For some time past they have been engaged in the manufacture of a specially designed, high-powered machine, but at present this machine it not ready, so, believing that there is a good demand for a smaller type of machine, they have been experimenting with a French machine known on the Continent as the Griffon. To the general reader this motor-bicycle is, perhaps, little known, but to those sportsmen who have carefully followed the history of the motor-bicycle, its name must be very familiar.
We need only mention a few of the competitions it took such a successful part in, Gaillon—Chateau—Thiery and others. As will be seen by the illustration, the construction of the machine is of the accepted type, the engine being built vertically into the frame, exactly similar to more expensive machines. The engine is 2hp, and is fed by the well-known and well-tried Longuemare carburetter.
The drive is by means of a twisted belt of a double ply character, being exceptionally strong but very pliable. Everything, down to the smallest detail, is of the very best. They had to submit their machines for judgement as to whether they were bicycles that could be driven safely to the Department of the Engineers of Mines and then prove they as riders were also capable of directing them. Readers will say it is impossible, seeing that an ordinary 2hp commercial motor cycle.
On the other hand, this is very easy to explain, when we say that the above-mentioned motor bicycles were weighed for the Paris-Bordeaux race with ordinary track racing tyres on, half the usual bolts missing, no chain, no pedals, in many cases no cranks, sprockets, or chain wheels, and on one of the motor bicycles we even saw a seat-pillar made of wood painted with aluminium powder, tanks of only one litre capacity, handle-bars as thin as paper, and these perforated all over with holes for the purpose of lightening them.
In addition, tyre lock nuts were non est, and circuit wires were made of thin electric bell wire. Many of the coils were actually only attached to the frames by pieces of leather, in some cases string even being used for this purpose. By these means the weights were brought down to 49kg g! But next day, when ready to start, the motor bicycles of which we are talking were totally different machines. Everything required for safety had been replaced. The general outline remained the same, and this naturally deceived the starter; but the details necessary for road racing had been replaced, which of course meant an increase in weight.
