Sign in

Private company

Rudge-Whitworth

Logo: michael ely, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons3

British bicycle, motorcycle and sports car manufacturer

Rudge Whitworth Cycles was a British bicycle, bicycle saddle, motorcycle and sports car wheel manufacturer that resulted from the merger of two bicycle manufacturers in 1894, Whitworth Cycle Co. of Birmingham, founded by Charles Henry Pugh and his two sons Charles Vernon and John, and Rudge Cycle Co. of Coventry (which descended from a bicycle company founded by Daniel Rudge of Wolverhampton). Rudge motorcycles were produced from 1911 to 1946. The firm was known for its innovations in engine and transmission design, and its racing successes.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1894Founded1
  • Industryautomotive industry1
  • HeadquartersCoventry1
  • Slogan“Rudge it, not trudge”1

See how the biggest companies compare on our leaderboards

Rudge Whitworth Cycles was a British bicycle, bicycle saddle, motorcycle and sports car wheel manufacturer that resulted from the merger of two bicycle manufacturers in 1894, Whitworth Cycle Co. of Birmingham, founded by Charles Henry Pugh and his two sons Charles Vernon and John, and Rudge Cycle Co. of Coventry (which descended from a bicycle company founded by Daniel Rudge of Wolverhampton).2

The story

Founded by Daniel Rudge in 1894.1

Rudge bikes finished first, second and third at the 1930 Junior TT using prototype radial 350 cc 4-valve engines. They also took first and second in the Senior TT. The road bike engines were changed to dry sump lubrication. The JAP 250 and the parallel four-valve 350 cc ended production in this year.

In 1931 Rudge released its first 250 cc and 350 cc road machines with the radial-valve layout. TT Replicas were available in 350 cc and 500 cc. The parallel-valve 500 cc was also available in Special and Ulster models, the Ulster now having a 100 mph guarantee. First and second were taken in the 1931 Lightweight TT, and in 1932, second and third.

A radial-head 500 cc was produced for 1932 only. A 250 cc TT Replica was built, and the road bikes were fitted with proper oil bath primary chains, and a stand that could be operated "with just one finger".

From Wikipedia’s article on Rudge-Whitworth, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Leadership

Who has led Rudge-Whitworth, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

  • bicycle
  • motorcycle
  • wheel

Listed on Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 1946Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1894Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4