MOTOCONFORT

308cc MC 1 - 1927

Comfort is purely relative ...

Two years after Motobécane's creation, a sister company appeared – Motoconfort. Like Motobécane, which started as the name of a model and then was adopted as the company name, so it was with Motoconfort.

Larger Machine

Following the huge success of their 175, the company founders, Bardin and Benoit, decided to produce a larger machine, but the name of Motobécane had become too closely linked with utility lightweights. So the new model was launched as the "Motoconfort."

Balloon Tires

This policy was counter-productive, limiting the expansion of the range, so it was decided to produce every model under both marque names. This doubled the size of the sales network using the same range, differentiated only by the badge of the tank and the color schemes. The original Motoconfort – called the MC 1 – had a powerful engine, and the "comfort," which gave the new marque its name, came from its big clincher-mounted, low-pressure balloon tires. However, the suspension was as rudimentary as on the Motobécane, and only the rear wheel had a brake. Comfort, it seems, was relative. In 1928, the F version was developed with an all-chain transmission, and the F3 with a three-speed gearbox. The final F4 version of 1930 was fundamentally redesigned, with a saddle tank, optional electric lighting, a girder front fork and drum brakes on both wheels. This big two-stroke was replaced by the unit-construction four-stroke Type B.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 308c (70x80mm) air-cooled single-cylinder; magneto ignition

Valves: two-stroke

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 2-speed, chain primary drive, belt final drive

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

Brakes: hand and foot brakes operating on dummy belt rim (rear)

Wheels: 710x85mm wire clincher (front & rear)

Weight: 198 lb

Maximum Speed: 44 mph

From the outset, Motoconfort machines bore a distinctive green livery, which the marque retained until after WWII.