Antique Motorcycles

Make      : Royal Enfield

Type       : Bullet

Year       : 1948

CC         : 350

Cylinder  : Unknown

Description

When this Bullet was produced, the Redditch based Royal Enfield firm had been in the motorcycle business for half a century already. In the early days engines from De Dion, Minerva and MAG were used. In the twenties Enfield marketed a successful light two stroke model; most other models had JAP engines. By the end of the twenties the engines were of Enfield?s own design and in 1933 their famous line of sporty ? Bullets? was started. These machines would be produced and further developed till the 1960s. There were 250, 350 and 500 versions, with 2 and 4- valve options. Three valve heads ( twin inlet, single exhaust) were listed in 1935 only.

Make      : Zenith

Type       : 680

Year       : 1927

CC         : 680

Cylinder  : 2

Description

Zenith 1927 678 cc J.A.P. V-twin model ?6-80? engine # GT./T.56710

Zeith machines were manufactured from 1904 till 1950, in a variety of factories in or around London. From the early days proprietary engines were used, such as Fafnir, Green-Precision, JAP, Bradshaw and Villiers. Tle latter engines were used in most models from the thirties.
In pre WW1 days Zenith machines gained many successes; driving force was chief Engineer Freddy Barnes, who was responsible for the famous ?Gradua? gear. The mechanics of the Gradua gear were a variable engine pulley worked by a handle, with simultaneous correction of the belt length made by sliding the rear wheel backwards or forwards in the fork slots. Its advantage showed itself most effectively in speed hill climbs. The Zenith rider could change during the journey up while the other competitors had to make do with a single choice of gear ratio. Rival riders and manufacturers thought that this was an unfair advantage so many leading clubs barred Gradua gear Zeniths from their hill climbs. Zenith was quick to recognize the publicity value and took the word ?barred? as their trademark.
In the twenties production had to be economized and the expensive Gradua system gave way to a more conventional Sturmey Archer 3 speed gearbox. Zenith stayed in the forefront with their racing and record breaking activities : in 1928 a Zenith-J.A.P. established a world record of 124.62 MPH at Arpajon in France.

Make     : Zenith

Type      : onbekend

Year       : 1927

CC         : Unknown

Cylinder  : 2

Description

No description

Make: Zenith

Type      : Gradua

Year       : 1919

CC         : 976

Cylinder  : 2

Description

Zeith machines were manufactured from 1904 till 1950, in a variety of factories in or around London. From the early days proprietary engines were used, such as Fafnir, Green-Precision, JAP, Bradshaw and Villiers. Tle latter engines were used in most models from the thirties. In pre WW1 days Zenith machines gained many successes; driving force was chief Engineer Freddy Barnes, who was responsible for the famous ?Gradua? gear. The mechanics of the Gradua gear were a variable engine pulley worked by a handle, with simultaneous correction of the belt length made by sliding the rear wheel backwards or forwards in the fork slots. Its advantage showed itself most effectively in speed hill climbs. The Zenith rider could change during the journey up while the other competitors had to make do with a single choice of gear ratio. Rival riders and manufacturers thought that this was an unfair advantage so many leading clubs barred Gradua gear Zeniths from their hill climbs. Zenith was quick to recognize the publicity value and took the word ?barred? as their trademark.

Make    : Husqvarna

Type      : 170

Year       : 1927

CC         : 546

Cylinder  : 2

Description

Husqvarna ca. 1927 model 170 546 cc side valve V-twin frame 211307 engine 2442

Husqvarna started producing motorcycles as early as 1903. In the beginning FN engines were used, around 1909 this was changed to Moto-R?ve. In the early twenties two models were introduced with their own side valve V-twin engine, of 992 cc and 546 cc capacity, the latter labelled model 180. At the time American V-twins were very popular sellers in Sweden, so it is no coincidence that the general layout of the model 180 bears a certain resemblance to the famous Indian Scout of the period; the carburettor fitted is an American Schebler, quite rarely seen on a European motorcycle. This Model 180 is a quality Swedish product, producing some 14 BHP @4000 RPM.

Make    : Zenith

Type      : Gradua Jap Twin

Year       : 1918

CC         : 680

Cylinder  : 2

Description

No description

Make     : Zenith

Type      : Gradua

Year       : 1912

CC         : 770

Cylinder  : 2

Description

Zeith machines were manufactured from 1904 till 1950, in a variety of factories in or around London. From the early days proprietary engines were used, such as Fafnir, Green-Precision, JAP, Bradshaw and Villiers. Tle latter engines were used in most models from the thirties. In pre WW1 days Zenith machines gained many successes; driving force was chief Engineer Freddy Barnes, who was responsible for the famous ?Gradua? gear. The mechanics of the Gradua gear were a variable engine pulley worked by a handle, with simultaneous correction of the belt length made by sliding the rear wheel backwards or forwards in the fork slots. Its advantage showed itself most effectively in speed hill climbs. The Zenith rider could change during the journey up while the other competitors had to make do with a single choice of gear ratio. Rival riders and manufacturers thought that this was an unfair advantage so many leading clubs barred Gradua gear Zeniths from their hill climbs. Zenith was quick to recognize the publicity value and took the word ?barred? as their trademark.