British motorcycle manufacturers

Watsonian: From Folding Sidecars to World Championships – A British Motorcycle Success Story

by

Mark Lancaster

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24th October 2026

What began as one Birmingham builder’s ingenious solution to a common problem became one of Britain’s most successful sidecar manufacturers. Discover the remarkable history of Watsonian, from its pioneering folding sidecars to world championship success – and an ambitious attempt to build its own motorcycle. The idea for Watsonian sidecars came not from an engineer,…
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Remembering… The Verus

by

Mark Lancaster

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22nd July 2026

After the First World War Alfred Wiseman began manufacturing motorcycles in his Glover Street works in Birmingham under the Sirrah name (the name came from reversing the surname of the designer, a Mr Harris), motorcycles which used a number of proprietary engines and were aimed at the budget market. However, to complement the various Sirrah…
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How Saracen rose and fell in Britain’s mini trials motorcycle boom

by

Mark Lancaster

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23rd June 2026

Along with friend and scrambler Frank Underwood, trials enthusiast and school teacher Ron Goodfellow designed, built, rode and sold the Saracen mini trials motorcycles in kit form, inspired by a desire to create an affordable alternative to the then-expensive Bultaco models. Working in a small Cirencester workshop, Mr Goodfellow brazed up a chassis using preformed…
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