Raleigh Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Raleigh Motorcycles for 1921

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5 h.p. Raleigh 1920

Large flat twins generally appear unsymmetrical. Not so this 5 h.p. Raleigh - even the spring frame is the essence of neatness.

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Raleigh 1920

The sidecar lug forms a cross support or the Raleigh duplex frame.
An ideal position for a tool bag - in the centre of a spring frame, as on the Raleigh.

Olympia Show 1920

Raleigh. (Stand 99.)

  • 5 h.p.; 77x75 mm. (700 c.c.); flat twin four-stroke; side-by-side valves; drip feed lubrication; Amac carburetter; gear-driven magneto; three-speed Sturmey-Archer gear; all-chain drive; Dunlop 650x65 mm. tyres Price £162 15s. solo; £204 15s. with sidecar.

Raleigh Cycle Co., Ltd., Nottingham.

Although it was exhibited at last year's Show, the flat twin Raleigh has only lately been put into production. In fact, the Show exhibits are the first production samples, so that the machine has not yet been seen much on the road, and is probably not familiar to readers. Perhaps the most noticeable point about it is its neatness, when one considers that the engine is a flat twin of 700 c.c. This is partly due to the fact that the engine is of larger bore than stroke, and partly to the extremely neat arrangements of the special Sturmey-Archer gear box, the casings and controls of which have been modified to suit the machine. Detail work is especially good; the wheels have knock-out spindles; the front brake has a compensating shoe which cannot possibly drag on the dummy belt pulley when the brake is off; the duplex frame is most thoughtfully laid out, and has been strengthened in the saddle tube. The arrangement of the saddle, sliding on a horizontal extension of the top tube, gives an exceptionally low and comfortable saddle position, which, in combination with the sprung rear frame, should make the machine most pleasant to ride. One specially good point about the arrangement of the spring frame is the fact that the rear mudguard is made in two pieces, of which the hinder is rigid with the wheel, while the front part pivots with the sprung part of the frame. The result is that no amount of spring movement can cause any fouling of the mudguard.

Olympia Show. The Motor Cycle, December 2nd, 1920. Page 708

Raleigh 1920 698cc Flat Twin