Bike |
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Description |
1915 Rudge Multi TT, 500cc |
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More Rudge
Multi information. |
1923 Rudge Twin, 998cc |
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1924 Rudge Whitworth 350 |
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1924 Rudge 4 valve |
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It was called a Rudge Four, because
of the four speeds and four valves,
not four cylinders. This single cylinder
350 cc machine showed markedly superior
performance to the competition on release,
having more power than its 500 cc predecessor.
Rudge engineer, George Hack, is said
to have taken his design idea from the
four valve head Ricardo-Triumph Special
of 1921, a one off machine. He designed
a four valve head for Rudge and in 1924
they produced their first four valve
cylinder head on a 350 cc engine. The
valves were arranged in parallel, and
were not radial.
In 1925, a 500 cc version with linked
front and rear brakes appeared, and
the big end bearings were now fed oil
through the crankshaft pin. The old
350 cc was dropped in 1926. For 1928
Rudge motorcycles were fitted with saddle
tanks, and 8 inch internal expanding
drum brakes. Stanley Glanfield designed
a Rudge for dirt racing, marketed from
1928 as the Glanfield Rudge.
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1924 Rudge 4 valve 4 speed, 500cc |
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1931 Rudge 250 Radial |
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1931 Rudge Special |
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500cc. |
1928 Rudge Whitworth 500 Special |
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1934 Rudge Special |
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1937 Rudge Special |
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1937 Rudge Ulster |
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More Rudge
Ulster information. |
1938 Rudge Whitworth - Rudge Special
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Rudge Whitworth 250cc Prototype |
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Rudge Multi Roadster |
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Selling re-badged Werners in 1909,
the company went on to produce their
first motorcycle in 1911, a single-cylinder
F-head, or IOE (inlet over exhaust),
500 cc bike. In 1912 the belt drive
499 cc Rudge Multi was released, using
variable groove-depth pulleys to gain
21 forward ratios, and a top gear as
high as 2.75:1. (The Zenith Gradua and
1907 FN 244 cc single used a similar
system) In 1913 a 750 cc Multi was released.
In 1914, a Multi won the Isle of Man
TT .
In 1915 a 1000 cc using a Jardine four
speed gearbox was released, followed
by a 1000 cc Multi. In 1923, they introduced
an in-house manufactured 4 speed gear
box to replace the Jardine gearbox,
and Multi production ended.
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Rudge Multi |
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Engine - 499cc/750cc, single-cylinder
inlet over exhaust four-stroke
Launched - 1912-1923
Bore and stroke - 85 x 132mm (5/6
hp)
Carburettor - Senspray
Top Speed - 83 mph (racing model) |
1936 Rudge Special
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Rudge entered the 1930's with two
road going 499cc four valves models,
the sporting Ulster and the Special,
the latter with a slightly reduced
compression ratio, over the following
decade other 499cc models would both
join and leave the range, but the
Ulster and Special would remain at
the core of the range. A feature of
the range was the coupled brake system.
1932 witnessed the introduction of
the lever operated centre stand with
a foot operated gearbox becoming a
universal feature of the range by
1934. Detail changes occurred over
the next couple of seasons but the
1937 season machines saw a significant
change with the valve gear finally
becoming enclosed.
Image provided by www.classic-auctions.com.
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1936 Rudge Rapid |
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1939 Rudge Ulster
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The first machine to bear the Ulster
name emanating from the Rudge factory
was announced during 1928 in celebration
of their success in that years Ulster
Grand Prix. The Ulster became a fixture
at head of the company's catalogue
until production ceased in 1940, early
versions featuring a pent roof four
valve head which was replaced for
the 1932 season with a radial four
valve head with the option of a foot
operated gear change becoming available
in the same year. The valve gear remained
exposed to the elements until 1937
when a simple cast alloy cover was
adopted although the bronze cylinder
head remained finally being replaced
with a light alloy example in 1939.
Image provided by www.classic-auctions.com.
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1939 Rudge Special |
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Rudge Ulster - 1939 |
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Engine - 499cc, single-cylinder
four-valve semi-radial overhead-valve
four-stroke
Launched - 1929-1939
Bore and stroke - 85 x 88mm
Compression Ratio - 7.25:1
Power - 45bhp @ 5300rpm
Carburettor - 1 1/16in Amal
Top Speed - 83 mph |
1940 Rudge Autocycle |
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1941 Rudge Autocycle |
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1951 Cyclemaster 32cc on a period
Rudge Ladies Cycle |
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Rudge Whitworth Prototype |
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