Coventry Eagle began in 1890 as Hotchkiss, Mayo & Meek, but they changed their name to Coventry Eagle in 1897 when John Meek left the company.  In 1898, they also began to experiment with motorised vehicles and by 1899, production of motorcycles had begun.

The bikes were hand built and finished carefully, and proved reliable.  By World War 1, the range had expanded and included a Villiers powered two speed 269cc lightweight, a 3.5hp single, and a three speed 5hp V-twin. 

Production was hampered during the war, but in 1919 production resumed, and through the guidance of Mayo, began to build machines of wide appeal. 

In the early 1920s, the line up chopped and changed depending on what engines were available at the time and the company swapped between Abingdon, JAP, King Dick and Villiers motors.

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This wonder uses what appears to be a normal bike frame, but instead of the standard metal rims/spokes with rubber tires, the wheels on the bike are made up entirely of sprung steel. The sprung-steel wheels give the bike a natural bounce, acting as shock absorbers on the otherwise rigid frame. The bike wheels are quite a bit larger than normal bike wheels, and the wheel’s flexibility actually gives the bike a bit of a cushion. After that, it will be auctioned off for the Elton John AIDS Foundation along with other bike that are custom designed by British singer-songwriter and actress Paloma Faith, painter and graphic designer Natasha Law (Jude Law’s sister), and fashion... If you’re worried about speeding on this bike, don’t be–it’s apparently more comfortable the faster you pedal. Guests staying at the W Hotel in London’s Leicester Square will have a chance to ride the bike.

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