Hawker Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Hawker Motorcycles 1923

Hawker-1922-550cc-Oly-p748.jpg
Hawker 550cc for 1923

Frame improvements have been effected on the 550 c.c. model.

HAWKER BIG SINGLE.

Double-purpose 550 c.c. Blackburne-engined Machine

CONSIDERABLE alteration has been made in the frame of the 550 c.c. Hawker, which is now more symmetrical in design. The top tube is curved to the rear, which, it has been found, has resulted in steadying the steering of the machine, for the saddle is now within 28 ins. of the ground. Druid forks are used.

For Sidecar Work.

Sidecar lugs are incorporated in the frame, which, incidentally, will take all Blackburne engines.

The engine is of standard Blackburne pattern, with detachable head, outside fly-wheel, and roller bearing big-end. Best and Lloyd lubricator, Fellows magneto, Amac carburetter, and either a Lucas Magdyno or B.T.H. Sparklight as an extra for lighting equipment, are fitted. The transmission is by exposed chains which are guarded on the top run.

It is equipped with a Burman three-speed gear box, and 650x65 mm. tyres on fiat base rims. Solo it is sold for £80, or with a Montgomery sporting sidecar at £95.

The 348 c.c. model is sold at £70. There is also a 348 c.c. overhead valve Blackburne sports machine, fitted with a close-ratio gear box and narrower mud-guards.
The Motor Cycle November 16th, 1922.

The 1923 Olympia Show.

HAWKER. (36.)

Dual-purpose Big Single.

4 H.P. Model.

85x96 mm. (545 c.c.); single cyl. four-stroke; side valves; drip feed lubrication; Amac carb.; chain-driven mag.; 3-sp. gear; clutch and kick-starter; chain drive; 700x80 mm. tyres. Price: Solo, £85; with Sidecar, £105.

H. G. Hawker Eng. Co., Ltd., Canbury Park Ed., Kingston.

The largest of the Hawker models has been completely re-designed for next year and is now an excellent example of the more substantially-built dual-purpose big single. 700 X 80 mm. tyres are fitted, and the rest of the machine is in proportion. It is not, however, in any way a cumbersome-looking design.

It has internal expanding brakes front and rear.

One model shown is completely equipped, including the new B.T.H. mag-generator lighting set, which is very neatly carried.

2½ H.P. Model.

70x76 mm. (293 c.c); single cyl. two-stroke; sump lubrication; Amac carb.; flywheel mag.; 2-sp. gear; no clutch or kick-starter; chain and belt drive; 26x2 3/8in. tyres. Price: Solo, £39 8s.

Neatness is the keynote of the Hawker two-stroke, which, it may be recalled, earned considerable fame by hauling a sidecar up 5-mile-long Tornapress in the 1921 Scottish Six Days Trials.

Its unusual features are a detachable; cylinder head and a simple system of automatic lubrication. The way in which both its brakes work on the rear belt rim also is not too common.

The flywheel magneto may be used to supply lighting current.

In between the two extremes specified are 250 c.c. and 350 c.c. side-valve and 350 c.c. o.h.v. Blackburne-engined models at £70, £72 10s., and £84 respectively. All three have chain drive and Burman three-speed gear boxes.

Olympia Show 1922
The Motor Cycle, November 30th, 1922. Page 844