Prophete
Encyclopedia
Prophete GmbH u. Co. KG is a German bicycle manufacturer that traditionally trades under the Prophete brand name. The company started out in 1908 as a bicycle workshop based in Halle an der Saale, but at the end of World War II
the Prophete family moved the company to Rheda-Wiedenbrück
in West Germany
and expanded the operation to include wholesaling and importation of bicycles. By the 1970s the company had become the main supplier of bicycles to German supermarkets and mail order houses which eventually led to the company starting to manufacture bicycle frames and other parts in its own factories in order to ensure stabler supplies.
In 1995 the company formed a subsidiary called SI-Zweirad-Vertriebs-GmbH in order to enter the market for small motorcycles and mopeds. Later that same year the company bought the rights to the Kreidler
brand name and started importing and selling mopeds, motorcycles and quadbikes under the Kreidler and Rex names, however unlike their bicycles the mopeds and motorcycles were actually sourced from Asia.
The company hit some snags in 2003 when a number of their smaller two-stroke engined mopeds fell afoul of tighter EU emission regulations and the Kreidler brand name actually disappeared from some markets for a while. A new daughter company called Cycle Union was formed to handle all of the brands that Prophete had been distributing through specialised motorcycle and bicycle stores and Kreidler mopeds started appearing in shops again in 2007/2008. That company is based in Oldenburg
, in addition to Kreidler it owns and operates brands such as Epple (bicycle manufacturer based in Memmingen
, which Prophete bought in 2004), VSF Fahrradmanufaktur and Rabeneick in addition to distributing other brands. Cycle Union appears not to manufacture any bikes but rather sources them from Asian manufactures such as Jinan Qingqi
.
Note that Prophete itself still makes and sells bicycles, but these are exclusively distributed through supermarkets, department stores and mail order houses rather than specialised retailers.
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...
the Prophete family moved the company to Rheda-Wiedenbrück
Rheda-Wiedenbrück
Rheda-Wiedenbrück is a town in the district of Gütersloh, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Rheda-Wiedenbrück is located on the river Ems, approx. 10 km south-west of Gütersloh.-Neighbouring municipalities:* Oelde* Herzebrock-Clarholz...
in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and expanded the operation to include wholesaling and importation of bicycles. By the 1970s the company had become the main supplier of bicycles to German supermarkets and mail order houses which eventually led to the company starting to manufacture bicycle frames and other parts in its own factories in order to ensure stabler supplies.
In 1995 the company formed a subsidiary called SI-Zweirad-Vertriebs-GmbH in order to enter the market for small motorcycles and mopeds. Later that same year the company bought the rights to the Kreidler
Kreidler
Kreidler was a German manufacturer of small motorcycles and mopeds, based in Kornwestheim, between Ludwigsburg and Stuttgart. The company was founded in 1903 as "Kreidlers Metall- und Drahtwerke" by Anton Kreidler and started to build motorcycles in 1951. In 1959 one third of all German...
brand name and started importing and selling mopeds, motorcycles and quadbikes under the Kreidler and Rex names, however unlike their bicycles the mopeds and motorcycles were actually sourced from Asia.
The company hit some snags in 2003 when a number of their smaller two-stroke engined mopeds fell afoul of tighter EU emission regulations and the Kreidler brand name actually disappeared from some markets for a while. A new daughter company called Cycle Union was formed to handle all of the brands that Prophete had been distributing through specialised motorcycle and bicycle stores and Kreidler mopeds started appearing in shops again in 2007/2008. That company is based in Oldenburg
Oldenburg
Oldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
, in addition to Kreidler it owns and operates brands such as Epple (bicycle manufacturer based in Memmingen
Memmingen
Memmingen is a town in the Bavarian administrative region of Swabia in Germany. It is the central economic, educational and administrative centre in the Danube-Iller region. To the west the town is flanked by the Iller, the river that marks the Baden-Württemberg border...
, which Prophete bought in 2004), VSF Fahrradmanufaktur and Rabeneick in addition to distributing other brands. Cycle Union appears not to manufacture any bikes but rather sources them from Asian manufactures such as Jinan Qingqi
Jinan Qingqi
Jinan Qingqi Motorcycle Co., Ltd is a Chinese manufacturer of mopeds, quadbikes and other small engine & electric motorcycles originally founded in 1956...
.
Note that Prophete itself still makes and sells bicycles, but these are exclusively distributed through supermarkets, department stores and mail order houses rather than specialised retailers.
Brands
| Brand | Product(s) | administered by |
|---|---|---|
| Capriolo | Motorcycles and scooters | SI-Zweirad |
| Epple | Bicycles | Cycle Union |
| Konbike | low budget bicycles | Prophete |
| Kreidler | Motorcycles and scooters | Cycle Union |
| Mountec | sport bicycles | Prophete |
| Noblesse | classical style bicycles | Prophete |
| Off-Limit | Scooters (only used in 2007/08) | SI-Zweirad |
| Prophete | Bicycles, spare parts and supplies | Prophete |
| Rabeneick | Bicycles | Cycle Union |
| Rex | Bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, quadbikes and supplies | Prophete/SI-Zweirad |
| Scooter | Scooters (used in 2007 and since 2009) | SI-Zweirad |
| Stratos | Racing cycles | Prophete |
| Topsy | Bicycles for children | Prophete |
| VSF Fahrradmanufaktur | Bicycles | Cycle Union |