Werner Motors

The Werner of 1897 was the first motor bike with front wheel drive.

Model 1897

The brothers Werner in Paris in 1896 came up with the idea to equip a bicycle with a small motor. The lightweight single-cylinder four -stroke engine was manufactured by Hippolyte Labitte 1896. The 10 kg lightweight motor was mounted directly in front of the steering head; initially designed as a friction roller. However, the elastic belt drive proved to be advantageous, so this was used in the series production. The first motor bike of the brothers Werner, called " motocyclette ," still had the hot tube ignition. 1898, the motorbike has been revised. The engine received by the increase in displacement to 232 cc and the more reliable battery - coil ignition system with breaker a power increase to 1.5 hp. When riding uphill the pedals could be used to support engine. It was launched by the pedals, which could be detected after starting the engine to serve as a support for the feet.

Model 1901

1901 appeared the "New Werner". In the completely redesigned model, now with an empty weight of 41 kg, the engine similar to the Laurin & Klement Type 1 was integrated into the bicycle frame. The engine, a product supplied by De Dion -Bouton engine with 225 cc displacement and 2.75 HP, later (1904 ) with 262 cc and 3.25 hp and spray-nozzle carburetor, allowed a top speed of 45 km / h Participation in the race Paris - Vienna ended with a double victory in the motorcycle class for the " New Werner". The success could be repeated in 1903 at the Paris-Madrid race with a win. The commercially available models was accordingly offered as " 2.75 hp Paris - Vienna " and " 3.25 hp Paris -Madrid ". 1905 still a two-cylinder model with 4 PS was launched.

Dissemination

Were in 1897 only a few dozen Werner motor bicycles manufactured in 1898 began production in large numbers; it sold thousands. The production amounted to 300 to 500 motocyclette per year. The low weight and the technical reliability ensure the dissemination throughout Europe.

Licensees were, inter alia, the Eisenach car factory, the Cyclone engine works and the British Motor Syndicate under Harry John Lawson. The German manufacturer NSU offered in 1931, the concept of front-wheel drive, but with chain drive, with his NSU Motosulm to. The French manufacturer Solex reached in 1946 with his Velosolex friction roller drive with the original idea of the brothers Werner again.