Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
7916
BRONDOIT
350cc · 1926
Too many crashes
Financial problems in the mid-1920s saw control of the Brondoit company acquired by the engineer Paul Le Bussy, who decided to revive the sports activities of the marque.
Amateur Sportsman
The new boss was a keen amateur competition motorcyclist, thus following the course set by his predecessor. He competed personally in many events under the pseudonym of "LEB”, and, under his leadership, a new 350 with a three-speed gearbox and chain transmission was put into production. The 250 underwent the same treatment. Good racing results flowed in, notably in the French Bol d'Or 24-hour race and the Liege-Bordeaux-Liege reliability trial.
Fatal Accident
Flushed with successes that were as much sporting as financial, Paul Le Bussy endowed his marque with the prestige model that it had previously lacked. The bike was a 500cc Supers port fitted with an overhead-valve MAG engine. Sadly, he had little time to enjoy it, for "LEB" was killed during the practice session for the Coupe de Ia Meuse. His brother assumed command, but Paul Le Bussy's dynamic personality was missing and, moreover, it was the time of the Great Depression. It proved the end of the road for Brondoit. However, a garage in Herstal bought the business a few years later and found sufficient spares in stock to assemble another 75 Brondoits, which it sold for the knock-down price of 750 Belgian francs around 1936.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 350cc (74x80mm) air-cooled single cylinder; gasoline/ oil lubrication; HT magneto ignition; twin inertia flywheels, one at either side of the crankcase
Valves: two-stroke
Fuel System: carburetor
Transmission: 3-speed, chain final drive
Suspension: Druid girder forks (front); rigid (rear)
Brakes: drum (front & rear)
A distinguishing feature of the Brondoit 350 two-stroke was the use of twin inertia flywheels, with one placed at either side of the crankcase.