Did You Know Skoda Once Made Motorbikes?

15/05/2025 13:00 Share

Did You Know Skoda Once Made Motorbikes?

Skoda has delved into its history with a series designed to showcase a number of classic models from years gone by, the next of which comes from the days when the manufacturer was known for building vehicles on two wheels.

Laurin & Klement – the company that would eventually become Skoda Auto – was founded by. Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement in the 1890s and would initially build bikes before expanding into cars, with the company being acquired by Skoda and rebranded in 1925.

One of the early models from Laurin & Klement was the Slavia B, a motorcycle that was launched in 1899 and allowed riders to hit speeds of up to 25mph thanks to a small three-cylinder engine producing 1.75bhp.

The concept version of a modern-day Slavia B was designed by Romain Bucaille, a Frenchman who has been part of the Skoda design team since 2018.

Retaining the signature frame silhouette of the original bike, where the frame was wrapped around the engine, the bike has been stripped back for the electric age and includes a large open area where the petrol engine would previously have sat.

A floating leather seat and leather tool bag are also a feature of the concept vehicle and have been included in homage to the efforts of Narcis Podsednicek, who rode a Slavia B in the Paris-Berlin race in the early 1900s.

“I wanted to reference those sporty qualities in my concept,” Bucaille said. “The seat is designed to look like it’s floating, disconnected from the body of the bike. I also added a vintage touch with a leather tool bag integrated into the frame - an essential item for endurance events back then.

“As someone who also loves motorcycles, this was a refreshing change and a great creative challenge. I began with pencil sketches – it had been a while since I’d drawn a motorcycle.

“But the great thing about sketching on paper is that it’s instant. No need for a screen – just ideas flowing freely.”

The end result is a 'futuristic cafe racer in Modern Solid style' that won’t enter production, but is designed to pay homage to the past.

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