Francis-Barnett Powerbike

Description

The Francis-Barnett Powerbike has a front-wheel hub dynamo generator for road lighting. It has a handlebar-mounted bulb horn, and a Villiers Junior de Luxe engine. The engine starting is assisted by a decompression lever, and the Powerbike has a rear-wheel mounted stand. This vehicle is V5 registered. Francis and Barnett Ltd of Lower Ford Street, Coventry were formed in 1919 by Gordon Francis and Arthur Barnett. For the 1939 season, they produced an autocycle called the "J50 Powerbike". The Francis-Barnett Powerbike followed the usual pattern, the first model having the Villiers Junior engine. Just after the K50 was announced for the 1940 season, the engine was changed to the new Junior de Luxe. A feature of the Powerbike was a rear hub brake was actuated by back pedalling. This had a trip action that allowed it to be disconnected when wheeling the machine but automatically re-engaged it when the machine was ridden. When the war ended, the Powerbike was quickly re-introduced but it now had a girder fork that used rubber bands to provide the springing. In June 1947 Francis-Barnett was amalgamated with AMC.