Peugeot P108S vintage motorcycle 1933 250cc Side Valve unit construction engine.
This lovely motorcycle was the first vintage one that I owned with girder forks. It was extremely comfortable and surprisingly advanced in design. Peugeot were early adopters of the unit construction engine. While most major manufacturers didn’t change to unit construction until after 1950, Peugeot marketed their first 4-stroke, unit construction, motorcycle in the mid 1920’s.
Having the gearbox enclosed within the engine cases proved to be a master-stroke by Peugeot. It wasn’t lost on the customers that it was less “messy” and they didn’t have an exposed primary drive. In my opinion, Peugeot did a great job with the styling of the engine cases too.
PLAY VIDEO OF IT RUNNING – French built 1933 Peugeot P108S
By 1930, Peugeot were offering a wide range of models including:
174 cc ( P 109), 215 cc ( P110), 248 cc ( P 108) 327 cc (P111) and 346 cc ( P105 and P 107) models.
All of these models had side valve engines, with the exception of the P105. That was their sports-model and they offered it with a 346cc OHV engine.
My Peugeot P108S vintage motorcycle was well equipped for a bike from 1933. It was equipped with full electric lighting. It still had a hand change gearbox, with three speeds and a throttle by handlebar lever as opposed to a twist grip though.
It came with two tool boxes, a lovely adjustable sprung pillion saddle, the original ammeter in the back of the headlamp, a speedometer and the correct Gurtner carburettor.
Sadly, I sold it a few years back. Had I known then, what I know now, about the early bikes, I would have kept it. The gentleman who rebuilt it prior to my ownership spent a considerable amount of time sourcing the correct parts and even hand painted it.
Would I buy another Peugeot P108S vintage motorcycle?
Yes. I might even buy this one back if the current owner reads this!
It would be a very nice motorcycle to use on some vintage runs in Europe where it could mingle with FN’s, Sarolea’s, Monet-Goyons and others from France and Belgium.
Other vintage motorcycle parts
Please take a browse through the parts for sale. I don’t have any for a Peugeot P108S vintage motorcycle as I sold the motorcycle some time ago and everything went with it.
If you aren’t already a member, it might be worth joining the Vintage Motorcycle Club. There are marque specialists available and they are very useful if vintage bikes are new to you.
