While Opel also produced motorcycles

In 2023, BMW celebrated the centenary of the arrival on the market of its first motorcycle: the R32.

However, before the Bavarian manufacturer, today a major player in the global motorcycle industry, another German company also produced motorcycles. An old manufacturer, for decades from hand to hand and which finally abandoned two wheels to devote itself to four wheels: Opel.

Founded in 1863 by Adam Opel, the then unknown company specialized in the production of sewing machines, then bicycles.

At the death of the founder in 1895, the heirs of Adam Opel wanted to change production, and then launched in the automobile industry in 1899, then the creation of mopeds and motorcycles two years later with great success.

Production was intermittent due to frequent financial crises, and above all, the First World War. A major event that temporarily halted production of Opel-branded motorcycles.

The production of two-wheelers, however, resumed from 1919 to 1924, before Opel released the Opel Motoclub in 1928, a 500 cm3 that is distinguished by its red and silver color and the unofficial world speed record at the time with twelve rockets reaching 220 km per hour (see opening image).

After the Great War, another period would mark the end of Opel motorcycle production, the crash of 1929, and the Great Depression that followed. Opel was then sold to General Motors of the United States, who decided to completely stop motorcycle production to focus on cars, with the success we know today.

Since then, the German brand, which was also successful during the Second World War by producing vehicles for the Nazi army (trucks: Opel Blitz, but also aircraft), was bought again in 2017 by Peugeot-Citroën (PSA), before inserted into. 2021 and Stellantis galaxy.