Renard (motorcycle)

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

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

Early production

Renard produced lightweight motorcycles from 1938.[2] "Renard" is French for fox, and a fox's head was used as the brand's logo.[3] The first models had a 98cc Sachs two-stroke engine,[4] and had an appearance similar to a Wanderer motorcycle. They were finished in black with gold coach-lines.[5] In March 1944, when the country was occupied by Nazi Germany, during a bombing raid by the Soviets,[6] the factory suffered a direct hit and was destroyed. Production never started again.[3][7] No examples of the machines exist, but frame no. 2 from 1938 frame survives.[8][9]

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][9] This has a 125hp longitudinal eight-valve Moto Guzzi V-twin as power source.[10] 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.[5] The first production bike was delivered in September 2015.[3] Production is around 100 units a year.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Renard". www.estonianbrands.com. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  2. ^ Hunter, Chris (27 February 2011). "Renard Grand Tourer". Bike EXIF. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c 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.
  4. ^ "Oldtimer gallery. Motorcycles". www.autogallery.org.ru. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b Tau, Dennis (14 November 2011). "Renard Grand Toure, more than just a bike". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  6. ^ Miljan, Toivo (2004). Historical dictionary of Estonia. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6571-6.
  7. ^ "Estonia motorcycle brands, companies, logos motorcycles". motorcycle-brands.com. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Renard Cycles EST. 1938". renardmotorcycles.com. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Renard Motorcycles". Gessato. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  10. ^ "70 Years Later, Renard Is Back With a Vengeance". InsideHook. Retrieved 20 August 2020.