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 Motosacoche - 250 Type A (engine for bicycle)
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Motosacoche Type A (engine for bicycle) motocyclette motorrad motorcycle vintage classic classique scooter roller moto scooter
Photo ou archives :
1415

Capacity : 250
Model : Type A (engine for bicycle)
Production : 1901 - 1907
Category : (R) Street Bike

MOTOSACOCHE

215 cc Type A - 1904

A bike in a bag

While the rest of Europe just dreamed of putting engines on its pedal cycles, the brothers Henri and Armand Dufaux of Geneva had a bright idea to make their fortune: the "moto-sacoche" ("engine in a satchel"), a little power pack that would fit any bicycle.

Watchmakers' Precision

Having had the idea, they had to make it work. The Dufaux invention consisted of a rigid triangular framework housing the engine and all its accessories which could simply be clipped inside any standard diamond cycle frame by seven wing-nuts. It weighed only 31 lb and was just 3.25 inches wide. Henri and Armand Dufaux offered the option of a japanned steel fairing that opened out in the shape of a funnel to direct a cooling current of air over the engine.

Racing to Success

The Dufaux brothers built the engine and all its accessories themselves and their Motosacoche rapidly proved its mettle. Faced with the superhuman requirements of the reliability trials of the day, the elegant little Motosacoche won international fame. It came first in a 1901 hillclimb up the Col de Ia Faucille mountain pass. The ultimate development of this original Motosacoche was the invention in 1907 of a magneto to replace the coil-and-battery ignition, which had a high rate of wear.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 215cc (62x75mm) air-cooled 15-degree-inclined single-cylinder four-stroke; total loss lubrication

Power Rating: 1.25 hp @ 1100 rpm

Valves: automatic inlet, side exhaust

Fuel System: Dufaux carburetor

Transmission: direct, by leather belt

Suspension: leading link (front); rigid (rear)

Brakes: rim (front and rear)

Wheels: wire clincher

Weight: 88 lb

Maximum Speed: 22-25 mph

The original Motosacoche was one of the outstanding motorcycles of the pioneer era.





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.