Welbike
The Welbike is a British single-seat folding motorcycle produced during World War II at the direction of Station IX — the "Inter Services Research Bureau" — based at Welwyn, UK, for use by Special Operations Executive (SOE). It has the distinction of being the smallest motorcycle ever used by the British Armed Forces. Between 1942 and 1943, 3,641 units (plus a prototype and some pilot models) were built and, although not much used by the SOE, some were issued to the British 1st and 6th Airborne Divisions and some were used at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden.
Key facts
- Motorcycle.name
- Excelsior Welbike
- Motorcycle.image
- Welbike.jpg
- Motorcycle.manufacturer
- Excelsior Motor Company of Birmingham
- Motorcycle.production
- 1942–1945
- Motorcycle.successor
- Corgi 50
- Motorcycle.engine
- , two-stroke, air cooled, single
- Motorcycle.transmission
- Single-speed
- Motorcycle.suspension
- None
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Development
- Production
- Corgi scooter
- Survivors
- Legacy
- See also
- References
- External links
The Welbike is a British single-seat folding motorcycle produced during World War II at the direction of Station IX — the "Inter Services Research Bureau" — based at Welwyn, UK, for use by Special Operations Executive (SOE). It has the distinction of being the smallest motorcycle ever used by the British Armed Forces. Between 1942 and 1943, 3,641 units (plus a prototype and some pilot models) were built and, although not much used by the SOE, some were issued to the British 1st and 6th Airborne Divisions and some were used at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden.
The Italians, Germans and Americans also developed small motorcycles for their airborne forces during World War II.