Motosacoche was founded in 1899, by Henri and Armand Dufaux, in Geneva, Switzerland. Motosacoche was once the biggest Swiss motorcycle manufacturer, known also for its MAG (Motosacoche Acacias Genève) engines, used by other European motorcycle manufacturers.Motosacoche History Albisteam.ch (retrieved 25 December 2006).
History
From 1900 Motosacoche produced a bicycle auxiliary engine in a subframe that could be installed into a conventional bicycle. The details of the engine were hidden behind covers, and to some this looked like an engine in a bag, hence the Motosacoche name, meaning "engine in a bag".
In 1910 Royal Enfield used Motosacoche 344 cc 2.75 hp engines in a successful V-twin model. They are reputed to have supplied Triumph, Ariel, Matchless and Brough-Superior with engines at times too, first through H & A Dufaux England Ltd, and then, by 1912, Motosacoche Ltd (GB), with Osborne Louis De Lissa. Motosacoche had factories in Switzerland, France and Italy, and supplied MAG engines to continental manufacturers including Clement, Condor, Imperia, Neander and Monet Goyon.Motosacoche Cybermotorcycle.com (retrieved 25 December 2006).Condor Benvanhelden.nl (retrieved 25 December 2006).
When the Bol d'Or 24-hour event was first held on the outskirts of Paris in 1922 the winning rider covered more than on a 500 cc Motosacoche.Endurance Racing Is-it-a-lemon.com (retrieved 27 December 2006).
In 1928 they made a name in the Grand Prix, with the Motosacoche 350 M 35 ohc racing bike, built by Dougal Marchant of England, ridden to two European championship titles, 350 and 500, by Wal Handley.Krackowizer Motorcycle Histories/ Motosacoche (retrieved 22 October 2006).
Bert le Vack joined Motosacoche in 1930. He had ridden in the 1914 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy and became the works rider, chief designer and tuner. Le Vack was killed in an accident in the Swiss Alps on 17 September 1931, while testing the Motosacoche A 50 near Bern. He was to present the motorbike to a Swiss Army officer.
During the 1930s Motosacoche were eclipsed by the Norton Motorcycle Company and went into decline. After World War II, an unusual Marchant-designed 200 cc sv was shown in 1947, but not produced. In 1953 Richard Kuchen-designed German UT motorcycles were marketed under the Motosacoche name, but this was unsuccessful, and by 1956 motorcycles were no longer produced, but MAG stationary and industrial motors continued.
Motosacoche SA, a Swiss company based in Geneva,Commercial Register - Canton of Geneva holds the historic Motosacoche brand.WIPO Registered Trademark Database Founded in 2020 by Swiss entrepreneur Paul Merz, the company revitalized the marque with a focus on modern electric mobility. In 2021, Motosacoche SA unveiled its first prototype, an e-bike, marking its reintroduction to the market. That same year, the official history of the brand, Motosacoche: The Story of the Legendary Swiss Motorcycle (in French), authored by Sandra Ansanay-Alex, was published in a limited edition of 1,000 copies, which has since sold out.
After completing the European Union’s homologation process, Motosacoche SA commenced commercial production, delivering of its Type-A model to customers in January 2025.Motosacoche renoue avec son héritageTribune de Genève (26 février 2025) This milestone marked the brand’s return to serial manufacturing after decades of dormancy.
Models Fuel engines Type-A, 1901 - 1910, D4, Motosacoche for women 1908, 2C10, 1911, Autosacoche, 1913 1C9H Sport, 1928–39, 498 cc, o.h.v.,20 hp 2 Cylinders, 1930 & 1932 209, 1928 210, 1928 & 1929 212 twin, 1954, 247 cc, o.h.c 2C7, 1914, 496 cc, s.v. 304 Tourer, 1927, 346 cc, i.o.e. 309, 1928 310, 1928 & 1929 310 BL, 1933 318, 1933 319, 1933 322 Competition, 1933 350 Competition, 1930 & 1932 350 Sport, 1930 & 1932 350 Tourer, 1930 & 1932 409, 1928 & 1929 409 BL, 1933 410, 1928 & 1929 410 LL, 1933 419, 1933 420, 1933 422 Competition, 1933 425 Luxe, 1933 426 Luxe, 1933 439 Tourisme Luxe, 1939, 498 cc, s.v. 500 Competition, 1930 & 1932 500 Sport, 1930 & 1932 500 Touring, 1930 & 1932 720, 1933 720 Tourisme Grand Luxe, 1939, 846 cc, s.v. A1, 1908, 214 cc, a.i.o.e A50 (works racer), 1928, o.h.c. BL, 1929 & 1930 Jubilee Sport, 1931, 498 cc, o.h.v. L, 1928 R10H, 1929 R14H, 1929 & 1930 R14K, 1929 R9K, 1930 877TL, 1931 & 1932fiches_modele JLBcreations.com Motosacoche models (retrieved 26 December 2006).History of Swiss Motosacoche Benvanhelden.nl (retrieved 26 December 2006).
Electric engines Type-A, 2024
Sources
External links Motosacoche, rencontre avec Paul Merz, CEO de la marque Albisteam Motosacoche History Globalnet Motosacoche UK VIATHEMA Motosacoche History Motosacoche Official Website