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£1,500 - £2,000
1960 Francis Barnett Falcon 87, 199cc. Registration number BGS 727A. Frame number BF 89027. Engine number 20T 2483.
Francis & Barnett was formed in 1919 when Gordon Francis (son of Graham Francis of Lea Francis fame) and Arthur Barnett (manufacturer of Invicta machines) formed a partnership to produce motorcycles in the old Excelsior works in Coventry.
Famed for their ‘built like a bridge’ bikes of the 1920s and ‘30s, Francis Barnett continued unabated until the outbreak of World War Two (when production switched to vital war work) resuming motorcycle manufacture in the late 1940s. The factory came under the banner of AMC motorcycles in 1947 and was at first allowed free rein to produce their own designs, but the reliance on another manufacturer, namely Villiers Engineering, to produce their engines was of some concern to AMC.
In the 1950s AMC hired the services of an Italian, Mr Piatti, to produce a design for a range of engines of 150, 175, 200 and 250cc capacity to power both the offerings from Francis Barnett and their sister James factory which was also under the control of AMC. The Falcon 87 with the new 200cc (actually 199cc) AMC two-stroke engine replaced the earlier Falcon 81 197cc Villiers offering and received updates to include full alternator charging system, Wipac lighting and an extra gear ratio making the gearbox a 4-speed unit rather than the earlier machine's 3-speed box.
With receipts for paint going back to 2011 this older restoration presents well, owned by Richard Craig of Manchester in 2014 it then moved to Kevin Rhodes of Pudsey in 2017. Our vendor bought it during lockdown as a small project, a new battery soon sorted it out and it ran well when delivered to the saleroom.
Sold with the V5C, a 2014 MOT at 15,867 miles, today it is the same, various receipts and Falcon literature.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
15% inc VAT*
Online and Autobids:
18.6% inc VAT*
