New Imperial Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

New Imperial 1920/1921 Models

New-Imperial-1920-TMC-01.jpg
New Imperial 1920

For easy riding a supplementary spring is fitted to the seat-pillar on the big twin New Imperial.
On the New Imperial the foot plates are adjustable horizontally and vertically.

Olympia Show 1920

New Imperial. (Stand 91.)

2¾ h.p.; 70x76 mm. (292 c.c); single-cylinder four-stroke; side-by-side valves; drip feed lubrication; B. and B. carburetter; E.I.C. C. chain-driven magneto; two-speed sliding dog gear; chain and belt drive; 26x2¼ in. tyres. Price £89 5s.

New Imperial Cycles, Ltd., Birmingham.

A light machine, which should be capable of going anywhere, and which has, in fact, proved its prowess in many competitions, is the 2¾ h.p. New Imperial. Little alteration has been made, but the New Imperial gear box is now standardised, the gears being constantly in mesh, and the different ratios obtained by sliding dog clutches.

Chain and belt transmission is employed, with a handle-bar-controlled clutch, and an enclosed kick- starter. Saxon spring forks are now fitted, and the front guard is of particularly wide section for so small a machine. As previously, the J. A. P. engine is relied upon, and is efficiently silenced by a cylindrical exhaust box carried under the timing gear, and fitted with a long extension pipe. If desired, this model may be obtained with M-L Maglita electrical equipment, and also with a plain two- speed gear box, the price being £80 17s.

8 h.p.; 85.5x85 mm. (976 c.c); twin-cylinder four-stroke; side-by-side valves; drip feed lubrication; B. and B. carburetter; E.I.C. chain-driven magneto; three-speed sliding dog gear; chain drive; 28 x 3in. tyres. Price £147.

As a substantial and powerful machine for sidecar work, the 8 h.p. twin J.A.P.-engined New Imperial is a good example. Brampton forks are fitted to this model, with 28in. wheels, and completely enclosed all-chain drive. An introduction this year is the use of curved knee-guards, which enhance rather than detract from the appearance of the machine.

The rear brake is now lined with Ferodo, and is most efficient, the shoe operating in a dummy belt rim. A point which makes for the comfort of the driver is that the footboards may be adjusted, and a refinement is a coil spring saddle mounting. Substantial chain cases are fitted, which would, nevertheless, be readily removable in case of necessity. This model may be fitted with Lucas Magdyno electrical equipment, this, of course, being an extra. The price with sidecar is £186 18s.

Olympia Show. The Motor Cycle, December 2nd, 1920. Page 711