John Marston, founder of the Sunbeam Company of Wolverhampton, was a successful Victorian-era bicycle, motorcycle and automobile manufacturer. The motorcycle division was actually intended as a stopgap when sales of the company’s passenger cars hit the doldrums. John Marston had an aversion to motorcycles. But he was also a diehard perfectionist, and so the quality and appearance of his motorbikes fulfil the expectations that his outstanding reputation promised. They soon rose to fame as ‘The Gentleman’s Motorcycle’. The Sunbeam values were elegance, smooth running, reliability and meticulously high quality. The flat-tank models were Sunbeam’s most successful. The bikes were also very accomplished racers. ‘Sunbeamland’ was among the machines of choice for people looking for success and quality. The 1926 model programme included eleven types designated Model 1 to Model 11, and the main difference was their motorisation. The side valve engines were offered with 350, 500 and 600 ccm, while the 350 and 500 ccm versions also came in an OHV design. The engine was an integral part of the frame in all models, which led to a reduced weight and a lower centre of gravity.

This Sunbeam is a Model 1 and therefore has a 350 ccm, side valve engine. The consignor purchased this motorcycle almost 20 years ago, when it had already been restored in England. It also comes with numerous repair invoices from the mother country. Included in the collection owned by a motorcycle enthusiast, the Sunbeam was even taken out for the occasional jaunt down local roads. Compared with Model 2, the Model 1 is fitted with the “Road Equipment” package, which includes the lighting system, a horn, and other features. The Sunbeam certainly looks stately with its spring-mounted passenger seat. Operating the ignition advance, the choke and throttle slide by thumb lever, switching gears with the hand lever, and manual lubricant feed by hand pump are interesting features that will certainly challenge the dexterity of any rider. But it’s precisely these things that turn the ride – in any surroundings and at any speed – into a real experience. You still need to be a machinist. So the Sunbeam might just be the more affordable way of fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming a steam train driver.

VIN: 08982 Engine: 278/18601 Displacement: 347 ccm Power: 2 ¾ hp Gearbox: 3-speed Papers: English title