Francis Barnett Model Four 1.5hp

Gordon Francis (son of Graham of Lea Francis fame) married the daughter of Arthur Barnett of Invicta motorcycles and thus the Francis Barnett motorcycle came in to being in 1919. From 1923 on they concentrated on fully triangulated pin-jointed frames  making a lightweight but sturdy machine. In the hands of riders like Tommy Meeten, these lightweight bikes were campaigned at Brooklands and in the Scottish Six Days Trial. Marketing material claimed that the frame was "built like a bridge" and publicity stunts included riding up Mount Snowden and Ben Nevis.

This Model 4 machine dates from June 1925 and is powered by a 147cc (1.5hp) two-stroke engine which turns easily with good compresion. Equipment includes electric lighting and a rear carrier and all cables and levers are free and working. The machine has not been run in recent years and would benefit from some light re-commisioning before being pressed back into use. It comes with copies of two past sales receipts from 1979 and 1995, an old RF60 log book and V5, and is still on its original transferable registration RW 3579, a series which ended in the 1920s.