inventor of swinging arm motorcycle suspension) as Dawson's Motors Wolverhampton in 1940 to make and sell his new invention, Dawson's Telematic tele-forks, which were telescopic spring and pneumatic front forks that could be 'retro-fitted' as a replacement to standard 'girder' forks. In 1943 Dawson added rear suspension options which he would fit in his Wolverhampton workshop. After the Second World War ended in 1945 Dawson began building DMW grass track racing motorcycles machines with 350 cc and 500 cc JAP engines. Dawson went into partnership with former AJSAJS
AJS was the name used for cars and motorcycles made by the Wolverhampton, England, company A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd, from 1909 to 1931, by then holding 117 motorcycle world records, and after the firm was sold the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton-Villiers on...
and Vincent
Vincent Motorcycles
Vincent Motorcycles was a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1928 to 1955. Their 1948 Black Shadow was at the time the world's fastest production motorcycle...
man Harold Nock to build light two-stroke motorcycles. Leslie Dawson was unsuccessful in raising venture capital and emigrated to Canada in 1948. Leslie died in Ellesmere Port on 6 January 1989.
Leslie was replaced by former BSA
BSA
-Organizations:* Baltimore School for the Arts* Bank Secrecy Act* Bearing Specialists Association* Belarusian Socialist Assembly* Bhutan Scouts Association* Bibliographical Society of America* Birmingham School of Acting...
engineer Mike Riley, who won the 1948 Scottish Trial on a 200 cc DMW. Production moved to Harold Nock's premises in Sedgley
Sedgley
Sedgley is an urban village within the West Midlands county of England. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Sedgley was formerly an ancient manor composed of several smaller villages, including Gornal, Gospel End, Woodsetton, Ettingshall, Coseley and Brierley...
and a 122 cc DMW with a Villiers
Villiers Engineering
Villiers Engineering was a manufacturer of motorcycles and cycle parts, and an engineering company based in Villiers Street, Wolverhampton, England....
engine was launched in 1950. These were entered in and won numerous competitions and DMW exhibited at the Earls Court
Earls Court
Earls Court is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It is an inner-city district centred on Earl's Court Road and surrounding streets, located 3.1 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It borders the sub-districts of South Kensington to the East, West...
Motor Cycle Show in 1952 with three road motorcycles and three racing bikes. A range of relatively successful two-stroke models were produced throughout the 1960s, notably the DMW Dolomite. DMW production ended in 1971 and Harold Nock sold the company in 1975 to Graham Beddall and Ivan Dyke, who concentrated on engineering and selling parts, although they did build one-off competition motorcycles, and a DMW 250 cc won the Midland Centre Group Trials in 1976 and 1977. Beddall and Dyke retained ownership of the DMW name until 2001, when it was wound up.
Models
| Model | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DMW De luxe | 1953 | Villiers 250 cc two-stroke vertical-twin . |
| DMW Coronation | 1953 | Villiers 10D 122 cc two-stroke |
| Cortina | 1954 | 225 cc Villiers 1H engine |
| Dolomite 1 | 1954 | 250 cc ohc 4-stroke Ateliers Mechanique du Centre (AMC)engine |
| DMW Hornet | 1954 | 125 cc ohc 4-stroke Ateliers Mechanique du Centre (AMC) engine |
| Moto Cross | 1955 | 200 cc two-stroke |
| Trials | 1955 | 200 cc two-stroke competition engine |
| DMW Leda | 1955 | 150 cc two-stroke 'sports' |
| Bambi scooter | 1957 | 98 cc Villiers 4F two-stroke |
| DMW Deemster scooter | 1962 | 249 cc Villiers twin-cylinder two-stroke |
| DMW Sports Twin | 1962 | 249 cc two-stroke Villiers Mark 4T |
| DMW Dolomite II | 1963 | DMW-badged Ambassador motorcycles |
| 250 cc Hornet | 1964 | Villiers 'Starmaker' 247 cc two-stroke |
| Sports Twin | 1964 | Villiers 4T 249 cc two-stroke twin |
| DMW Typhoon | 1965 | 494 cc Villiers two-stroke |