Renard (motorcycle)

Renard is a motorcycle brand manufactured in Estonia. The brand was founded in 1938 by J. Lään and was based in Tallinn.[1]

Renard
IndustryMotorcycle manufacturer
Founded1938 in Tallinn, Estonia
FounderJ. Lään
Headquarters
Tallinn
,
Estonia
Websiterenardmotorcycles.com

Early production

Renard produced lightweight motorcycles from 1938. "Renard" is French for fox, and a fox's head was used as the brand's logo.[2] The first models had a 98cc Sachs two-stroke engine,[3] and had an appearance similar to a Wanderer motorcycle. They were finished in black with gold coach-lines.[4] In March 1944, when the country was occupied by Nazi Germany, during a bombing raid by the Soviets,[5] the factory suffered a direct hit and was destroyed. Production never started again.[2][6] No examples of the machines exist, but frame no. 2 from 1938 frame survives.[7][8]

2008 revival

In 2008, a number of Estonian engineers and business people, led by Andres Uibomäe, decided to revive the brand.[1] In April 2010 a prototype of a new motorcycle was presented at the Hanover Technology Fair: the Renard Grand Tourer.[1][8] This has a 125hp longitudinal eight-valve Moto Guzzi V-twin as power source.[9] The machine had a very modern design, with a carbon fiber/Kevlar monocoque frame and a trailed swing front fork with a single, central coil spring.[4] The first production bike was delivered in September 2015.[2] Production is around 100 units a year.[1]

References
  1. "Renard". www.estonianbrands.com. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  2. Põldre, Lauri; Tambur, Silver (30 September 2015). "There's a new motorcycle on the road – and it's Estonian". Estonian World. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  3. "Oldtimer gallery. Motorcycles". www.autogallery.org.ru. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  4. Tau, Dennis (14 November 2011). "Renard Grand Toure, more than just a bike". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  5. Miljan, Toivo (2004). Historical dictionary of Estonia. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6571-6.
  6. "Estonia motorcycle brands, companies, logos motorcycles". motorcycle-brands.com. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  7. "Renard Cycles EST. 1938". renardmotorcycles.com. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  8. "Renard Motorcycles". Gessato. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  9. "70 Years Later, Renard Is Back With a Vengeance". InsideHook. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
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