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Swiss Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Famo Motorcycles

A Brief History of the Marque

Lightweight motorcycles built by Jacob Reimann (1), Maschinenfabrik Hinwil (near Zurich) from 1919 to 1922, and then by J. & E. Forster, also of Hinwill until 1924.

In France, Reimann marketed the Famocyclette in 1922-23, a motorised bicycle with a 132cc Famo horizontal engine above the pedals and a cylindrical petrol tank. The name is derived from Fahrrad motoren : moteurs de bicyclette.

F.M. Dumas writes of a Famocyclette which was found in new condition by its current owner. The vendor had been unable to start it as the transfer ports had not been drilled.

In Mannheim, Germany, a 127cc Famo was produced. It is unclear whether these were related.

Notes: 1. poss. Jakob

Sources: morger.net, François-Marie Dumas, Tragatsch p132.


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