Holden (motorcycle)

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Holden
Holden 1899-1902 (opengewandte) .JPG
Holden 1897
Holden
Manufacturer Holden
Production period 1897 to 1902
class motorcycle
Motor data
Four-stroke engine , water-cooled four-cylinder engine, sniffer valve , pump lubrication, surface carburetor, battery coil ignition with interrupter
Power  (kW / PS ) about 3 HP at 420 min -1
Top speed (  km / h) about 40
drive Push rods
Brakes front:
rear rim brake : none
Wheelbase  (mm) 1,194 mm
Empty weight  (kg) 60 (with water cooling)

The Holden (1897–1902) was the first motorcycle with a four-cylinder engine .

development

The English Colonel Sir Henry Capel Lofft Holden KCB (born January 23, 1856 in Cheltenham , † March 20, 1937) has been involved in the construction of air-cooled engines since 1896. The first patents date from 1896 and 1897. The first prototypes were produced together with the Crypto Cycle Company , the series production took place from 1899 to 1902 by the Motor Traction Company in Coventry .

technology

The four-cylinder Holden engine was a tandem, that is, two engines, each with two longitudinal double cylinders without a crankshaft, were arranged side by side. Two interconnected pistons ran in each cylinder liner. In the middle of each connecting rod were cross bolts that slid back and forth in a groove. The pin ends were connected to the cranks on the left and right of the rear axle by long connecting rods. A surface carburetor formed the mixture, ignition was carried out by a battery with ignition coil and distributor. Four wires led to a type of "spark plug". The camshaft of the exhaust valves was driven by an inclined gear wheel that was moved by a chain from the rear wheel hub. The inlet was controlled by sniffer valves , as they were common at the time. The start was made by pedaling with the help of the pedal cranks attached to the front wheel. There was a rim brake on the 65 cm front wheel, the rear wheel with a diameter of 50 cm was unbraked.

The first models from 1897 were air-cooled, while the series models from 1899 had water cooling. The Holden was praised for its "remarkably pleasant driving style," according to the chroniclers. However, technical developments moved away from direct power transmission to the rear wheel.

In 1901 three more Holden were shown at the Stanley Show, one model had completed the route from London to Petersfield and back (170 km) without any problems. This is said to have been the last appearance of the first “superbike”.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Obituary Notices of the Royal Society of London: No. 6 vol. 2 pp. 367-369 January 1938 (PDF; 27 kB)
  2. ↑ a b c d Christian Rey and Harry Louis: Famous Motorcycles. ISBN 3-453-52062-9 . P. 20
  3. ^ A b Christian Bartsch (ed.): A century of motorcycle technology. VDI-Verlag Düsseldorf. ISBN 3-18-400757-X . P. 54
  4. ↑ Roger Hicks: The international encyclopedia motorcycles. Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart, 1st edition 2006, ISBN 978-3-613-02660-5 , p. 245