1960 Francis Barnett Falcon 20T, 199cc. Registration number ...

Hammer

£850

1960 Francis Barnett Falcon 20T, 199cc. Registration number GSL 114 (non transferrable). Frame number BF 89598. Engine number 20T 3555.
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.
GSL appears an original machine that is stated to start and ride.
Sold with the V5C, we would recommend a gentle recommissioning to err on the side of caution.