Published October 15, 2025 by Michael Le Pard , Editor‑in‑Chief

The Complete Motorcycle Compendium
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1966 Puch SGS250

 

Paloma (France) [Defunct – Mopeds]

Paloma

Years Active: 1950s–1960s

Notable Models: Paloma Super Strada

Paloma was a French moped and small motorcycle manufacturer.
Their lightweight two‑strokes were popular commuter machines in postwar France.
The brand disappeared by the late 1960s as the market consolidated.

💡 Did You Know? Paloma mopeds were often exported to Spain and North Africa.

Panther (United Kingdom) [Defunct – Phelon & Moore]

Panther Motorcycles

Years Active: 1900–1967

Notable Models: Panther Model 100, Red Panther

Panther was a British motorcycle brand built by Phelon & Moore.
Known for their sloping‑engine singles, Panthers were rugged touring machines.
The company closed in 1967 after years of financial struggle.

💡 Did You Know? The “Red Panther” was one of the cheapest motorcycles in Britain during the 1930s.

Panzer (United States) [Active – Custom Harley Clones]

Panzer Motorcycles

Years Active: 1996–present

Notable Models: Panzer Neo‑Pan

Panzer is an American custom motorcycle builder specializing in Harley‑Davidson clones.
Their “Neo‑Pan” engine resembles the classic Panhead but with modern updates.
Panzer continues to build limited‑production custom cruisers.

💡 Did You Know? Panzer’s Neo‑Pan engine is designed to look vintage but uses modern internals.

Parilla (Italy) [Defunct – Racing Heritage]

Parilla Motorcycles

Years Active: 1946–1967

Notable Models: Parilla 175, Parilla Wildcat

Parilla was an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded by Giovanni Parrilla.
They produced stylish small‑displacement racing and road bikes.
Parilla closed in the late 1960s as Japanese imports dominated the market.

💡 Did You Know? Parilla motorcycles were popular in U.S. club racing during the 1950s.

Paton (Italy) [Active – Racing Specialists]

Paton Motorcycles

Years Active: 1958–present

Notable Models: Paton 500 GP, Paton S1‑R Lightweight

Paton is an Italian racing motorcycle manufacturer founded by Giuseppe Pattoni.
They competed in Grand Prix racing with 500cc four‑strokes and continue to build limited‑production race replicas.
Today, Paton also produces lightweight sportbikes for road use.

💡 Did You Know? Paton returned to the Isle of Man TT in the 2010s with modern lightweight racers.

Patria (Germany) [Defunct – Interwar]

Patria Motorcycles

Years Active: 1920s–1930s

Notable Models: Patria 250cc

Patria was a German motorcycle manufacturer producing small commuter bikes.
Their machines were powered by proprietary two‑stroke engines.
The brand disappeared before WWII, leaving behind little documentation.

💡 Did You Know? Patria motorcycles were often sold through regional German dealers only.

Peerless (United States & UK) [Defunct – Early 1900s]

Peerless Motorcycles

Years Active: 1902–1914

Notable Models: Peerless V‑twin

Peerless was a name used by both American and British motorcycle makers.
They produced early V‑twin and single‑cylinder motorcycles but were overshadowed by larger brands.
Both versions of Peerless disappeared before WWI.

💡 Did You Know? Peerless was also a famous U.S. luxury car brand, unrelated to the motorcycles.

Pennington (United States) [Defunct – Early Innovator]

Pennington Motorcycles

Years Active: 1895–1902

Notable Models: Pennington Autocycle

Edward Pennington was an American inventor who built some of the earliest motorcycle prototypes.
His “Autocycle” was essentially a motorized bicycle, predating many established brands.
Despite innovation, Pennington’s ventures were financially unsuccessful.

💡 Did You Know? Pennington is sometimes credited with coining the term “motorcycle.”

Penton (United States) [Defunct – Off‑Road Legacy]

Penton Motorcycles

Years Active: 1968–1978

Notable Models: Penton Six Days, Penton Jackpiner

Penton was an American off‑road motorcycle brand founded by John Penton.
Built in partnership with KTM, Penton bikes were highly successful in enduro and motocross.
The brand was absorbed into KTM by the late 1970s.

💡 Did You Know? Penton motorcycles helped establish KTM’s reputation in off‑road racing.

Peraves (Switzerland) [Active – Cabin Motorcycles]

Peraves

Years Active: 1982–present

Notable Models: Peraves Ecomobile, Monotracer

Peraves is a Swiss company producing enclosed cabin motorcycles.
Their Ecomobile and Monotracer combine motorcycle dynamics with car‑like protection.
These futuristic vehicles are produced in very limited numbers.

💡 Did You Know? The Peraves Monotracer can lean like a motorcycle while offering car‑style seating.

Peugeot (France) [Active – Scooters & Motorcycles]

Peugeot Motocycles

Years Active: 1898–present

Notable Models: Peugeot Speedfight, Peugeot Django

Peugeot is one of the world’s oldest motorcycle manufacturers.
They began producing motorized bicycles in 1898 and continue today with scooters and small motorcycles.
Peugeot Motocycles is now part of Mahindra Group but still based in France.

💡 Did You Know? Peugeot won the 1907 Isle of Man TT with a Peugeot‑powered Norton.

PGO (Taiwan) [Active – Scooters & Small Bikes]

PGO Scooters

Years Active: 1964–present

Notable Models: PGO G‑Max, PGO T‑Rex, PGO Ligero

PGO is a Taiwanese scooter and small motorcycle manufacturer.
They originally partnered with Piaggio to produce Vespa scooters under license,
later developing their own models. PGO scooters are exported worldwide,
especially to Europe and North America.

💡 Did You Know? PGO’s name comes from its early partnership with Piaggio.

Phoenix (United States & UK) [Defunct – Early 1900s]

Phoenix Motorcycles

Years Active: 1900s–1920s

Notable Models: Phoenix Single

Phoenix was a name used by both American and British motorcycle makers.
They produced early motor‑bicycles and lightweight motorcycles.
Both versions of Phoenix disappeared by the 1920s as larger brands took over.

💡 Did You Know? Phoenix motorcycles were often powered by JAP or proprietary clip‑on engines.

Piaggio (Italy) [Active – Global Scooter Giant]

Piaggio

Years Active: 1884–present

Notable Models: Vespa, Piaggio MP3

Piaggio is one of the world’s largest scooter and motorcycle manufacturers.
Founded in 1884, Piaggio became famous for the Vespa scooter after WWII.
Today, Piaggio owns multiple brands including Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, and Derbi,
making it a global powerhouse in two‑wheelers.

💡 Did You Know? The Vespa was designed in 1946 as an affordable vehicle for postwar Italy.

Piatti (Belgium/UK) [Defunct – Scooters]

Piatti Scooters

Years Active: 1954–1957

Notable Models: Piatti 125

Piatti was a Belgian‑designed scooter manufactured in the UK.
It was intended as a budget commuter vehicle but suffered from poor performance and reliability.
Production ended after only a few years, making surviving examples rare.

💡 Did You Know? The Piatti scooter was marketed as “the scooter for everyone” but failed commercially.

Pierce (United States) [Defunct – Luxury Four]

Pierce Motorcycles

Years Active: 1909–1914

Notable Models: Pierce Four

Pierce was an American motorcycle manufacturer producing luxury machines.
Their Pierce Four was one of the first four‑cylinder motorcycles in the U.S.,
known for smoothness and advanced engineering.
High costs limited sales, and the company closed in 1914.

💡 Did You Know? The Pierce Four was inspired by FN’s inline‑four from Belgium.

Pigon (Poland) [Defunct – Postwar]

Pigon Motorcycles

Years Active: 1950s

Notable Models: Pigon 125

Pigon was a small Polish motorcycle manufacturer active in the postwar years.
Their lightweight two‑stroke motorcycles were commuter‑oriented and regionally distributed.
The brand disappeared quickly as larger Polish firms like Romet and WSK dominated the market.

💡 Did You Know? Pigon motorcycles were often assembled from surplus parts left over from WWII.

Pioneer (United Kingdom) [Defunct – Early Motor‑Bicycles]

Pioneer Motorcycles

Years Active: 1900s–1910s

Notable Models: Pioneer Motor Bicycle

Pioneer was a British brand producing some of the earliest motor‑bicycles.
Their machines were essentially bicycles fitted with clip‑on engines.
The brand disappeared by the 1910s as the motorcycle industry matured.

💡 Did You Know? The term “Pioneer” is still used in vintage rallies to describe motorcycles built before 1915.

Pirate (United States) [Defunct – Early 1900s]

Pirate Motorcycles

Years Active: 1910s

Notable Models: Pirate Single

Pirate was a small American motorcycle manufacturer producing lightweight singles.
Their machines were commuter‑oriented and regionally distributed.
The brand disappeared quickly, leaving behind little documentation.

💡 Did You Know? Pirate motorcycles are so rare that few examples exist even in museums.

P&M (Phelon & Moore) (United Kingdom) [Defunct – Panther Lineage]

Phelon & Moore (P&M)

Years Active: 1904–1967

Notable Models: Panther Model 100, Red Panther

Phelon & Moore was a British motorcycle manufacturer best known for its Panther brand.
They pioneered the sloping‑engine design that became a Panther trademark.
P&M produced motorcycles until 1967, when the company closed due to financial difficulties.

💡 Did You Know? Phelon & Moore supplied motorcycles to the British Army during both World Wars.

Polaris (United States) [Active – ATVs & Motorcycles]

Polaris Industries

Years Active: 1954–present

Notable Models: Polaris Slingshot, Victory (defunct), Indian (revived)

Polaris is an American powersports manufacturer best known for ATVs, snowmobiles, and side‑by‑sides.
They entered the motorcycle market with Victory in the 1990s and later revived the iconic Indian brand.
Polaris continues to produce motorcycles under the Indian nameplate.

💡 Did You Know? Polaris shut down Victory in 2017 to focus entirely on Indian Motorcycles.

Pope (United States) [Defunct – Early Innovator]

Pope Motorcycles

Years Active: 1911–1918

Notable Models: Pope Model L

Pope was an American motorcycle manufacturer producing advanced machines for its time.
Their motorcycles featured overhead valves and high performance.
Pope was considered a premium brand but ceased production after WWI.

💡 Did You Know? Pope motorcycles were among the first to exceed 60 mph.

Powell (United States) [Defunct – Scooters & Off‑Road]

Powell Motor Scooters

Years Active: 1930s–1950s

Notable Models: Powell P‑81 Scooter

Powell was an American manufacturer producing scooters and lightweight motorcycles.
They gained popularity during WWII for utility vehicles and later built minibikes and off‑road machines.
The brand disappeared in the 1950s.

💡 Did You Know? Powell scooters were used by U.S. paratroopers during WWII.

Praga (Czechoslovakia) [Defunct – Interwar]

Praga Motorcycles

Years Active: 1929–1935

Notable Models: Praga 500

Praga was a Czechoslovakian manufacturer better known for cars and trucks.
They briefly produced motorcycles in the interwar years, focusing on mid‑sized machines.
Motorcycle production ended by the mid‑1930s.

💡 Did You Know? Praga motorcycles were exported to several European countries before WWII.

Puch (Austria) [Defunct – Mopeds & Small Bikes]

Puch Motorcycles

Years Active: 1899–1987

Notable Models: Puch Maxi, Puch 250 SGS

Puch was an Austrian manufacturer producing bicycles, mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles.
Their mopeds, especially the Puch Maxi, became iconic worldwide.
Puch merged into Piaggio in the 1980s, ending independent motorcycle production.

💡 Did You Know? The Puch 250 SGS was nicknamed the “Twingle” for its split‑single two‑stroke engine.

Pulsar (India) [Active – Bajaj Flagship]

Bajaj Pulsar

Years Active: 2001–present

Notable Models: Pulsar 150, Pulsar NS200, Pulsar RS200

Pulsar is a line of motorcycles produced by Bajaj Auto in India.
Introduced in 2001, the Pulsar series revolutionized the Indian motorcycle market with sporty, affordable bikes.
Pulsar remains one of Bajaj’s most successful global exports.

💡 Did You Know? The Pulsar brand has sold over 10 million units worldwide.

Puma (Argentina) [Defunct – National Motorcycle]

Puma Motorcycles

Years Active: 1952–1966

Notable Models: Puma Primera Serie, Puma Segunda Serie

Puma was an Argentine motorcycle brand created by the government to provide affordable
transportation for the masses. Produced in Córdoba, Puma motorcycles were simple,
rugged two‑strokes that became a cultural icon in Argentina.
Production ended in the mid‑1960s, but Puma remains fondly remembered.

💡 Did You Know? Over 200,000 Puma motorcycles were built, making it Argentina’s most successful domestic bike.

Purves (United States) [Defunct – Futuristic Prototype]

Purves Dynasphere

Years Active: 1930s (prototype only)

Notable Models: Purves Dynasphere

Purves was not a traditional motorcycle manufacturer but rather an inventor’s experiment.
The Purves Dynasphere was a giant monowheel vehicle designed in the 1930s.
While not practical, it remains one of the most unusual motorcycle‑like prototypes ever built.

💡 Did You Know? The Dynasphere could reach 30 mph, but steering and stability were major issues.

 

Pacer Italy, Mopeds
Paloma France
Pam USA, 1921 – 1924, Made by the Autocylette Manufacturing and Sales Corp.
Pansy USA
Panther English, 1900-1967.
Panther Germany, 1933 – 1955
Panzer USA, Organized in 1996, Harley Clone custom bike maker that uses The “Neo-Pan” a redesigned engine that resembles a Pan Head
Parkyns-Bateman England, 1881, Steam tricycle
Parilla Italy, started after the second world war until the late 1960’s
Patee USA, 1901 – 1902 The Patee Bicycle Co. tried their hand at motorcycles after buying Joshua Morris’ (Morris-Corkhill) engine business, but it was short lived
Paton Italy
Patria Spain, 1928 – 1936
Pedigree USA, Custom scooters
Peerless USA, 1913 – 1916, Boston, They had singles and v-twins 
Peerless SD USA, see SD
Peerless England, 1905, made by Bradbury and Co.
PEM USA, 1911 – 1912 Waverly Mfg Wisconsin
Pen Nib England, 1919 – 1925, Made by H. W.  Boulton, they used Royal engines
Pennington United States and England
Penton The innovative design and development of this machine began in 1967 and stayed at the forefront for the next ten years till 1977. The following year the motorcycle reappeared bearing a new name that is still recognized to this day as one of the leading brand names in the world of motorcycling and that name is KTM. (http://www.pentonusa.org)
Peraves Swiss, They make a bike that is fully enclosed, with retractable outriggers and uses a BMW engine
Perkun Poland, 1938 – 1939
Peugeot France, 1902 – 1980
PGO Taiwan, Scooters
Phoenix USA
Phoenix England, Early 1900’s, Phoenix Motor Cycle Works
Phoenix England, 1950’s Scooters with Villiars two stroke engines
Piaggio Netherlands, The Vespa and Gilera
Piatti England, 1957. Designed by Vicenzo Piatti and made by Cyclemaster. Scooters
Pierce USA, 1909 – 1914, George Pierce, owner of the Pierce Arrow Automobile Company, and the Pierce Bicycle Company, started making the Pierce Four motorcycle in 1909. A single cylinder model was added in 1910. 
Pigon Japan
Pioneer Royal Pioneer
Pirate Milwaukee Motorcycle Co, early 1900’s
P&M Phelon & Moore sold some of their Panthers in Europe using this name because of the German Panther. They also made models called Panthette, Red Wing, Red Panther
PMZ Russia, 1935 – 1939
Podkow (Podkowa) Poland 1938 – 1939, Villiers engines
Pointer Japan
Polaris Makers of the Victory
Polini Italy
Pope USA, 1911 – 1918, They had a 998cc v-twin in 1914
Powell USA, 1937
P&P Speedway bikes
Praga Czech, Had a 500cc DOHC engine in 1927
Premier England, 1908 – 1910? Started as the Hillman and Herbert Cycle Co. and later became the Premier Cycle Co. Began making motorcycles in 1908 using White and Pope engines.  They were purchased by Singer in 1920
Precision England, 1912 – 1920, made and sold engines and produced at least one model of their own motorcycle. 
Pro 1 USA, Harley clones
Promot Poland, 1966 – 1974, Made by PZM
P-T USA, 1898 – 1903, P.T. Motor Co. 
Puch Austrian, Established in the 1890’s and made their first motorcycles in the 1920’s.
PZInz Poland, 1930 – 1939, Built motorcycles and sold engines.