Francis-Barnett Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Francis-Barnett Models for 1920/1921

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Francis-Barnett 1920 Technicalities

An easy adjustment and a parallel action are provided for the Francis-Barnett rear brake.
Clean outline is obtained on the Francis-Barnett by leading the control wires, inside the saddle tank.

Olympia Show 1920

Francis-Barnett. (Stand 34.)

  • 2¾ h.p.; 70x76 mm. (292 c.c); single-cylinder four-stroke; side-by-side valves; splash lubrication; B. and B. carburetter, chain-driven magneto; two-speed Sturmey-Archer gear; chain and belt drive; 26 x 2¼ in. tyres. Price £89 5s.

Francis and Barnett. Ltd., Lower Ford Street, Coventry.

The Francis-Barnett lightweights are among the prettiest in the Show, and one interesting result of the 1921 taxation scheme is that the makers are careful to state the exact weight of all their models. With empty tanks and without lamps or tools, the weights range from 152 lb. for the single-speed two-stroke, to 195 lb. for the de luxe model, fitted with J. A. P. engine.

The handsome aspect of the machines on this stand may be ascribed to an excellent quality of finish and to tasteful colouring, the black tank being heavily lined in scarlet and lettered in gold. Moreover, this tank is of the "saddle" type, giving a flush finish to the top. The designer understands that quite seventy-five per cent, of the people who ride lightweights like to have a clutch and kick starter, which he accordingly fits to all his variably-geared models. Metal-rimmed footboards covered with linoleum are standard, and on the de luxe, model a pair of efficient legshields is included. With these extras the machine is catalogued at £105.

A similar machine to the four-stroke is the two-stroke model, which is engined with a 2½ h.p. Villiers engine, and sells at £370 7s. single gear, and £80 17s. with two-speed gear.

Olympia Show, 1920

The Motor Cycle, December 2nd, 1920.