FUSI

M2 250 Sport - 1939

A technically advanced sportster

At the end of World War I, Achille Fusi started importing Belgian FN motorcycles into Italy. The Fusi company began motorcycle assembly under the name RAS in 1932 with a 175cc JAP-engined machine. The RAS range was expanded to include 250 and 500cc bikes, with ohv JAP engines built under license in Italy and later with side-valve Frera power units.

From Assembly to Manufacture

RAS graduated from assembly to manufacture at the end of 1935, launching a 250 with its own make of engine – and what an engine it was! Not only did it have an overhead camshaft, but it also had the technical rarity of face cams. This unusual method of valve actuation had been invented in England by the engineer Slater, adopted by Chater-Lea in

1926, and taken up in France by Soyer in 1928 and in Italy by CF on its 1927 racing 175cc machines. RAS bought the CF patents and continued their production.

Change of Name

The M250 Sport was launched in 1936; to mark the occasion RAS was renamed "Fusi" after the company's founder. This magnificent 250 followed the fashion at the 1938 Milan Show in adopting rear suspension. The M250 remained in production until 1940 and was the only Fusi model to use the elegant face-cam layout; every other model, right up to the end of production in 1957, had conventional valve-gear. However, in the 1950s, Aero-Caproni fitted a face-cam engine.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke

Power Rating: 17 hp @ 7000 rpm

Valves: overhead shaft-driven face cams

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 4-speed; chain final drive

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

Brakes: drum (from & rear)

Wheels: 2.75x21 inch (front & rear)

Maximum Speed: 84 mph

The stylish Fusi M250 Sport was one of the rare machines to use a face-cam engine.