Like BSA, La Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre (‘FN’ for short) began as a munitions manufacturer, turning to the production of motorcycles around 1900.
source.image: classic-motorcycle.com
- Manufacturer: FN
- Model: M13
- Year: 1952
- Displacement: 350 cc
- Cylinder: 1
- Engine type: 4-stroke / sv
Best known for its sensational four-cylinder models, the first of which appeared in 1905, the Belgian company demonstrated the same innovative spirit in the design of its singles, being among the first to adopt unitary construction of engine and gearbox, permitting the use of geared primary drive. The M13 350cc sidevalve model is an older restoration and runs fine.
The M13 was offered with an overhead valve engine with a displacement of 250 cc (from 1950 with 350 cc) and a side valve version with a displacement of 450 cc. The 450 version with a bore/stroke ratio of 84.5 × 80 mm produced 11 hp at 3,500 min −1 ; this enabled the 136 kg machine to reach a top speed of 105 km/h.
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The motorcycle with the drawn long-arm swing arm was presented to the press in September 1946, development work on it had already taken place before the Second World War. Initially, the long-arm swing arm was offered with tension springs that were loaded during the compression process. Another unusual design replaced the tension springs in the 1949 model year. Similar to the previous model, the swing arm pivot point was moved in front of the front wheel and dampened with a rubber band.
