Blackburne - All Models

Company History

Blackburne was primarily an engine maker whose precision singles and V-twins powered a constellation of British motorcycles and specials in the 1910s–1930s. In an era when many firms assembled bikes from specialist suppliers, Blackburne’s engines earned a reputation for robust castings, efficient combustion chambers, and reliable valve gear—traits prized by both commuters and privateer racers. The company also produced complete machines in small numbers, but its enduring impact was as a supplier whose name on the crankcase signaled quality. As the British industry consolidated and more OEMs moved to in-house engines, demand waned, and the brand faded. Historically, Blackburne embodies the modular, collaborative roots of motorcycling: frames from one shop, engines from another, carburetors and magnetos from others still, knitted together by local dealers. Surviving Blackburne-powered bikes are prized for their mechanical clarity and for the way they connect owners to a time when engineering prowess was spread across many small firms rather than concentrated in a few giants.