Martin frames. Inspired by Egli
In the seventies and eighties, motorcycle engines developed faster than the bicycle parts. So there was room for improvement possible. Specialized frame builders with circuit genes responded to this. And that the engine blocks under the special frames could then again be brought to more power while maintaining roadholding? After all, the story never ends.
George Martin was one of the people who started building his own frames
Moto Martin is a French construction company that was started by Georges Martin who became famous for side framesets for circuits and for the absolutely more serious type of café racers. In the beginning, in 1972, Martin was explicitly inspired by the Swiss Egli. He made those frames with their thick central top tube 1983. Later he clearly started to build 'three-dimensional'. In 1987, even the British Cycle World heard that Martin's frames were among the absolute best in the world. In the meantime, the Martin frames and motorcycles have been rated at the same level as the products of Nico Bakker, Rickman, Seeley, Dresda, Segale, Bimota, Spondon and Harris. The Martin frames were generally chrome-plated.
George Martin's frame building stopped around 1987. From 1972 he has made approximately 5800 frames. There were approximately 450 'Egli look-a-likes. Most of them are sold separately. Martin produced only about fifty motorcycles on complete motorcycles. George Martin then earned his money by producing kit cars.
The chances of encountering a Martin Suzuki, Kawasaki or Honda are quite limited here.
The chance to find a Martin replica of a Lotus 7 here even less (think of amounts up to 27.500 euros). These types of engines are still offered in France. A Rickman frame for a Suzuki 1100 has been lurking here for years in the area. The prices that apply for motorcycles there are from such an 5 mille to 'in consultation'. In addition, it sometimes does matter what kind of block is used (CBX or Kawa 650) and to what extent the technology of the donor bike has been adjusted.
A Martin with a 'standard' block and brakes costs considerably less than, for example, a Kawasaki Z 702 brought to 650 cc with all the beauty that Wiseco and associates can deliver between the modified crankcase halves or a copy with a tuned six-cylinder block or a four-cylinder with turbo. If the most beautiful forks and damping world are tied to that, then such a Martin is a machine that you can make just as expensive as you want.
Unfortunately, the archives about Martin's engine construction have been lost over time. But there is a growing number of Martin adepts. And if you treat yourself to a French course this winter, then you are welcome at the
Club Automobile Martin
Lotissement le Beaupré
35350 ST MELOIR DES ONDES
FRANCE
Tel: + 33 6 76 21 29 69
Email: webcam@clubmartin.com
I love it all. Specially the first spine frame. As many people at the time. Definitely,…. Segoni, and other.
How can I get the proper croquis and measures in order to get a small edition of the martin frame?
How can I put myself in touch with him and explain how I want to do my project and ask him if he minds and if I need to pay for a royalty to him.
please. I do motorcycle stuff and I have a whole life around it.
All my best.
Amadeus gonzalo
Nice article! Good to know is that, contrary to what the article says, Georges still makes frames to order and that according to the familiar lines he set out at the time. You can easily get in touch with him through his website. https://martin-distribution.fr
Kind regards, Luc Demuytere
If possible, I would like to know where the aforementioned Rickman frame for the Suzuki 1100 is lurking, and whether it has a corresponding license plate.