C.P. Roléo 1930ca C5 Sport 350 cc OHV two-port frame # 952 engine # 4524 D1ST video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc4OEz10aec The C.P. saw the light of day in 1925 and was the brainchild of the associates Couégnas & Piault who conducted their business in the community of Gennevilliers, a northwestern suburb of Paris. The C.P. had a very unusual frame construction: a 2.5 mm thick sheet steel box included the tank (12 or 14 litres depending on the model) in which the steering column was integra ...
BMW 1969 R69US 590 cc OHV transverse twin frame & engine # 665749 In 1955 BMW introduces a new line of twins with a completely redesigned frame with trailing fork rear suspension and Earles fork front suspension. The final drive shaft is no longer exposed but is enclosed in the right arm of the trailing forks. All three new models, the 500 cc R50, and the 600 cc R60 and R69 have 18 inch wheels in place of the earlier 19 inch ones, twin leading shoes in the front brake, smaller mudguards and larg ...
Indian 1929 “ Series 402” 1265 cc inline IOE four engine # EA 745 Early in 1927 Indian bought the entire assets of the famous ACE motorcycle corporation. Indian proceeded to manufacture the Indian –ACE until 1928 when the Indian Four took its place. The 1265 cc engine has overhead inlet valves and side exhaust valves and delivered in the late twenties form about 30 HP. About ten years later this had grown to about 40 HP and tuned examples were known to put out some 50 HP! But with output also th ...
Henderson 1924 “DeLuxe” 1305 cc side valve four cylinder frame & engine # D 8653A Although the brothers Tom and Will Henderson had made excellent motorcycles from 1911 on, they didn’t manage to get the company financially sound. In the course of 1917 Ignaz Schwinn, who had already taken over the Excelsior Supply Company in 1912, showed an interest to take over the production of the famous Henderson Four. Towards the end of the year the deal was struck and all Henderson assets were moved from Det ...
Harley-Davidson 1947 model EL “ Knucklehead” 989 cc OHV V-twin engine # 47EL5414 During the Depression years of the early Thirties Harley started the development of a new line of motorcycles, an up-to-date OHV model with sophisticated dry-sump recirculation lubrication system and a constant mesh four-speed gearbox. The frame was different of that of any other Harley: a duplex loop with twin down tubes. The new model was well-designed but hastily launched on to the market; it took the company sev ...
Harley –Davidson 1916 “Model 16B” 565 cc F-head single engine # 2118L In 1911 the first V-twins were brought out and very soon these models became the customers’ favourites; it seems singles were most popular for utility uses and in the export markets. For 1916 two types of singles were available, the model 16B single speed and the model 16C with 3 speed countershaft gearbox. Some 15,000 twins left the factory in 1916, but only 1155 singles were sold that year. Only 292 of these were Model Bs so ...
Indian 1937 Model 637 Sport Scout ca. 700cc side valve V-twin frame # 6372602 engine # FCG 2602 In 1932 two new lightweight twin cylinder models are introduced, the 750cc “Motoplane” and the500cc “Pony Scout” which will later be renamed “Junior Scout”. The Motoplane is marketed as a light and simple low-cost sports machine that can be entered in various types of competition events by an owner-rider. The engine is basically the time-tried 101 engine but with the marked improvements of better desi ...
Cotton 1935ca 498cc OHV JAP in racing trim frame # 17534 engine # JOS/S 89295/4 The Glouchester-based Cotton factory was one of many small manufacturers that used proprietary engines in the years between the first en second world wars. But there was something quite special about the Cotton, that made it much more successful than most other small makes: its frame. The frame that Frank Willoughby Cotton designed around 1914 was of triangulated construction, very light and exceptionally strong. Cot ...
Ordinary Bicycle ca 1884 44-inch This sturdily-constructed ordinary has a 44-inch ( 112 cm) driving wheel and an 18-inch rear wheel. It has double steps, thick spokes and straight handlebars. She was once part of the falmignoul Museum Bicycle Collection.
Velocipede ca 1869 possibly Michaux It is generally accepted that Pierre Michaux (1813-83), a serrurier or locksmith, and his son Ernest (1849-89) produced his first ‘boneshaker’ by converting a hobby-horse to provide cranks to the front wheel. Henri Michaux claimed in a letter that Pierre Michaux thought of the idea and Ernest executed it. There is some uncertainty when this happened but it appears likely that it was in 1864 (although 1855 and 1861 have been suggested). However there is a compe ...
Velocipede ca 1870 This velocipede has a wrought-iron frame with some original lining visible. The saddle has been repaired and is fastened on a leaf spring. The spoon brake on the rear wheel is operated by turning the flat sprung handlebars. The 34-inch (85 cm) front wheel has wooden spokes, the 28-inch (70 cm) rear wheel has metal spokes. The wheels have plain bearings. Length is 165 cm, handlebar height is 120 cm. This basic boneshaker spent many years in the Falmignoul Collection.
Ordinary Bicycle ca 1880 This ordinary has a steel tubular frame and solid rubber tyres on radially-spoked wheels. Front wheel is 54-inch (ca 137 cm), rear wheel 18 inch (ca 45 cm). The saddle is probably original but in rather soiled condition, the spoon brake is not present. The text on ball bearing housing reads “The Aeolus Patent No. 3531 W Bown Maker”. The bell-shaped saddle has turned wooden grips. Accessories with this ex-Famignoul Collection Ordinary comprise handlebar-mounted bell and w ...
Rover ca 1888 cross frame safety bicycle This Rover cross frame safety bicycle was part of the Falmignoul bicycle collection, owned at the time by Mr. Ernest Wouters. She has 30-inch wheels, spoon brake on front wheel, solid rubber tyres on radially-spoked wheels. The steering head is still open, this would be developed into socket steering some time later. The saddle is original and accessories comprise leather tool pouch and handlebar-mounted pocket watch.
Velocipede tricycle ca 1870 This tricycle has a wrought iron frame and wooden spoked wheels with iron rims. The saddle is fixed on a leaf spring. There are acorn weights on the pedals and braking is effected by a spoon brake on the 35-inch (90 cm) front wheel. The rear wheel has a diameter of 23 inch (59 cm), length is 170 cm, width 105 cm, hight of steering wheel is 120 cm. This rare velocipede tricycle was part of the Falmignoul Cycle Museum Collection for years.
BMW 1928 R63 734cc OHV transverse twin frame # 21327 engine # 75357 In 1928 BMW presented two new 500s, the side valve R52 and the overhead valve R57. The company also provided engines in the 750 cc class with the same cycle parts: the 745 cc side valve model R 62 with bore x stroke of 78 mm and the 734cc ohv R 63 with bore x stroke of 83×68 mm. The R63 was with its 24 hp a spirited performer on the road but it was also raced by the works alongside its 500 cc stablemates. Like the latter, it pio ...
BMW 1955 R50 494cc transverse twin with Steib sidecar frame & engine # 552156 In 1955 BMW creates its R50, R60, and R69 models. These new models have a similar engine and the same shaft-drive as earlier models, but are fitted with modern swinging fork rear suspension for the first time. The telescopic front forks of earlier models are abandoned though, in favour of the swinging or “Earles Fork” system. The cycle parts are finished in BMW’s signature black scheme set off by white pin striping. Th ...
BMW 1982 R100RT 980 cc OHV opposed twin frame & engine # 6234522 In the autumn of 1976, after three years, the /6 series is replaced by the /7 series for the 1977 range. The 898 cc capacity of the top /6 models is now upped to 980 cc by enlarging the bore from 90 to 94 mm. There are three models in the 980cc class, the “basic” R100/7, is a pleasant tourer, the more sporty and powerful R100S and the top model, the R100RS. In 1978 a R100 with full touring fairing , taller windshield and higher han ...
NSU 1957 251 OSB “Supermax” 247 cc OHC frame # 3229907 engine # 1836241 Production at NSU was resumed already in May 1945. The company had been lucky that only part of the production facilities had been damaged and the American occupiers immediately consigned the works as a repair facility for US army vehicles. At first bicycles and Kettenkrad off-road vehicles were produced and from the summer of 1947 the pre-war 125 ZDB and 251 OSL models left the factory again. Chief designer became Albert Ro ...
Moto Guzzi 1947 “Airone Turismo” 247cc OHV single frame # 26656 engine # 72678 In 1932 Moto Guzzi had decided to move into the lightweight market. At first this was the 175cc class that enjoyed various advantages in taxation and driving licence regulation, but when these were abolished the public interest in the 175cc class waned and Guzzi decided to increase the displacement of its little P175. At first the step was made to a 232cc machine but in 1937 the PL was introduced with 247cc capacity a ...
Starley ca 1882 Royal Salvo Tricycle From around 1880 tricycles were developed as alternative mounts for people that found it difficult or dangerous to ride an ordinary. At the Stanley Show of 1883, 289 tricycles were exhibited while the number of bicycles was only 233. James Starley’s Royal Salvo, first presented in 1877, was one of the most popular tricycles of its time, thanks largely to Starley’s invention of the “balance gear,” which acted as a sort of differential. As you pedalled the sing ...