Francis Barnett was best known for its lightweight two-strokes, initially 125 and 150 cc Villiers-engined models developed on pre-war racing machines. Post-war production started with the 1948 Falcon 148 cc model, which set the pattern for the overhead-valve singles that would power future Barnetts. To suit the larger market, 195cc and 249cc Excelsior Talisman engines were used in the larger 198cc Falcon and 249cc Cruiser models. These larger models also employed the innovative 'snaploc' kickstart invented by Sammy Miller.
Sporting variants followed with the alloy-tanked 250cc Wasp and 349cc Merlin. Barnett also built 98 cc F98 and 125 cc F125...
Francis Barnett was best known for its lightweight two-strokes, initially 125 and 150 cc Villiers-engined models developed on pre-war racing machines. Post-war production started with the 1948 Falcon 148 cc model, which set the pattern for the overhead-valve singles that would power future Barnetts. To suit the larger market, 195cc and 249cc Excelsior Talisman engines were used in the larger 198cc Falcon and 249cc Cruiser models. These larger models also employed the innovative 'snaploc' kickstart invented by Sammy Miller.
Sporting variants followed with the alloy-tanked 250cc Wasp and 349cc Merlin. Barnett also built 98 cc F98 and 125 cc F125 Villiers-powered lightweight two-strokes. After the company's purchase by BSA in 1966, development came to an end, and production ceased in 1968.
