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 Dax - 100 D Baby
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Dax D Baby motocyclette motorrad motorcycle vintage classic classique scooter roller moto scooter
Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
605

Capacity : 100
Model : D Baby
Production : 1935 - 1936
Category : (R) Street Bike

DAX

D 100 Baby - 1935

A precocious child

In France in the Thirties, pedal-assisted cyclemotors with 100cc engines, a maximum weight of 30 kg (66 lbs.), and a top speed of 30 km/h (18.6 mph) could be ridden without a drivers license . The game for all the motorcycle manufacturers was to see how much they could get away with legally in producing 100cc machines.

Marginally Legal

The jewel-like Dax was built right on the limits of legality to take advantage of every tax and insurance concession available to cycles while still offering the advantages of a "real" motorcycle. The 100cc "Baby" was a scaled-down replica of the highly-desirable "Rafale," built by the Clichy company. Dax's Baby used the most advanced techniques of the period.

All-Alloy Engine

The all-alloy four-stroke engine had a twin-port overhead-valve cylinder head and was listed with a two-speed gearbox to conform with the legal weight limit. However, most customers opted for the alternative three-speed transmission! Also for legal reasons, the Baby was equipped with pedals, which were actually almost useless because they could be bolted on to act as immobile footrests. Impeccably finished and offering 50mph performance, the Baby seemed to hold all the cards. But it was impossibly expensive, costing the equivalent of over $400 while a conventional cyclemotor cost $270, and a 250cc "real" bike only $630. Only 100 Babies were sold.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 100 cc (46x60mm) single cylinder four-stroke

Valves: pushrod overhead, hairpin springs

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 2- or 3-speed manual

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

Brakes: 4.7 in drums

Wheels: wire

Weight: 66 lb

Maximum Speed: 50 mph

Intended as tbe Rolls-Royce of cyclemotors, the Baby was, according to its catalog, "not a mass-produced machine but built lo the taste of each individual customer”.





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.