Van Veen

Years Active: 1974–1978

Notable Models: Van Veen OCR 1000

Van Veen was a Dutch motorcycle manufacturer famous for producing the OCR 1000,
one of the few rotary‑engined motorcycles ever built.
Powered by a Comotor Wankel engine (a joint NSU‑Citroën project),
the OCR 1000 was advanced but expensive, leading to limited production.

💡 Did You Know? Only about 38 Van Veen OCR 1000s were ever produced.

Velocette

Years Active: 1904–1971

Notable Models: Velocette KTT, Venom, Thruxton

Velocette was a prestigious British motorcycle manufacturer known for innovation and racing success.
They pioneered positive‑stop foot gear change and produced legendary singles like the Venom.
Velocette won multiple Isle of Man TTs before closing in 1971.

💡 Did You Know? The Velocette Venom Clubman was the first production bike to average over 100 mph for 24 hours.

Vespa (Piaggio)

Years Active: 1946–present

Notable Models: Vespa Primavera, Vespa PX, Vespa GTS

Vespa, produced by Piaggio, is the world’s most iconic scooter brand.
Launched in postwar Italy, the Vespa became a symbol of affordable mobility and Italian style.
Today, Vespa scooters are sold worldwide, blending retro design with modern technology.

💡 Did You Know? The name “Vespa” means “wasp” in Italian, referencing its buzzing sound and narrow waist.

Vincent‑HRD

Years Active: 1928–1955

Notable Models: Vincent Black Shadow, Black Lightning, Rapide

Vincent‑HRD, founded by Philip Vincent, produced some of the fastest and most advanced motorcycles of their era.
The Black Shadow and Black Lightning set speed records and became legends of motorcycling.
Production ended in 1955, but Vincent remains one of the most revered names in motorcycle history.

💡 Did You Know? A Vincent Black Lightning set a land speed record of 150 mph in 1948.

Victory Motorcycles

Years Active: 1998–2017

Notable Models: Victory Vegas, Victory Hammer, Victory Cross Country

Victory was Polaris Industries’ attempt to compete with Harley‑Davidson in the cruiser market.
Known for modern engineering and bold styling, Victory built a loyal following.
Polaris shut down Victory in 2017 to focus on its revived Indian Motorcycle brand.

💡 Did You Know? Victory’s first model, the V92C, debuted in 1998 with a 92‑cubic‑inch V‑twin.

Vauxhall Motorcycles

Years Active: 1920s (prototype only)

Notable Models: Vauxhall 500cc Prototype

Better known as a car manufacturer, Vauxhall briefly experimented with motorcycles in the 1920s.
Only prototypes were built, and the project was abandoned.
Today, Vauxhall’s motorcycle efforts are a historical curiosity.

💡 Did You Know? Vauxhall’s prototype motorcycle used a side‑valve single engine.

Vee Two

Years Active: 1979–present

Notable Models: Vee Two Alchemy, Vee Two Ritorno

Vee Two is an Australian company specializing in Ducati performance parts and custom motorcycles.
They became famous for tuning Ducati bevel‑drive twins and later built complete specials.
Vee Two continues to serve Ducati enthusiasts worldwide.

💡 Did You Know? Vee Two’s Ritorno used a modern recreation of Ducati’s 1970s bevel twin engine.

Veremati

Years Active: 1990s–present

Notable Models: Veremati 503 MX

Veremati is a small Italian manufacturer producing motocross and enduro motorcycles.
Known for hand‑built quality and racing pedigree, Veremati bikes are rare but respected in off‑road circles.
Production numbers remain very limited.

💡 Did You Know? Veremati was founded by former motocross racers.

Villiers Engineering

Years Active: 1898–1970s

Notable Models: Villiers 197cc Two‑Stroke

Villiers was a British company best known for producing two‑stroke engines used by countless motorcycle brands.
They also built complete motorcycles in small numbers.
Villiers engines powered everything from scooters to trials bikes across Europe.

💡 Did You Know? Villiers engines were used in over 100 different motorcycle brands worldwide.

Voxan

Years Active: 1995–present

Notable Models: Voxan Wattman (electric), Voxan Café Racer

Voxan is a French motorcycle manufacturer originally producing V‑twin roadsters and cruisers.
Revived under Venturi ownership, Voxan now focuses exclusively on electric motorcycles.
Their Wattman electric bike set multiple world speed records for EV motorcycles.

💡 Did You Know? In 2020, the Voxan Wattman set an electric motorcycle speed record of 254 mph.

Vyrus

Years Active: 2001–present

Notable Models: Vyrus 984 C3 2V, Vyrus 987 C3 4V

Vyrus is an Italian boutique manufacturer producing exotic hub‑center‑steered superbikes.
Their designs are ultra‑lightweight and use Ducati engines.
Vyrus motorcycles are hand‑built in very small numbers for collectors and enthusiasts.

💡 Did You Know? Vyrus collaborated with Bimota on the Tesi hub‑center steering project.

Voge Motorcycles

Years Active: 2018–present

Notable Models: Voge 500DS, Voge 300AC

Voge is the premium motorcycle sub‑brand of Chinese giant Loncin.
They produce mid‑sized adventure, naked, and retro‑styled motorcycles aimed at global markets.
Voge has quickly expanded into Europe with competitive pricing and quality.

💡 Did You Know? Loncin also manufactures engines for BMW’s small displacement motorcycles.

Villa Motorcycles

Years Active: 1960s–1980s

Notable Models: Villa 125 GP Racer

Villa was an Italian racing motorcycle manufacturer founded by Francesco Villa, a former Ducati engineer.
They built competitive two‑stroke GP and motocross machines, often punching above their weight in international competition.
Villa closed in the 1980s but remains respected in racing history.

💡 Did You Know? Francesco Villa was a multiple Italian GP champion before founding the company.

Verhovina

Years Active: 1950s–1980s

Notable Models: Verhovina 3, Verhovina 6

Verhovina was a Soviet‑era Ukrainian brand producing mopeds and lightweight motorcycles.
Their machines were simple, affordable, and widely used across the USSR.
Production ended in the 1980s as Soviet industry consolidated.

💡 Did You Know? Verhovina mopeds were often the first motorized transport for Soviet teenagers.

Vogelbilt

Years Active: 1930s

Notable Models: Vogelbilt Streamliner

Vogelbilt was a short‑lived American custom motorcycle project in the 1930s.
Known for its streamlined styling, it was more of a design experiment than a production brand.
Surviving examples are extremely rare.

💡 Did You Know? Vogelbilt motorcycles were hand‑built one‑offs, not mass‑produced.

Voloci

Years Active: 2000–2002

Notable Models: Voloci Electric Motorcycle

Voloci was a Canadian company producing one of the first modern electric motorcycles.
Lightweight and commuter‑focused, the Voloci was ahead of its time but limited by early battery technology.
The company folded after only a few years.

💡 Did You Know? The Voloci used removable battery packs, a feature common in today’s e‑bikes.

Other V‑Brands

In addition to the major names, several smaller or short‑lived “V” brands existed:

• Vis Fabrik (Germany): 1920s–1930s lightweight motorcycles.
• Vneemotoprom (USSR): Soviet state motorcycle works, producing utility bikes.
• Villof (France): Early 1900s motor‑bicycles.
• Velocipedraisiavaporianna (Italy): Experimental steam‑powered cycle, 19th century.

💡 Did You Know? The Velocipedraisiavaporianna is sometimes cited as one of the earliest motorcycle prototypes.