Quadrant 490

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Formed in Birmingham in 1901 to manufacture bicycles, Quadrant was run by two brothers, Walter and William Lloyd.

Bicycles soon became petrol powered using Minerva clip-on engines and before they knew it they were making fully fledged machines, being one of the first to fully incorporate engines into frames. Always at the vanguard of technology, they introduced proper magnetos, carburettors and mechanical inlet valves before most others in the business and were well known before World War I for making powerful high quality machines. 

Heavily involved in aircraft manufacture during the conflict, they soon got down to making bikes again in 1919, using their new found engineering expertise to sell machines with light-weight engine barrels and alloy pistons.Their large singles were ideal for hauling sidecars, the immediate post-war 650cc and 780cc singles selling well, a 490cc side-valve joining the range from 1922.

This 490cc machine dates from 1923 and has been museum stored for a number of years, the vendor reporting that he has had it running recently. Requiring light recommissioning, this powerful, early machine has a current V5, its nice number remaining transferable.

CATALOGUE AMENDMENT - The vendor states that he has not had the bike running of late.