ABINGDON
The Abingdon King Dick is possibly one of the most entertainingly named motorcycles ever to grace the road. But, amusing name aside, its motorcycles were elegant and wellregarded machines.
Founded in 1856, Abingdon Engineering, of Tylesley, in Birmingham, began its ventures into motorcycling in 1903, using a variety of engines before developing its own four-stroke 350cc single and 394cc V-twin engines.
These units were also used by
Ariel and Invicta, with Sunbeam choosing them to replace the JAP engine it had previously utilised in its big V-twin.
The company also developed the Abingdon Spring Fork, a coil sprung telescopic shock absorber, as well as manufacturing its own gearboxes. Its motorcycles were noted not only for their quality, but also for their relatively low prices.
Quite where the name King Dick came from is unknown, but in around 1925 the name was changed to the less unwieldy (and infinitely less titillating) AKD. At this time, production was downsized to just 147cc and 346cc singles but, in
1931, Abingdon Works still went into liquidation. It reopened almost immediately as Abingdon Works 1931 Ltd, but there was only a year left for its motorcycles. Realising that, in a weak economy, the bike side could no longer continue to sustain itself, in 1932 the company decided to concentrate solely on its successful range of King Dick tools.
Abingdon King Dick still manufactures tools and continues its association with motorcycles with various sponsorships.