Sunbeam 1933 Model 80 TT 346 cc OHV frame # F9125 engine # M4175 video: https://youtu.be/GEHxb_EfBNk Sunbeam had begun experimenting with overhead valves on their factory racers in the early 1920s and these duly appeared on production models in 1924. The new 500 roadster was known as the Model 9, while its race bike counterpart, was accordingly designated the Model 90, which could top 90mph. The 350cc versions were the Model 8 and Model 80 respectively, with bore x stroke dimensions of 70 x 90 m ...
Sunbeam 1936 Model 9 Sports 493 cc OHV frame # 17S.539.1.292 engine # 17S.538.0.308 video: https://youtu.be/aivCDur4spQ The first production overhead-valve Sunbeams appeared in 1924 as the Model 8 and Model 9, in 350cc and 500cc form respectively. The Model 8, with its 70 × 90 mm engine, was an accomplished and sporting tourer, but it inevitably lived somewhat in the shadow of its larger and more glamorous sibling, the 80 × 98 mm Model 9. The Model 9 would go on to become one of Sunbeam’s most e ...
Terrot 1929 “OS 3 cv Sport Luxe“ 246 cc side valve single frame # 81386 engine # 104020 video: https://youtu.be/6oQTvQvhiO0 After acquiring license to the Magnat-Debon name in 1928, Terrot becomes the leading French manufacturer of two wheeled vehicles. Through the thirties an extensive range of models is marketed, from a humble 98 cc single speed “Velomoteur” to a sturdy 750 cc side valve V-twin. The company uses elaborate model codes but the basis is that the first letter designates the cubic ...
Indian 1939 “Dispatch Tow” 750 cc side valve V-twin frame # 639396 engine# FCI396B Next to the motorcycles with commercial side cars Indian marketed some vehicles with two rear wheels on a differential-type axle. The first of this was the Dispatch Tow. It was first brought out in 1931 as a vehicle specially designed for use by automobile dealers, fitted with a 101 Scout engine. At that time cars needed more frequent garage maintenance (lubrication and running adjustments) and two men were usuall ...
Scott 1934 Flying Squirrel Tourer 496 cc water cooled two stroke twin frame # 3817M engine # LFZ3970 Gearbox # 4.S.C.3402 The Scott company first used the The Flying Squirrel model name for the fastest of the 1925-26 two speed models and this name was continued in the range with various changes for almost 25 years, all the way through to the end of production at Shipley in 1950. The economic situation meant that the 1930s were very lean years for the factory: only 63 machines were built in 1933. ...
Sunbeam 1929 Model 9 493 cc Twin Port OHV frame # D6517 engine # L4473 The first OHV production Sunbeams were listed as the model 8 (350cc) and 9 (500cc) in 1924. The model 8 with bore/stroke dimensions of 70×90 mm was an excellent sporty tourer, but stayed somewhat in the shadow of its more glamorous big brother, the 80×98 mm Model 9, which stayed in production till 1939. For model year 1929 the appearance of Sunbeam machines changed completely because the firm had finally decided to adopt a sa ...
Indian 1915 5 HP Model B-3 ‘Little Twin’ 684 cc IOE V-twin frame # 50654 engine # 50G547 gearbox # 1644 Indian’s first, 38.61ci (633cc) v-twin appeared in 1907 with an engine clearly derived from that of the single, though mechanical inlet valves – introduced for 1908 – were an early improvement. The twin’s rear cylinder continued to form part of the frame until 1909 when a loop frame of the type favoured by rivals Harley-Davidson was adopted. The Springfield Company’s first ‘Big Twin’ debuted t ...
Harley-Davidson 1948 Model GA Servi-Car 742 cc side valve v-twin frame # 48G16916 The Harley-Davidson Servi-Car was put on the market in the course of 1932 when Harley-Davidson was desperate to expand its product base to increase sales. Initially the new product was targeted at the automotive service industry, as Indian had done shortly before with their successful Dispatch Tow. The idea was for a garage to be able to send out one man (rather than two) to collect a customer’s car and to return w ...
Sunbeam 1921 8HP 976 cc JAP side valve V-twin frame # 83670 engine # KT/21 494 The first Sunbeam V-twin is brought out in 1914; although the company claims that the 3 ½ HP single was also capable to pull a sidecar, a special sidecar model is thought necessary to keep up with the competition. This first V-twin model is powered by a 770 cc JAP engine, for 1915 a 798 cc Abington King Dick power source is used. The following year the twin is built using the 996 cc Swiss MAG engine, while from 1917 o ...
Vincent 1951/53 “Rapide Special” 1330 cc OHV V-twin frame # RC11684 engine # F10AB/1/7832 The first Series B Rapide was presented to the press on April 27, 1946. It was to be the base model of the post-war range, for Vincent-HRD made the decision to drop the successful singles and aim instead at the exclusive, high-performance end of the market with the only big British V-twin offered to the public after the war. The finish was to a very high standard in proportion to the cost of the machine, wh ...
Harley Davidson 1942 “U” 1209 cc side valve V-twin frame & engine # 42U2744 video: https://youtu.be/sG4m_zw15kc For 1937 the HD engineers redesigned the Big Twin range: frame and cycle parts of the newly introduced OHV ‘Knucklehead’ were used as the basis for the new 1209cc and 1303 cc models U and UH. An important new feature was the introduction (finally!) of dry sump lubrication. The “U” was the 5.0:1 low-compression type; the standard compression was 5:1. Power output of the U was 32.5 hp @ ...
BMW 1964 R 50/2 494cc transverse twin combination frame & engine # 636873 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 swingarm rear suspension for the first time. The telescopic forks at the front 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. The ...
Sunbeam 1927 3½hp Model 6 ‘Longstroke’ 492 cc side valve frame # B1730 engine # J1778 video: https://youtu.be/EGi6aHZC4KU After the Great War, Sunbeams first new design was a side valve of 77mm bore and 105.5mm stroke and a cubic capacity of 492 cc. At the works it was known as the ‘Longstroke’ to differentiate it from its short-stroke 85 mm x 88 mm ( 499 cc) predecessor. The new engine made a fantastic impression at the 1921 French Grand Prix on July, 24 at the Circuit de la Sarthe near Le Mans ...
Harley-Davidson 1924 “JE” 989 cc IOE V-twin frame # 24F4203 engine # 24JE4408 1924 is not a good year for the firm: the losses amount to almost $ 120,000 and the workforce is trimmed down from 2,500 to 1,000 employees. Sales in the USA have seriously diminished in the early twenties because of the competition of the cheap automobile. A positive thing is that export sales are still looking good. More than 6000 machines are exported oversees this year; this amounts to almost half of all Harleys ma ...
Sunbeam 1932 Model 90 Road Racer 493 cc OHV frame # E13074 engine # NN6053 gearbox # BW1754F video: https://youtu.be/OwLfeKQ5MXQ The Model 90 first appeared in the firm’s catalogues for the 1927 season. Sunbeam had tried to develop an OHC racer but that proved to be unsuccessful: the camshaft Sunbeam that appeared in 1925 was seriously lacking in torque and power because of problems with valve timing. The much more direct ohc mechanism necessitated a totally different valve timing, of which ther ...
BMW 1976 R75/7 745cc OHV transverse twin frame & engine # 6020431 In the early autumn of 1976 BMW’s ‘/6’ series is replaced by the ‘/7′. The R90S-style fuel tank (adopted across the range) and redesigned rocker covers are distinguishing features while at the top of the range, 980cc R100 models replace the ’90’ series. The R75 probably offers the best compromise between power and economy, turning out 50 hp @ 6,200 rpm and having a petrol consumption of around 1:20. Top speed is 180 km/h and the d ...
Sunbeam 1914 3½hp 499 cc side valve frame # 2582 engine # 2575AN At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century the Wolverhampton based firm of John Marston Ltd. has already earned fame for their superb bicycles. During 1911-12 it is decided to take up motorcycle manufacture: designer John Greenwood, who has already made his mark at the JAP and Rover companies, is contracted and will be responsible for most Sunbeam designs till the mid-thirties. As a consulting engineer for the engine ...
Harley-Davidson 1933 “VLE” 1217 cc side valve v-twin frame & engine # 33VLE2610 video: https://youtu.be/Ys8BBlSQxeo Harley-Davidson’s 1930 brochure describes the new 74ci (1217 cc) machine as “standing head and shoulders above all comers, with such startling new features as a 20% more powerful motor with Ricardo removable heads, interchangeable wheels, bigger tires, drop-centre rims, lower riding position, greater road clearance, automatic increase of generator output, drop forged forks, 100% st ...
Indian 1925 Scout 600 cc side valve V-twin engine # 55Y447 The successful Scout model boasts quite a few new features for the 1925 season: removable cylinder heads, larger valves, improved clutch with greater plate area and a different type of saddle suspension to insure greater riding comfort and a lower riding position. For better engine breathing wider valve cam profiles are used. The 1925 brochure shows a power chart that claims a 20% power increase for the 1925 Scout as compared to the 1924 ...