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 Francis Barnett - 250 250 trials 85
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Francis Barnett 250 trials 85 motocyclette motorrad motorcycle vintage classic classique scooter roller moto scooter
Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
1405

Capacity : 250
Model : 250 trials 85
Production : 1962 -
Category : (Off-Road) Trial

FRANCIS-BARNETT

250 Trials 85 - 1962

End of an era

Founded in Coventry in 1919, Francis-Barnett established a solid reputation by equipping its motorcycles with the "Built like a Bridge" triangulated space frame invented by its founder, Captain Gordon Ingoldsby Francis. The marque caused a sensation in 1933 with the Cruiser touring bike, whose lower engine and transmission were fully encased in steel fairings. In 1947 the marque was acquired by the AMC group and continued production of the 250cc two-stroke single that had made the "Fanny-B" a household name.

The AMC Interlude

In the 1950s, many British manufacturers used the Villiers engine, a proprietary two-stroke that was as simple as it was indestructible. The Francis-Barnett Trials,

introduced in 1952 in 125 and 137cc forms, was one of the best exponents of this formula. In 1958 the Trials 83 appeared, directly derived from the works competition version. It took two gold medals in the 1958 International Six Days' Trial in Austria.

Invasion by the Spanish Armada

Trials – a form of off-road competition that emphasizes rider skill and regularity rather than speed – was a British invention. For years it was dominated by the four-stroke machines, but two-strokes began their steady progress to the top in the 1960s. And when crisis hit the British industry in the micl-1960s, Spanish marques, headed by Bultaco, took full advantage of the situation to dominate the trials scene.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: air-cooled AMC 249cc (66x73 mm) single-cylinder

Power Rating: 12 hp @ 5000 rpm

Valves: two-stroke

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 4-speed

Suspension: Norton hydraulic fork (front); Girling swinging fork, hydraulic dampers (rear)

Brakes: drum (from & rear)

Wheels: 2.75x21 inch (front); 4.00x19 inch (rear)

Weight: 273 lb

Unostentatiously efficient, the Francis-Barnett Trials was powered by the two-stroke engine produced by the parent AMC group.



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.