Škoda is known the world over as one of the world’s best car manufacturers.
The brand, based in the Czech Republic, is responsible for cars such as the Octavia and the Kodiaq.
However, the Czech marque has an amazing history on two wheels, instead of four.
And Skoda has just released a stunning cafe racer concept to honor it.
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Before it was known as Škoda, the famous brand went by a different name.
In 1896, the predecessor to Škoda was founded as Laurin & Klement.
Vaclav Klement was a bookseller in Mlada Boleslav, Kingdom of Bohemia.
Klement returned his bicycle to its German manufacturers because he could not find replacement parts.
After sending them a letter in Czech, he received a rude response in German from the makers, Seidel and Neumann.
So, mostly out of spite and recognising the market, Klement decided to build his own.
His business partner, Vaclav Laurin, happened to be an established bicycle manufacturer in the nearby town of Turnov.
The pair initially worked on a Werner Motocyclette, but it proved dangerous and unreliable.
Laurin & Klement would ultimately produce their own motorcycle, the Slavia.
In 1900, the company exported 150 Slavia motorcycles to London for the Hewston firm.
Afterwards, the London press credited the firm with being the makers of the first motorcycle.
Interestingly, the Lauren & Klement factory was the first motorcycle factory in Central Europe.
By 1905, the company had evolved into producing cars – a path it would remain on until this very day.
Thankfully, however, one of Škoda’s designers has decided to reimagine the Slavia B motorcycle.
And it is an absolute thing of beauty to behold.
For the past five years, Skoda’s ‘Icons Get A Makeover’ series has produced some epic results.
This month, it is the turn of Škoda’s motorcycle heritage to get the makeover.
French designer Romain Bucaille has truly put a modern spin on the classic icon.
The designer said, “I wanted to do something unique and go back to the brand’s roots.”
“I work on cars every day, and since I also love motorcycles, creating one was really a refreshing change.”
Bucaille has managed to capture the essence of the spirit and vigour of the original.
Yet he has managed to bring it across centuries, reimagining the Slavia B as an all-electric cafe racer.
It is highly unlikely that a fully finished design will ever see the light of day. But to his credit, Bucaille has done a truly exceptional job.
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