Sunbeam Model 9 Twinport

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Sunbeam had begun experimenting with overhead valves on their factory racers in the early 1920s and these duly appeared on production models in 1924. 

The Model 90 was Sunbeam’s prestige 500cc model, introduced for competition in the mid-20s. A John Greenwood design, it was advanced for its day and included a crankshaft supported by three ball-bearings, dry sump lubrication and enclosed primary drive. In flat-tank form, most Sunbeam overhead valve models arguably had too much power for their chassis but, when the robust saddle-tank frame arrived for the 1929 season, it easily handled the increasing tune of that torquey, race-bred twin-port engine.

Extensively developed by the time of the final 'all-Sunbeam' version of 1932, the road Model 9 incorporated the many improvements generated over the years by the Model 90 racing relative and added Lucas lighting and a pillion seat. The Webb-pattern front forks introduced in 1931 gave another fillip to the package making the early thirties 9 such a well-respected machine that there was never any need for a rider to mention the maker at all when describing his bike as a 'Model 9'. The excellent four-speed 'box, replacing the 1920s 3-speeder for 1932, removed the only out-dated aspect of the design.

First registered in March 1932, this Model 9 has only had three owners since 1932 and remains a largely unrestored, unmolested example. The vendor states that: “If someone was looking for an original bike to restore, this would be a very good candidate. However, with a little servicing it will be capable of being ridden as it is in VMCC Girder Fork events or just for Sunday afternoon cruising.”