Bernard Salvat interview
Event organiser, motorcycle dealer and collector, author and an all-round enthusiast… not just for motorcycles.
Parental influence, be it intentional or not, often shapes the lives of children and it is not unusual to find an interviewee has begun their working life in the same world as a parent. So it was with French author Bernard Salvat, who says: “Both of my parents were teachers and I too studied and qualified in teaching. The problem was teaching is often a vocation rather than just a profession – one has to be committed with a passion in order to do it well, and I wasn’t so committed to it,” he admits, ruefully.
Once qualified to teach, Bernard never actually taught in the education system in France. Having noted his passion in his books on the subjects of motorcycles and tractors, I feel this is the education system’s loss.
Once out in the working world, Bernard’s career couldn’t be further from teaching… he began employment with a construction company. “I was initially a foreman on construction jobs, from there I rose to be a supervisor and finally a works manager, with control of different projects.” This sufficed for 15 years, though anyone who has worked in the construction industry will understand how wearing it is to be constantly on the move from one project to another and quite frankly Bernard had had enough of this industry.
Looking around for something else to do, Bernard managed to combine his love of motorcycling with a position selling Avon tyres for the French importer. “I began motorcycling very much behind my parents’ backs, they were not motorcyclists, but I was mesmerised by two wheels and acquired a moped and progressed from there. Once at the tyre importer, I travelled to clients on a Velocette Thruxton Veeline, during a time when most other enthusiasts were riding Japanese machines, rather than British ones. Being on a British machine meant I was familiar with the Avon products and sold a lot of their Roadrunner tyres which in those days were excellent for a lot of machines. Naturally, I was equally familiar with the Speedmaster and Safety Mileage ranges, too.”
Taking this sales job a step further, Bernard took the decision to open up his own dealership, with agencies for Yamaha, Moto Guzzi and KTM. “They were great times,” he recalls, “After a couple of years I added
Suzuki to the range too. This meant I had the heady experiences of selling the great Moto Guzzi Le Mans III, Yamaha’s stunning RD500LC as well as RG250 and RG500 Suzuki Gammas, their first GSXR750s and V-Max Yamahas, plus KTM’s GS600s. It was truly a wonderful time.”
Though all of these modern machines were superb to ride and were excellent business for Bernard, there was always the historical aspect of motorcycles too. “In the 1980s, I had a large collection of racing motorcycles from all eras and countries, it is the history and technicality of a motorcycle which attracts me to it,” he says. Through this interest came his first vintage motorcycle books. “I’m currently on my 13th book which is about Koehler-Escoffier motorcycles, my earlier books have been as diverse as vintage tractors, cars and photography.”
An easy one to begin with Bernard, what is your full name and how old are you?
I am Bernard Salvat and I will be 78 in September.
May we ask where are you based in France?
I am living in Charnay-les-Mâcon, South Burgundy, a small town 45 miles on north of Lyon, among the vineyards.
Do you come from a family who were/ are motorcyclists?
There has never been any motorcyclist in my family, except a great-uncle.
So, as what we in the UK call a ‘black sheep,’ what are your earliest motorcycle experiences?
When I was 16 years old I bought a moped behind my parents’ back; it was rather a fine model, a Motobécane Spéciale 50.
Would it be fair to say the vintage French motorcycles appeal most to you?
No! It is not necessary it is French or vintage. My only criteria for a motorcycle to be interesting to me is its historical and technical interest and the driving pleasure it may provide on road or on track. In the middle of the 1980s, when I owned a number of racing motorcycles, my collection included four French, two English, two German, two Italian, one Belgian and one Spanish. The oldest was 1928, the youngest 1967; there were five OHV, three OHC, one DOHC and three two-strokes, in capacities from 50 to 600cc.
I presume you have a motorcycle or two?
As I am nearly 78 years old, recovering from heart surgery in November 2019, I no longer do. My last was a Honda VFR750, final version.
Are you involved in the motorcycle world as an occupation?
After the construction industry I was involved with selling Avon motorcycle tyres which led to me opening up a motorcycle dealership.
Are you still involved in the motorcycle industry?
Yes, I am still involved in it but only through my books: I have written 12 and I am presently writing one more.
You don’t just write about motorcycles do you?
No, I wrote also about farm tractors (three books), cars (three), colour photography before the First World War (one).
Are you a practical motorcyclist? Able to make parts and service your vintage machines?
Yes, as with most owners, but I can’t honestly say I was completely servicing my numerous motorcycles: for example, I was not equipped to do such engineering things as reboring.
Do you have a well-equipped workshop?
I did. Last year, I gave my lathe to a friend; and I am looking for anybody who needs a milling machine and will use it at the benefit of vintage motorcycles. It is a 1939 Wanderer.
A question I always ask in any interview is what is your favourite motorcycle of all time?
I can’t say that there is only one favourite; there are three very different:
One of the two 500 Koehler-Escoffier K50 GP which have been built, and more precisely the one which won the
French championship in 1930, with full history known.
An historic – in France at least! – Mk.VII Velocette KTT, bought new by Roger Loyer, again full history known.
- The only one absolutely genuine
1935 Sarolea 35C6 (same 280 605 serial number for frame, engine and gearbox) with sidecar.
I have enjoyed sidecars too!