Rudge Whitworth Motorcycles 7/9hp 1921
Rudge Whitworth was formed in 1894 when the Pugh family’s Whitworth Cycle Company merged with the Rudge Cycle Company. Rudge motorcycles were produced from 1910 to 1946.
Unlike their contemporaries they did not use proprietary engines but one of their own designs, a 499cc single with inlet-over-exhaust (IOE) valve gear. This new 3.5 hp model proved outstandingly successful. After WW1, a 998cc V-twin (essentially a pair of IOE singles on a common crankcase) joined the range and when fitted with Rudges famous variable pulley ‘multi’ gear became known as the Multitwin.
Originally fitted with a multi-transmission, this rare V-twin Rudge has been converted to accept the more practical four-speed gearbox. The machine has previously been resident in England, Holland and Austria and features a Lucas horn and acetylene headlamp, Miller rear lamp, double spark plug holder and Senspray carburetor. It runs well with a lot of power.