FN, Gillet Herstal and Saroléa... During the first half of the 20th century, these motorcycle brands were the pride and joy of the Belgian industry, until they were supplanted by Japanese technology.
Their history, specifically that of Liège-based Saroléa — which first produced weapons but later obtained a solid reputation worldwide as a motorcycle brand thanks to its manufacturing properties — is being celebrated and honoured in the largest exhibition of the company's motorcycles at the prestigious Autoworld museum in Brussels, which will run until 18 September this year.
Moamar Nardone, who has been passionate about old motorcycles since childhood, is the owner of some of the most valuable items in the exhibition.
Credit: Autoworld
"Some that are present here cost more than €100,000 such as the 36C factory Racer, which broke the speed record at Francorchamps, and is not even listed because it is a unique example,” he told RTBF.
From success to being sold
Visualised in some 75 motorcycles, the entire history of the making of these vehicles is recounted in the exhibition, bringing together models from all periods and styles.
The tale starts at the company's creation at the start of the century, to its success in the ‘20s, when it made a name for itself globally, and finally to the 1930s, when an economic crisis breaks out putting an end to many ambitions and resulting in the company focussing on cheaper models.
Credit: Autoworld
At the end of the ‘30s, Saroléa ceases its racing developments and dedicates itself to the urgent needs of the Belgian army. It restarts production for commercial purposes at the end of the 1940s but is finally acquired by its rival Gillet in 1962.
As icing on the cake of the exposition, an international gathering of Saroléa motorcycles will take place on 11 September in front of the museum on the Esplanade du Cinquantenaire, which will be coupled with a competition and a demonstration of new electric trial engines.
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The Saroléa brand still exists, but the company has been taken over and no longer has anything to do with the company of yesteryear.
Now, it is active in the manufacture of batteries, such as the one that equips the Trevor Racer, a new Belgian motorcycle present in the exhibition and which will also be tested on 11 September.
