Excelsior 1930 Model 9 245 cc OHV JAP Two-Port 3603

Excelsior 1930 Model 9 245 cc OHV JAP Two-Port frame # LC 3384 engine # POY / W 5756 SC

video: https://youtu.be/b7AIIrczvLo

The Coventry firm of Bayliss and Thomas was as old as the two-wheeler industry, trading from the solid-tyre bicycle era. Early manufacturers in both the motorcycle and the car fields, they were an established firm well before the Great War: In 1913 an 800 cc single cylinder motorcycle was brought out, the biggest production single ever to be made.
In common with many manufacturers, the company used proprietary engines made by Blackburne and JAP. Post-war, to avoid confusion with the American Excelsior, Bayliss and Thomas christened their products “British Excelsior”.
In the twenties the Midlands company of Reginald Walker and his son Eric took over the firm and moved the plant to Birmingham. Eric Walker was a racing enthusiast and he promoted the use of Excelsiors in races. This proved to be successful, in the late twenties many races were won in the 250 cc class. The model range in the early thirties was varied and ranged from light two strokes to 500 cc four strokes.
The machine we present here is the sporty 250 cc machine with double exhausts. The JAP engine code reads as “P” for 62.50 x 80 bore x stroke, “O” for overhead valves, “Y” for twin port and “W” for 1930. The machine comes with Burman 3-speed gearbox and is an older restoration.