French Motorcycles

Bichrone Motorcycles

Bichrone-1903-TMC-01.jpg
Bichrone 1903

Bichrone

1902-1907

Henri Lepappe of Paris built motorcycles with their own two-stroke engines which were supplied to manufacturers. The firm was one of the first to use two-stroke engines. The machines were advertised by J.C. Hencke of London in the first edition of The Motor Cycle in March 1903. The advertisement has the line, "One explosion at every revolution, which means Power".

Also referred to as "Lepape".

Au premier abord, on peut prendre le petit moteur Lepape - baptisé Bichrone - pour un banal bicylindre en V dont un des cylindres serait dépourvu d'ailettes.

At first glance, we can take the small Lepape engine - named Bichrone - for an ordinary V-twin with one of the cylinders having no fins.
~ Bourdache

Martin Shelley writes:

Hasluck describes how, "in this motor, the explosive `mixture enters from the carburetter at A, is compressed in pump B, and forced through C to the motor cylinder D". This was an idea copied from the Dolphin or Korting two stroke design and was later revived by DKW for their successful 1930s racers.

Reports from the 1903 Stanley Show

The Bichrone motor will be shown by J. C. Hencke in the Minor Hall at the Stanley. There will be motors of 2.25 and 3.5 h.p., a Bichrone motor-bicycle and fore-carriage, Invicta accumulators, Dary coils, tanks and other accessories will also be shown.

The engines, frames, etc., of the Bichrone motors are particularly well finished, and the latter show signs Of considerable improvement over last year's exhibit. In addition to the Bichrone motors, Mr. Hencke is showing various accessories in the form of accumulators, tanks, coils, contact-breakers, etc. (Stand 7.)

Sources: Tragatsch p87, Martin Shelley, Graces Guide, Bourdache.

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