Share of the Premier Cycle Company, issued 26. March 1903
Premier Motorcycles were British motorcycles manufactured by a business founded as a bicycle manufacturer by W. H. Herbert and William Hillman in 1876. Their "Hillman and Herbert Cycle Company" was renamed "Premier Cycle Co." in 1891.[1]
White & Poppe engine
Their first motorcycle was produced in 1908, with a White & Poppe side-valve engine and Chater-Lea front forks. They made their first V-twin in 1909, followed by a 499 cc single-cylinder machine in 1910.[2]
The business changed its name to "The Premier Cycle Company (Coventry Premier Ltd.)" in 1914.[1]
After the First World War bicycle or motorcycle production was not resumed and the cyclecar business was acquired by Singer Motors in 1921[2] although Premier motorcycles were produced under licence in Czechoslovakia throughout the 1930s.
