New Imperial
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This bike is part of our Biker Tribes feature, a planned special exhibition launching at the Science Museum during 2010. Your contributions to this page may be used in the exhibition. Explore all the motorbikes.
| New Imperial 250 cc motorcycle | |
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| Manufacturer | New Imperial |
| Production years | 1935 |
| Production location | Birmingham |
New Imperial built motorcycles in Birmingham from 1903. This example is a fairly conventional small capacity machine of the mid 1930s. However, an advanced feature is the unit construction of the engine and gearbox (that is, housed together in one unit), with geared primary drive rather than chain.
Production of New Imperials ceased in 1939.
Memories
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Do you remember this bike? Add your memories. |
In 1956/7 I had the 150cc version of this bike and both were peculiar in that they had a geared primary drive which resulted in the engine running in the opposite direction (backwards) to all other bikes. Sat at the top of the train was a phospor bronze gear driving the Lucas Maglita but mine was very worn and kept jumping a tooth resulting in the engine timing becoming completely 'out' which necessitated a strip down by the side of the road.
The front forks on the 150cc were pressed steel girder. Rigid rear end of course.
I abandoned my bike in the sand dunes at Prestatyn and returned home to Gloucestershire on the train. Unfortunately my uncle rescued the bike and returned it to me whereupon I broke it for scrap.
John Molloy
In the Science Museum's Records
Inv: 1964-153 Source: J G Whale