Sunbeam Motorcycles Model 2 Light Solo 1924
Already established as makers of high-quality bicycles the firm of John Marston Ltd (Wolverhampton) introduced the first Sunbeam motorcycle in 1912, a 350cc (2¾hp) side-valve single.
The marque quickly established a reputation for sporting prowess, achieving second place in the 1914 Isle of Man Senior TT and winning the 1920 race.
Overhead-valve engines were introduced in the mid-1920s, but early successes were achieved with side-valve engined machines. Although Sunbeam’s very first machine had been a ‘350’ they abandoned the class in 1914 in favour of larger capacities, only returning to it in 1923 with an entirely new side-valve design. This would form the basis of all overhead-valve engines that followed. The new 2¾hp engine first appeared in the essentially similar Models 1 and 2, the former being a footboard-equipped touring bike and the latter a more sporting machine.
This restored 2¾hp side-valve ‘flat tanker’ was purchased in Germany and became part of the collection in 2008.