Dot  although not one of the big manufacturers, Dot of Hulme in Arundel Street, Manchester was a pioneering innovator. Reportedly the name was derived from the slogan 'Devoid of Trouble' Formed in 1903  by Harry Reed he won the 'Twin Cylinder' class of the 1908 TT. Dot built bikes using engines supplied by third party manufacturers, such as JAP, Blackburn and Villiers. Original manufacture stopped in 1932 with the depression, but restarted after the war in 1949. After the second war, they built many scrambles bikes and in 1952/53 had  very successful years dominating the 125cc and 200cc classes. They also surpassed many of the four-stroke bikes in the 200cc to 340cc class. Unfortunately they, like many two-stroke manufacturers, had a major problem when Villiers ceased production in 1965. They continued on into the early 1970's with an engine of their own manufacture, but never regained the 'hay days' of the 1950's.

Click links for reviews and the photo to see a full size version

1950 200DS
Villiers 197cc

1953 DHX4
Villiers 197cc

1954 SDHX4P
Villiers 197cc
 

DOT Bike Review

200 1949-53, Villiers 6E 197cc,  2-stroke, 3 speed, 200lbs
Fully equipped motorcycle consisting of Webb girder front forks fitted into a loop rigid frame. Fitted with rectified lighting, battery, horn, saddle, toolbox and centre stand. The 200 was offered as specified as the 200/RS or with direct lighting as the 200/DS. In 1951 the forks were changed to telescopic and the specification became 200/RST or with direct lighting as the 200/DST, the 'T' denoting telescopic forks, the frame remained rigid and had a shortened wheelbase. From 1953 optional swinging arm rear suspension was offered, this consisted of a new frame with forward angled Girling units.

Mancunian 1955-58,  Villiers 8E 197cc, 2-stroke, 4 speed (3 speed option 1958)
Having abandoned road machines in 1953, Dot returned to the road with the Mancunian, which had a conventional tubular frame with Girling sprung hydraulically damped leading link front forks and swinging arm rear suspension, again using Girling units. Finished with a dual seat and valanced mudguards, it was a nice looking, if some what practical bike. 1958 saw a 3 speed model as optional, but at the end of the year the Mancunian was dropped.

Sportsman's Roadster 1959-60, RCA 349cc, 2-stroke twin, 4 speed, 280lbs
Using the frame of the twin cylinder scrambles model with leading link front forks and swinging arm this model became the sole road model.

Unfortunately for the every day rider, Dot focused their production on the competition models of the time, notably 'Scrambles and Trials'. The two DHX models above are examples of Trials models. This meant a sparse and yet stable selection of road models as can be seen in the above review.
 
I would like an thank the DOT M/C club for  giving permission to allow these photo's to be used on this site. Since those photos belong to the DOT M/C club permission to copy or use them in any way would have to be sought from the DOT M/C club. Apart from the photo's owned by the DOT M/C club the contents of this web-page is subject to Copyright © 2005 Cedric Norman