OK-Supreme
OK-Supreme was a Birmingham-based British motorcycle manufacturer active from 1899 to 1939, with its racing machines continuing in limited grass-track use until 1946.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
OK-Supreme was a British motorcycle marque and manufacturer associated with Birmingham, England. Its roots lay in a bicycle business established in 1882 by Ernie Humphries and Charles Dawes under the name OK. The company experimented with motorised bicycles in 1899 and again in 1906 before moving into regular motorcycle production. Its first production motorcycle using a two-stroke Precision engine appeared in 1911. Before the First World War, the company built motorcycles powered by a range of proprietary and purchased engines, including units from Precision, De Dion, Minerva and Green. This approach reflected the structure of the early British motorcycle industry, in which manufacturers often combined their own frames and cycle components with engines sourced from specialist suppliers. OK entered the Isle of Man TT for the first time in 1912. Although its early results were generally modest, OK-Supreme machines later achieved three podium finishes and 34 race finishes in the event. After the First World War, the company broadened its engineering programme. It produced a 292 cc two-stroke engine of its own and offered machines using Blackburne engines in 250 cc and 350 cc side-valve and overhead-valve forms, a 348 cc oil-cooled Bradshaw engine, and JAP engines ranging from 246 cc to 496 cc. JAP-powered racing motorcycles became particularly important during the 1920s, and the company increasingly relied on JAP engines for models that did not use an OK-designed power unit. One notable development was a 348 cc overhead-camshaft machine. The marque achieved several important competition results during the decade. At the 1922 Isle of Man TT, OK-Supreme motorcycles finished sixth and seventh, while Wal Handley recorded the fastest lap at 51 miles per hour despite not completing the race. The company's only TT class victory came in 1928, when Frank Longman won the Lightweight event on a JAP-powered OK-Supreme. The corporate identity changed in 1927, after Charles Dawes had left the business in 1926 to establish Dawes Cycles. The company thereafter traded under the OK-Supreme name. In 1928, Ernie Humphries acquired the factory and tooling of the failed HRD concern. He sold the HRD name and other associated assets to Phil Vincent, who used the marque as the foundation for Vincent Motorcycles; this transaction was separate from the continuing OK-Supreme motorcycle business. OK-Supreme's most technically distinctive later design was the 250 cc Lighthouse model. Its overhead-camshaft drive used a vertical tower arrangement with an inspection window intended to allow the rider or mechanic to check whether oil was reaching the camshaft, giving rise to the Lighthouse name. A racing prototype first appeared at the 1930 Isle of Man TT and broke the lap record from a standing start. A road version followed in 1931, but the economic conditions of the Great Depression undermined its commercial prospects. The final Lighthouse was completed in early 1933; the model was principally a 250 cc motorcycle, although a small number of experimental 350 cc machines were built. At the 1934 Olympia show, OK-Supreme introduced another overhead-camshaft model. It was offered in road, trials and racing forms, with 250 cc and 350 cc engine capacities, and remained in production until early 1939. Conventional motorcycle production ended around the beginning of the Second World War. After the war, John Humphries, Ernie Humphries's son, continued to make a JAP-engined OK-Supreme grass-track racing machine in limited availability. This post-war continuation lasted until John's death in 1946. OK-Supreme is therefore remembered primarily as a historic British motorcycle manufacturer with a diverse engine-sourcing strategy, notable Isle of Man TT participation, and several technically ambitious competition and road designs.
History
OK-Supreme developed from the OK bicycle business founded in Birmingham in 1882 by Ernie Humphries and Charles Dawes. The partners investigated motorised bicycles in 1899 and 1906, but the company did not begin regular motorcycle manufacture until 1911, when it introduced a two-stroke machine using a Precision engine. Before the First World War, OK built motorcycles around engines from Precision, De Dion, Minerva and Green. This early use of multiple suppliers allowed the company to participate in the expanding motorcycle market without relying exclusively on a single in-house engine design. The company entered the Isle of Man TT in 1912. Its early performances were not dominant, but OK-Supreme machines eventually recorded three podium finishes and 34 finishes in the event. After the war, the manufacturer produced a 292 cc two-stroke engine of its own while also offering models powered by Blackburne, Bradshaw and JAP engines. Blackburne supplied 250 cc and 350 cc side-valve and overhead-valve engines, Bradshaw supplied a 348 cc oil-cooled unit, and JAP engines covered a broad range from 246 cc to 496 cc. During the 1920s, JAP-powered competition machines became central to the marque's sporting reputation, including a 348 cc overhead-camshaft model. At the 1922 TT, OK-Supreme riders finished sixth and seventh. Wal Handley set the fastest lap at 51 mph but did not finish the race. The marque's most important TT result came in 1928, when Frank Longman won the Lightweight class on a JAP-engined OK-Supreme. The company's identity also changed during this period. Dawes left in 1926 to establish Dawes Cycles, and the company adopted the OK-Supreme name in 1927. In 1928, Ernie Humphries acquired the factory and tooling of the failed HRD motorcycle concern. He sold the HRD name and remaining related assets to Phil Vincent, who subsequently developed the Vincent motorcycle marque. OK-Supreme continued independently and pursued new designs. Its best-known engineering experiment was the Lighthouse, a 250 cc overhead-camshaft motorcycle whose vertical camshaft tower included an inspection window for checking oil delivery. The racing version appeared at the 1930 TT and broke the lap record from a standing start. A road version followed in 1931, but the Great Depression severely limited its commercial prospects. The last Lighthouse was completed in early 1933, with only a small number of experimental 350 cc versions reportedly produced. A new overhead-camshaft OK-Supreme appeared at the 1934 Olympia show. It was offered in 250 cc and 350 cc capacities and in road, trials and racing configurations. This range remained in production until early 1939. After the Second World War, John Humphries, Ernie Humphries's son, made a JAP-engined OK-Supreme grass-track racing machine in limited numbers or availability. This continuation ended by 1946. The marque's history reflects the challenges faced by smaller British motorcycle makers: it combined sporting ambition and inventive engineering with dependence on external engine suppliers and exposure to severe economic disruption.
- 1946
Post-war grass-track continuation ends
[1]Availability of the JAP-engined grass-track OK-Supreme ends following John Humphries's death.
- 1939
Regular motorcycle production ends
[1]The final pre-war OK-Supreme models remain in production until early 1939.
- 1934
New overhead-camshaft range displayed
[1]OK-Supreme presents a new overhead-camshaft motorcycle at the Olympia show in road, trials and racing forms.
- 1931
Lighthouse road model introduced
[1]A road-going version of the Lighthouse becomes available, although the Great Depression limits its commercial success.
- 1930
Lighthouse debuts in competition
[1]The 250 cc Lighthouse racing motorcycle appears at the TT and breaks the lap record from a standing start.
- 1928
HRD factory acquired and TT victory achieved
[1]Ernie Humphries acquires the failed HRD factory and tooling, while Frank Longman wins the Lightweight TT on a JAP-powered OK-Supreme.
- 1927
Company adopts the OK-Supreme name
[1]Following Dawes's departure, the company changes its name to OK-Supreme.
- 1926
Charles Dawes leaves the business
[1]Charles Dawes departs to establish Dawes Cycles.
- 1922
Strong TT performance
[1]OK-Supreme machines finish sixth and seventh in the TT; Wal Handley records the fastest lap at 51 mph but does not finish.
- 1912
First Isle of Man TT entry
[1]OK enters the Isle of Man TT for the first time and records a ninth-place finish.
Products and positioning
A specialist British motorcycle manufacturer combining proprietary chassis and engine development with engines from suppliers such as Precision, Blackburne, Bradshaw and JAP. The marque emphasized sporting competition, engineering experimentation and multiple road, trials and racing applications.
Two-stroke motorcycle · 1911
Early Precision-powered motorcycle
Introduced in 1911, this was OK's first regular production motorcycle. It used a two-stroke Precision engine and marked the company's transition from bicycle manufacture into powered two-wheelers. Earlier powered-bicycle experiments had taken place in 1899 and 1906.
Road and competition motorcycles
Post-war multi-engine range
After the First World War, OK-Supreme offered motorcycles using its own 292 cc two-stroke engine as well as Blackburne, Bradshaw and JAP power units. The range covered side-valve, overhead-valve and overhead-camshaft configurations and capacities from approximately 246 cc to 496 cc, depending on the engine supplier and model.
Overhead-camshaft motorcycle · 1930
Lighthouse
The Lighthouse was a technically distinctive 250 cc overhead-camshaft design introduced for racing at the 1930 Isle of Man TT and offered as a road motorcycle from 1931. Its vertical camshaft tower included an inspection window intended to show whether oil was reaching the cams. Production ended in early 1933, and a small number of experimental 350 cc machines were also built.
Road, trials and racing motorcycles · 1934
1934 overhead-camshaft range
Shown at the 1934 Olympia exhibition, this later OK-Supreme range used overhead-camshaft engines and was offered in 250 cc and 350 cc forms. Customers could choose road, trials or racing configurations. The range continued until regular production ended in early 1939.
Grass-track racing motorcycle
Post-war JAP-engined grass-track machine
After the Second World War, John Humphries kept the marque active through a JAP-engined grass-track racing motorcycle. This limited post-war continuation was not a return to the earlier full road-bike range and ended around 1946.
Brand decisions
1934
Introduction of the later overhead-camshaft rangeProduct launchBackground
Following the limited commercial outcome of the Lighthouse, OK-Supreme continued developing overhead-camshaft motorcycles.
Action taken
The company displayed a new 250 cc and 350 cc overhead-camshaft range at the Olympia show, in road, trials and racing forms.
Aftermath
The range remained in production until early 1939, when regular motorcycle production ended.
1931
Launch of the Lighthouse road modelProduct launchBackground
The Lighthouse racing motorcycle had demonstrated notable performance at the 1930 Isle of Man TT.
Action taken
OK-Supreme made a road version of the 250 cc Lighthouse available.
Aftermath
The Great Depression damaged the model's commercial prospects, and the final Lighthouse was completed in early 1933.
1928
Acquisition of the HRD factory and toolingM&ABackground
HRD Motorcycles had failed, leaving its factory and production tooling available.
Action taken
Ernie Humphries acquired the HRD factory and tooling, then sold the remaining HRD assets, including the name, to Phil Vincent.
Aftermath
Phil Vincent developed the HRD name into Vincent Motorcycles, while OK-Supreme continued as a separate motorcycle marque.
1927
Adoption of the OK-Supreme corporate nameStrategyBackground
Charles Dawes had left the business in 1926 to found Dawes Cycles, changing the leadership and identity of the original OK bicycle and motorcycle concern.
Action taken
The company formally adopted the OK-Supreme name.
Aftermath
The OK-Supreme name was used for the company's subsequent motorcycle range and competition activities.
Sources1 sources
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