Radior 1928 Model Tourisme 250 cc 1 cyl sv 3601

Radior 1928 Model Tourisme 250 cc side valve JAP frame # 2073 engine # B/C 21396 R

Joseph Chapolard, a smart businessman, began his endeavours in the French village of Bourg-en-Bresse, situated north of Lyon and the administrative centre of the L ‘Ain department. He started off as agent for Singer sewing machines and was one of the first inhabitants of Bourg who owned an automobile, a De Dion-Bouton vis-à-vis. In 1904 he set up his own business under the Radior name, selling and repairing various brands of sewing machine, bicycles, typewriters, motorcycles and automobiles. In 1911 he moved to bigger premises opposite the railway station with an assembly plant for cycles and sewing machines. In 1920 a 5,000 square metre modern factory at the Pont de Lyon was commissioned. Radior began building motorcycles in 1926. The first model, presented at the Paris Salon of that year, had a 175cc Moser engine. From 1927 the range was expanded with 250 cc, 350 cc and 500 cc models using engines from various specialist manufacturers such as Moser, JAP, Zurcher and Chaise. Radior production stopped in 1955.
Our older-restoration Radior is a typical example of a lesser known small French make that is well-built and is constructed with quite a few proprietary parts, such as JAP engine, Brown saddle, Best & Lloyd oil pump, Amac carburettor and Staub gearbox. She comes with electric lighting furnished by Ducellier headlamp and friction-driven Magneto-France dynamo. The JAP engine letter code B represents the 250 cc side valve model with bore x stroke dimensions of 64.5 x 76 mm; C stands for 1928.