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 Monet Goyon - 120 Moto Légère
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Monet Goyon Moto Légère motocyclette motorrad motorcycle vintage classic classique scooter roller moto scooter
Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
5417

Capacity : 120
Model : Moto Légère
Production : 1920 -
Category : (R) Scooter

MONET-GOYON

120cc Moto Légère - 1922

Origins of an empire

The Moto Légère, launched in 1921, was the first real venture into powered two-wheelers by the firm from Macon, founded four years earlier. Its first product had been the Vélocimane, a manually-operated three-wheeler for soldiers who had lost limbs in WWI, followed by the Voiturette Monet, a cross between cycle and automobile reduced to its most basic expression.

British Design

In 1919, Monet-Goyon marketed under its own name the British-made Wall Auto-Wheel, a clip-on powered wheel driven by a four-stroke engine with an automatic intake valve. It had first appeared prior to WWI. This engine was also fitted at the rear of the Auto-Mouche (which was just a powered Vélocimane) and on the Vélauto, a primitive form of scooter.

For Ladies and Priests

In 1921, MG reworked this powerpack, without deviating very far from the original design. It was still fitted to the Roue Motrice, Vélocimane and Vélauto, but it also powered the closed-frame Moto Légère in 1921. With a complex cycle part, it was joined in 1922 by a version with "open frame for ladies and priests," which seemed a much neater design. The Moto Légère had a sober color scheme in black enamel for the frame, with pearl-gray tank and side protection panels lined in black. The Moto Légère had neither a clutch nor a gearbox, but, if all else failed, it was possible to disengage the driving chain by releasing a bolt that loosened the rear wheel sprocket, allowing it to free-wheel.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 119cc (52.5x55mm) air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke; splash lubrication

Power Rating: 1.5 hp @ 1500 rpm

Valves: automatic intake, side exhaust

Fuel System: automatic carburetor

Transmission: direct-chain drive

Suspension: plunger, with coil springs at top and bottom of steering head (front); rigid (rear)

Brakes: rim (front); rim brake on engine flywheel (rear)

Wheels: 600x50 wire clincher (front & rear)

Weight: 66 lb

Maximum Speed: 22 mph

In 1922, the Moto Légère, with its automatic intake valve, was replaced by the Monet-Goyon with a 147cc Villiers two-stroke engine.




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.