FN 1951 M13 448cc 1 cyl sv 3002

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Description

FN 1951 M13 448cc side valve single military model frame # 110698 engine # 10933

When FN presented the M 13 model range at the motorcycle exhibition in Paris at the end of 1946, it received a lot of attention.
In the first place because the quality of the FN product was convincing again and secondly because of the appearance of the front suspension.
This was a unique trailing cantilever structure with pulled front wheel.
At first, the frame was a parallelogram shape with steel springs at the sides. In a later version the fork tubes followed the rounding of the mudguard, with rubber bands to control suspension movement.
The theory behind this construction is that a wheel can be more easily pulled than pushed over an obstacle.
The M 13 was offered with different engines: initially there were 250cc and 350cc OHV and 450 cc SV engines available and in 1950 the range was completed by a 450cc OHV model.
The rear wheel suspension also attracted a lot of attention. This works with a system with rubber bands, “elastics”. The engines were designed as unit constructions and all models basically had the same bottom end with identical crankshaft, conrod, clutch, gearbox, et cetera.
All versions had the same stroke of 80mm and only the bores differed for the various models.
The M13 was popular as an army machine, in 1950 and 1951 1470 450cc models were delivered to the Belgian army.
The 448 cc M13 weighs 130 kg and has a low fuel consumption and a good spares situation.
The specimen we offer comes with Lucas electrics and Amal carburettor. It is complete with panniers and pillion seat and is a nice older restoration.