
Perks and Birch Singer 2hp
Years: 1900 – 1901
Perks & Birch were part of Britain’s early wave of motor-bicycle builders who experimented with frames, belt drives, and small engines before standards settled. Their machines straddled the line between bicycles and motorcycles—slim tubes, rudimentary suspension, and controls that demanded mechanical sympathy. Though overshadowed by later giants, Perks & Birch contributed to the iterative learning that created the modern motorcycle: chain alignment, ignition reliability, and the geometry that keeps a lightweight stable at speed. Historically, they represent the thousands of shop-floor hours by small firms that turned airy patents into rideable reality—each solution a stepping stone toward the robust commuters and racers that followed.