Sparta B.V.: Difference between revisions

'''Sparta B.V.''' is a [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[bicycle]] manufacturer based in [[Apeldoorn]] that also produced [[motorcycle]]s and [[Moped]]s. It is the largest electrical bike manufacturer in Europe.

The 1920s meant rapid development for Sparta: [[Leendert Schakel]] became head of the company after buying full ownership from all other shareholders, leaving him and ''Verbeek'' as the owners. In 1920, Sparta produced its first self-built cycle. The year after which the company started working on [[Freight bicycle|cargo bikesbike]]s, which, in the beginning were powered manually. Later in the 1920s the company equipped their cargo bikes with engines. In 1925 Verbeek's share of the company was bought by Schakel, who had great ideas for the company. Two years later, in 1927, he bought land on the Waterloseweg in Apeldoorn, where he built a factory for the production of bicycles, milk carts, transport- and cargo bikes.

Sparta was still active on the bicycle market. In a brochure printed in 1936 were, aside of four regular bikes for men and women, adverts for a kids bicycle, a [[cargo bike]], a butcher's bike (baker's bike), a [[tandem]] and a service bike. All of these had over fifteen different styles and modifications, several of which had the option of being equipped with an engine.

[[File:Sparta_GB50_1957.jpg|right|thumb|500px|Sparta GB50 (1958)]] In the 1950s Sparta played a huge role in filling the demand for motorised bicycles. The name had been changed once again, this time dropping the names of the two main founders, leaving the name to be ''Sparta Rijwielen- en Motorenfabriek''. From the fifties on Sparta expanded their offer in motorised vehicles, offering not only motorcycles but also mopeds.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1952-09-15 |title=Advertentie |work=Java-bode : nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010861993:mpeg21:a0056 |access-date=2023-05-18}}</ref>

Sparta sold its last moped in 1982, as the market for mopeds had not been profitable for several years. The production of motorcycles was halted twenty-two years earlier, in 1960, yet the idea of motorised vehicles hadn't completely left Sparta's mentality. Sparta gave motorising bicycles a last shot, which meant a cooperation with German motorcycle manufacturer [[Sachs Motorcycles|Sachs]]. Together they manufactured the [[Spartamet]], a bicycle with auxiliary motor. The Spartamet entered the market in 1986, and turned out to be a massive success. By 1990 20,000 of the 105,000 bicycles sold were a Spartamet. The Spartamet made Sparta to be the only Dutch manufacturer of mopeds with auxiliary motors. Competitors did try to create rivals of the Spartamet, but their products never stuck with the public.

Sparta, who was dubbed the ''inventor'' of the bicycle of electric auxiliary motor on the Dutch market introduced the ''Pharos-series'', which was meant to fill the newly created demand for bicycles with electrical auxiliary motors. The ''Pahros-series'' were created using an electrical system developed by [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]]. In 1999 Sparta started producing [[recumbent bicycle]]s, which made it the second largest company making recumbent bicycles, with the largest being [[Batavus]].