A long-lived Coventry factory
which produced innovative smaller capacity
motorcycles from 1919 until 1966. Villiers
and JAP engines, up to 346cc were used at
first and two-stroke Villiers engines were
eventually adopted as standard.
The firm's most famous model
was the 250 Cruiser of the 1930s, which combined
its single-cylinder Villiers two-stroke engine
with pressed-steel leg-shields, large mudguards
and partial engine covers. In 1947, the Coventry
firm was taken over by Associated Motor Cycles,
after which it continued to build small-capacity
roadsters, as well as trials and scrambles
bikes, profitably for several years. Bu the
rise of Italian scooters hit sales and Francis-Barnett's
attempt to design and build its own engines
was unsuccessful. "Fanny-B" returned
to Villiers engines for its single and twin-cylinder
models, also called Cruisers in the 1960s.
| Bike |
Image |
Description |
1928 Francis-Barnett Model 9 |
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|
1929 Francis-Barnett Super Sport 1¾hp |
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|
| 1931 Francis Barnett Black Hawk |
 |
196cc. A very original collectable motorcycle
incorporating the makers ingenious
system of replaceable individual straight
tubes which go to make up the complete
frame and forks. |
| 1937 Francis Barnett Seagull G43 |
 |
250cc twin port engine with hand
change three speed gearbox. |
| 1939 Francis Barnett |
 |
250cc |
1939 Francis-Barnett Cruiser, 249cc |
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|
| 1939 Francis Barnett Powerbike 50 Autocycle |
 |
Villiers 98cc Junior De Luxe engine.
|
| 1948 Francis Barnett Merlin |
 |
122cc Villiers engine, twin port, twin
exhaust, 2-stroke, 3-speed hand-change
gearbox, girder front forks. |
| 1949 Francis Barnett 197cc |
 |
|
| 1950 Francis Barnett Merlin |
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Villiers Merlin 2 stroke engine
with a three speed gearbox. |
| 1951 Francis Barnett Model 56 |
 |
1951 Francis barnett Model 56 autocycle.
fitted with the origanal Villiers 2f engine
that it was fitted with ion 1951. |
| 1953 Francis Barnett Powerbike 98cc
Villiers |
 |
Powerbike
history |
| 1953 Francis Barnett merlin 57 |
 |
Villers 10d 125cc engine |
| 1954 Francis Barnett Falcon |
 |
Villiers 2 stroke engine. |
| 1955 Francis Barnett Falcon |
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|
| 1955 Francis Barnett Kestrel |
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150cc. |
1956 Francis-Barnett Plover, 150cc |
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|
1956 Francis-Barnett, 225cc |
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|
| 1957 Francis Barnett Plover |
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150cc
Image supplied by www.andybuysbikes.com |
1957 Francis Barnett Cruiser, 250cc |
 |
|
| 1959 Francis Barnett Light Cruiser |
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2-stroke, AMC engine, 171 cc. |
| 1959 Francis Barnett |
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|
1960 Francis Barnet Plover - 150cc |
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|
| 1960 Francis Barnett Cruiser 80 |
 |
250cc. |
| 1960 Francis Barnett Light Cruiser 79 |
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|
| 1960 Francis Barnett 150 |
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|
| 1961 Francis Barnett Falcom |
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The Coventry firm of Francis- Barnett
was started in 1919 by two former Army
officers to make motor cycles with their
unique "Built like a Bridge"
modular frame using contemporary proprietary
engines. In the years up to WW2 their
firm gained a justified reputation for
good design and excellent build quality,
culminating in the enclosed Cruiser model
of 1936 that set the style for their post-war
machines. In 1959 Francis- Barnett was
taken over by the AMC group, which later
re-located them to the factory of their
competitors, James, in Birmingham reg
no. 745 PLG (Age-Related Number) Engine
AMC Type 20T two Stroke, designed by Vincent
Piatti Arden Green. |
| 1962 Francis Barnett Falcon |
 |
199cc. |
1966 Francis-Barnett Cruiser Sport 250cc
twin |
 |
|
| 1966 Francis Barnett Fulmar |
 |
Villiers, 149cc, 4-speed. |
