Ciclomotor Sparta motor: Sachs 40cc 1978

Sparta (bicycle manufacturer)

Moped Sparta engine: Sachs 40cc 1978

Sparta is a from 1917. Dutch bicycle manufacturer of Apeldoorn . It is part of the Accell Group NV . Previously made Sparta also baking and mopeds, and it was in the postwar years the largest producer of motorcycles in the Netherlands.

History

Establishment

In 1917, the Verbeek & Switch Company founded by Mr. A. Verbeek, switch DL and L. Guerrero, and marketing of bicycles and bicycle parts. The company is located in the main street in Apeldoorn. A month after the brand acquired establishment bike was Sparta, after Verbeek and switch bikes, which is sold under that name.

The first bike made itself occurred in 1920 and in the following years there was also the production of (initially non-motorized) delivery tricycles with. Change was after they bought their partners, in 1925, a director of the company. Due to the increasing demand of the left here it finally is around 75 years to build a new plant in the town Three Houses in Apeldoorn and Sparta in the year 1927. In 1928, Sparta, worked with 55 employees in the new factory.

Since 1931, the technique ingenious switch also began to produce motorcycles , which are sold well in the Netherlands. The first model of the motorcycle had a two-stroke 74 cc Sachs engine . The company had been renamed Sparta Rijwielen - Motorenfabriek and, Verbeek & Switch Company.

the post war years

The Second World War had stopped the factory from Spartanburg and had to be restarted again. In the following years would be Sparta, changed the name of the Sparta Rijwielen - and Motorenfabriek BV to become a significant producer if it is or non-motorized two-wheels. In these years, Sparta became the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the Netherlands. Throughout the history of the motorcycle motorcycle built with Sparta for two-stroke engines built , among other things, ILO , Sachs , Villiers and Victoria .

Sparta 50 GB moped, around 1957, the block ILO 49cc

In this way, developed in the post-war years, the engine of the bike for the moped . There is a favorable legislation in the Netherlands in 1950 disbanded special to the moped mopeds, which were the regime of drive and the "road tax" . Beginning in 1952, began to produce motorcycles Sparta and settled more and more. There was also an export going to other countries in Europe , Africa and North America , and countries such as Indonesia and Tahiti .

Because now the use of the moped had much success in the Netherlands, Sparta stopped the production of bicycles in 1958 , and motorcycles in 1961 . Sparta began as one of the largest manufacturers of Dutch produce in large numbers, and many models of mopeds. The models often had a frame of the plate . Well-known model of moped surprising at that time as a "Nurse moped" Sparta: the MA 50 - MC 50 .

1965 a record-breaking year, with 380 employees has been this year of 47,000 motorcycles are built. Then, the sales of mopeds by a number of conditions began to decrease slowly. Increasing prosperity made it especially many young people decide to save up and buy a car instead of a moped. The introduction of the obligatory use of helmet for motorcyclists in 1975 became strongly decreased the sales of mopeds in the Netherlands. Sparta uses this period of lower demand to participate again with the production and the further development of the bike. From the early 70's by Sparta developed the concept "bicycle frame one-piece", that was bent in the middle part of the bicycle frame of a piece of pipe, and the construction of bicycle frames tube were an example.

Racing

Sparta last 70 years participated in the motorcycle racing Grand Prix with the team NDA-Sparta. In 1978 he came to Henk van Kessel in the 50cc podium in the GP of Czechoslovakia, and games were won in the championship of Dutch in that class. In 1979, Sparta withdrew from the competition.

Spartamet

In 1982, Sparta stopped definitely the production of mopeds. Thereupon began in 1985, in collaboration with the engine manufacturer Sachs with the production of a two-stroke motorized moped : the Spartamet . Spartamet was an important component of the sales and thriving for Sparta. In 1990, the total annual production of 100,000 two-wheeled vehicles, including 20,000 Sparta Mets.

In 1999, Sparta produced with 170 employees 80.000 (mustache) bicycles with an annual sales of 18 million €. However, in that same year to Sparta a problem with the supply of engine blocks to the Spartamet. Supplier Sachs was acquired by Winning Wheels , also rival union had -fietsenfabriek. The delivery of the engine blocks are put on point but winning wheels is committed to outsource the production to resume soon to an Italian company and the offer.

The resumption promised the supply of engine blocks was delayed. Sparta managed to get their hands on a large quantity of China, delivered engine blocks Sachs and let it rebuild. Sachs considers this as a trademark infringement - and the rights of patent and filed a lawsuit to. On 7 september 1999 the governed Zutphen District Court at the expense of Sparta. The company had to stop production of the Spartamet and thousands to remember is already sold. Sparta, financially at that time was not easy, the curtain was about to fall permanently.

Acquisition

The inauguration was brought forward three candidates: Heerenveen Group Accell (including Batavus and Koga Miyata - fall) a competitor who wins Wheels and Rhenense entrepreneur G. van de Glind. Accell Group, the number of bicycles on the third producer in Europe, adopted on 28 september 1999 Sparta.

The current production

To this day still produces Sparta Apeldoorn bikes that have different models.