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 Durandal - 350 Rudge
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Photo ou archives : D. Ganneau
1208

Capacity : 350
Model : Rudge
Production : 1931 - 1932
Category : (R) Street Bike

DURANDAL

350 Rudge 4v – 1932

The stuff of legends

When Philippe Ulberich created his own marque at Dijon in 1926, he named it "Durandal" after the unbreakable sword of the legendary folk hero Roland. In four years of production, many different frame-and-engine combinations appeared under this venerable name.

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It was in 1930 that the finest Durandal of all appeared. The English Rudge company had recently begun selling its engines separately under the "Python" marque, and the new Durandals were powered by these magnificent units – which boasted four radial valves – in 350 and 500cc capacities. The gearboxes came from the same source, were initially hand change and then, after 1931, foot change. These lively machines were delivered in road-going trim, but a racing version – recognizable by its thinner-section tires, was also available.

A Proud Competition Record

The Durandal-Rudge was virtually the only French racing bike available to private customers and its competition results spoke volumes. Typically, a 500 Durandal-Rudge took the motorcycle record for the Mont-Ventoux hillclimb in 1933. But the economic crisis of the early Thirties and fierce competition from the neighboring Terrot company sounded the death knell for Durandal, which disappeared in 1933. Total production is estimated at 200 to 300 units; around 40 survive.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 346cc (70x90mm) single-cylinder four-stroke; magneto ignition

Valves: overhead; four radial valves

Fuel System: Amal carburetor

Transmission: 4-speed; chain final drive

Suspension: girder forks (front); rigid (rear)

Brakes: drum (front & rear)

Wheels: wire

Weight: 309 lb

Maximum Speed: 80 mph

The Durandal-Rudge combined a frame in the style of its day with one of the finest racing engines of all time.




Le fichier Moto Passion réalisé par François-Marie Dumas réunit près de deux mille photos accompagnées d'un historique très complet des machines présentées.
Il sera progressivement mis à jour ici et toute information complémentaire est la bienvenue sur info@moto-collection.org.

Cette documentation unique, qui constitue sans doute l'encyclopédie la plus exhaustive jamais écrite sur l'histoire de la moto, a été réalisée avec l'assistance de nombreux spécialistes dont principalement Didier Ganneau, Christophe Gaime, Mick Woollett, Jean Goyard, Bernard Salvat, Christian Rey, Yves Campion, Helmut Krackowizer, Michael Dregni, Michel Montange, etc. que je remercie ici.

Disponible sur demande :
- Les fiches originales sur papier
- Les photos et archives signées de mon nom en haute définition ou les documents originaux.
Me contacter sur info@moto-collection.org pour les conditions et droits d'utilisation.