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FN Four
	1905 FN Four
Manufacturer	Fabrique Nationale
Production	1905–1923
Engine	350-750 cc (max) inlet-over-exhaust with compression release
Bore / stroke	45 mm x 57 mm
Power	5 hp (3.7 kW) (498 cc version)
Ignition type	Magneto
Transmission	Shaft drive
Frame type	Steel duplex cradle
Suspension	Front: Bottom-link fork; Rear: Rigid
Fuel capacity	1.5 US gal (5.7 L; 1.2 imp gal)

The FN Four was the world's first production inline-4 motorcycle, manufactured in Liége^[4] by Fabrique Nationale from 1905 until 1923.^[5]^[6] It was also, at 40 miles per hour (64 km/h), the world's fastest production motorcycle from 1911 until 1912.^[7]^[8]

The motorcycle was developed in 1904, tested late that year, and had its public debut at the 1905 Paris Motorcycle Show.^[9] It was a commercial success upon release, with production increasing over its twenty-year run.^[10]^[11]

Technical details

The motorcycle was originally single-speed. In 1909, a two-speed transmission was offered,^[12] then three-speed in 1914 with the 748 cc engine.^[13] It had a single-speed shaft drive turned by a bevel gear.^[10] The rider started the engine by pedaling bicycle style pedals with a chain drive and sprockets to the rear wheels.^[13] The 1905 model had a high-tension Bosch magneto ignition,^[14]^: 43 a spray carburetor, and a rear coaster brake operated by the pedals.^[10] It had a 5:1 reduction ratio to 26-inch wheels.^[14]

By 1908, it had a two speed transmission with a plate clutch, overcoming the speed limitations of the earlier model.^[10] In 1909 a rear drum brake was fitted.^[13] In 1910 the engine was redesigned and enlarged to 498 cc (30.4 cu in), the carburetor was moved and a new oiling system was used.^[13] The weight in 1910 was 165 lb (75 kg).^[7]

For the US market, the 1908 model was upgraded and released as a 19081⁄2 model, called the F.N. Big Four.^[15] Engine power was raised from 4+1⁄2 hp (3.4 kW) to 5 hp (3.7 kW), the frame size was reduced from 22 to 20 inches (560 to 510 mm) allowing the rider to sit with both feet on the ground, the wheel rims were made heavier and would fit American tire sizes, and it came with tires with a heavier tread.^[15]

The 1911 model weighed 185 lb (84 kg) and had a wheelbase of 56 in (1,400 mm).^[14]^: 43 The US model had either Goodrich or another imported brand of tires, and a leather seat made by the Mesinger Bicycle Saddle Company of New York.^[14]^: 43 By 1911 bore × stroke was up to 2+1⁄16 in × 2+1⁄16 in (52 mm × 52 mm) and nominal output was up to 6 hp (4.5 kW).^[14]^: 20

The motorcycle had bicycle-style pedals used for starting until 1913, when a kickstarter was adopted.^[13]

Four-cylinder engine

The FN Four's engine was designed by Paul Kelecom, who had designed single-cylinder engines prior to the FN.^[16] The air-cooled longitudinal layout was prone to overheating the rear cylinders, a trait overcome in later designs with water cooling and transverse layout.^[17]

FN originally fitted the Four with a 350 cc^[16] or 362 cc^[13] engine. The displacement increased over time, to 410 cc in 1906,^[18] later to 498 cc for the US market, and a 748 cc variant was produced in 1914. The engine had to be periodically oiled with a hand pump during riding.^[16] The intake valves were atmospheric, pushed open by ambient air pressure against light springs during the piston's intake stroke,^[16] up to the 1914 748 cc model, which replaced the automatic inlet valves with mechanically actuated side valves.^[13]

First four-cylinder motorcycle?

[A]lthough there were four-cylinder motorcycles prior to the FN, none came near matching the eminently successful and practical performance of the FN right from the beginning.
— T.A. Hodgdon, Motorcycling's Golden Age of the Fours, 1976

The FN Four was the first production inline-four, but not the first motorcycle with a four-cylinder engine. It was preceded by a boxer 4 manufactured in 1897 by Henry Capel Lofft Holden,^[19]^[20] and an obscure air-cooled inline-four developed in 1903 by C. Binks of Nottingham, England, but never produced commercially.^[11]^[20] A longitudinally mounted four-cylinder "model CCCC" prototype was created by Laurin & Klement and shown in Paris in 1904, but it was essentially four ganged single-cylinder engines with four separate crankshafts, not an inline-four in the modern sense.^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24] The FN, at the time of its introduction, was the only four-cylinder motorcycle for sale in America.^[25] (later Henderson Motorcycle sold a four from 1912 until 1931.)

Comparable motorcycles

Specifications

Model year	Model name	Displacement	Power	Transmission	Brakes	Wheelbase	Dry weight
1905	FN Four	362 cc (22.1 cu in)^[26]	3.45 hp (2.57 kW) @ 1800 rpm	1-speed w/pedal start	Rear rim and coaster		165 lb (75 kg)
1906		412 cc (25.1 cu in)	4+1⁄2 hp (3.4 kW)	1-speed w/pedal start	Rear rim and coaster
19081⁄2	Big Four		5 hp (3.7 kW)	1- or 2-speed w/pedal start	Rear rim and coaster
1909			6 hp (4.5 kW)	1- or 2-speed w/pedal start	Rear: drum
1910		498 cc (30.4 cu in)		1- or 2-speed w/pedal start	Rear: drum		165 lb (75 kg)
1911			6 hp (4.5 kW)	2-speed w/pedal start	Rear: drum	56 in (1,400 mm)	185 lb (84 kg)
1913				2-speed w/kickstart	Rear: drum
1914–1923	700	748 cc (45.6 cu in)		3-speed	Rear: drum

Legacy

The success of the FN Four directly led the US Pierce Four to use the same engine mounted longitudinally with a shaft drive.^[5] Pierce-Arrow's Percy Pierce brought a 1908 FN Four home from Europe to disassemble and study.^[5]^[27] Indian, Henderson and Cleveland fours were all said to have been inspired by the FN Four.^[28]

Early examples of the machine are rare; a 1904/1905 model, reported to be the earliest known example, sold at a record price in a 2006 auction for over US$100,000.^[29]

Race history

A FN Four took third place in the 1908 Isle of Man TT,^[30] and was the first four-cylinder-engine vehicle entered at the Isle of Man TT.^[9] In 1908 another FN Four took the gold medal in a Motor Cycling Club endurance race on the 1,400-kilometre (870 mi) London–Edinburgh–London course.^[31]

Museum exhibits

An FN Four was exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum's The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition in New York and Las Vegas. Models are in the permanent collections of Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles,^[32] Seal Cove Auto Museum in Seal Cove, Maine,^[33] the Musée de la moto et du vélo in Amnéville France,^[34] and others.

Notes

^ Walker (2000, p. 32)
^ Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal 1906, p. 206: 44×67 mm, displacement was computed 410 cc (1906 engine)
^ Duckworth 2012, p. 27
^ Motor Age 1916, p. 27
^ ^a ^b ^c Edwards 1997, p. 43
^ Petersen Automotive Museum: "The 1904/05 FN was the world's first mass produced four-cylinder motorcycle."
^ ^a ^b Brown 2006, pp. 12–13
^ Krens 2001
^ ^a ^b d'Orléans 2008
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d C. F. Caunter 1955, p. 21
^ ^a ^b Hough and Setright 1996, p. 38
^ Offered in 1909 in the United States, see Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal 1909, p. 188
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Duckworth 2012, p. 26
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Motorcycle Illustrated January 12, 1911
^ ^a ^b The Horseless Age. 1908.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Kevin Cameron at Krens 1998, p. 109
^ Cameron 2012
^ Mitchell 1998
^ Walker 2006, p. 28
^ ^a ^b Hodgdon 1976, p. 26
^ d'Orléans 2013
^ Malanik 2008
^ Kirchberger and Ludewig 2007, p. 39 states "Die L&K Viercylinder-maschine CCCC war von 1904 bis 1909 in angebot" (in production from 1904 until 1909).
^ Walker 2006, p. 28 states that production did not start until 1905
^ Hodgdon 1976, p. 20
^ Walker (2000, p. 32) displacement was computed 362 cc (1905 engine)
^ de Cet (2002, p. 360) states that Pierce "did not copy" the FN Four but "its influence...was apparent".
^ de Cet 2002, p. 159
^ Roadracing World 2006
^ IOM Times 1908
^ Walker 2000, p. 32
^ Petersen
^ 1912 Fabrique National Motorcycle, Seal Cove, Maine: Seal Cove Auto Museum, archived from the original on 2014-12-29, retrieved 2013-10-20
^ Ralf Kruger (September 26, 2011), "A visit to the Motorcycle and Bicycle Museum Amneville", Ed Youngblood's Motohistory, Ed Youngblood, retrieved 2013-10-20

References

Brown, Roland (2006), The Ultimate History of Fast Bikes, Bath, UK: Parragon, ISBN 1-4054-7303-7
Cameron, Kevin (January 19, 2012), "The Five Greatest Motorcycles", Cycle World
Caunter, C. F. (1955), The History and Development of Motorcycles; As illustrated by the collection of motorcycles in the Science Museum; Part I Historical Survey, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, OCLC 11506035
de Cet, Mirco, ed. (2002). The Illustrated Directory of Motorcycles. St. Paul, Minnesota USA: Salamander Books. ISBN 0-7603-1417-9.
"The F. N. Four-Cylinder Motor-Cycle", Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal, 11 (1), Philadelphia: Chilton, July 1906
"The 1909 'F. N.' Big Four", Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal, 13 (12), Philadelphia: Chilton, June 1909
Duckworth, Mick, ed. (2012), Motorcycle: The Definitive Visual History, Dorling Kindersley, pp. 26–29, ISBN 978-0756690526
Edwards, David (August 1997), "Four-runners: the essential guide to inline-fours", Cycle World, pp. 42–43
Hodgdon, Ted A. (1976), Motorcycling's Golden Age of the Fours (third ed.), Lake Arrowhead, California: Bagnall Publishing Company, ASIN B0006CR2Q2
Hough, Richard Alexander; Setright, L.J.K. (1966), A history of the world's motorcycles, New York: Harper & Row, LCCN 66018583
Isle of Man Weekly Times, p. 4, 29 September 1908 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
Kirchberger, Michael; Ludewig, Christoph (2007), Katrin Thoss (ed.), Škoda: bewegte Geschichte seit über 100 Jahren (in German), Plexus-Verlag, ISBN 9783937996097
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; Field Museum of Natural History; Museo Guggenheim Bilbao (2001), Krens, Thomas (ed.), The Art of the Motorcycle, Guggenheim Museum, ISBN 978-0-8109-6912-4
Malanik, Pavel, Historic vehicle Laurin & Klement CCCC 1904 on YouTube, uploaded 2008
Mitchell, Leon (1998), "Four cylinder FNs 1905-1914", Leon Mitchell's vintage motorcycle page, Adelaide, South Australia, retrieved 2013-10-18
"Belgian engineers visit U.S.", Motor Age, 30 (15), Chicago, October 12, 1916
Motorcycle Illustrated, vol. 6, The Motorcycle Publishing Co., January 12, 1911
"New F.N. Motorcycle Model", The Horseless Age: The Automobile Trade Magazine, vol. 22, no. 7, Horseless Age Company, p. 204, 1908, retrieved October 19, 2013
d'Orléans, Paul (August 26, 2008), "First 4-cylinder racer at the Isle of Man", The Vintagent, retrieved 2013-10-17
d'Orléans, Paul (May 27, 2013), "Vintage-Revival Montherly 2013", The Vintagent, retrieved 2013-10-20
1904 FN Four, Los Angeles: Petersen Automotive Museum, archived from the original on 2013-08-16, retrieved 2013-10-20
"Auction Of Late Actor Steve McQueen's Motorcycles Brought Record Prices", Roadracing World, November 20, 2006, retrieved 2013-10-20
Walker, Mick (2000), "Chapter 2: Belgium", Mick Walker's European Racing Motorcycles, Low Fell: Redline Books, ISBN 9780953131136
Walker, Mick (2006), Motorcycle: Evolution, Design, Passion, JHU Press, p. 28, ISBN 0-8018-8530-2

External links

Media related to FN Four at Wikimedia Commons
High resolution images, 1914 model, Bonhams

Records
Preceded by Werner New Werner	Fastest production motorcycle 1911–1912	Succeeded by Scott two speed

[1] Walker (2000, p. 32)

[2] Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal 1906, p. 206: 44×67 mm, displacement was computed 410 cc (1906 engine)

[dk27-3] Duckworth 2012, p. 27

[4] Motor Age 1916, p. 27

[Edwards-5] Edwards 1997, p. 43

[6] Petersen Automotive Museum: "The 1904/05 FN was the world's first mass produced four-cylinder motorcycle."

[Brown-7] Brown 2006, pp. 12–13

[8] Krens 2001

[vintagent-9] 'Orléans 2008

[Caunter1955-10] C. F. Caunter 1955, p. 21

[Setright-11] Hough and Setright 1996, p. 38

[12] Offered in 1909 in the United States, see Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal 1909, p. 188

[dk26-13] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Duckworth 2012, p. 26

[MotorcycleIllustrated-14] Motorcycle Illustrated January 12, 1911

[HorselessAge-15] The Horseless Age. 1908.

[cameron-16] Kevin Cameron at Krens 1998, p. 109

[17] Cameron 2012

[18] Mitchell 1998

[walker2006-19] Walker 2006, p. 28

[hodgdon-20] Hodgdon 1976, p. 26

[21] 'Orléans 2013

[22] Malanik 2008

[23] Kirchberger and Ludewig 2007, p. 39 states "Die L&K Viercylinder-maschine CCCC war von 1904 bis 1909 in angebot" (in production from 1904 until 1909).

[24] Walker 2006, p. 28 states that production did not start until 1905

[25] Hodgdon 1976, p. 20

[26] Walker (2000, p. 32) displacement was computed 362 cc (1905 engine)

[27] Cet (2002, p. 360) states that Pierce "did not copy" the FN Four but "its influence...was apparent".

[28] Cet 2002, p. 159

[29] Roadracing World 2006

[30] IOM Times 1908

[31] Walker 2000, p. 32

[32] Petersen

[33] 1912 Fabrique National Motorcycle, Seal Cove, Maine: Seal Cove Auto Museum, archived from the original on 2014-12-29, retrieved 2013-10-20

[34] Ralf Kruger (September 26, 2011), "A visit to the Motorcycle and Bicycle Museum Amneville", Ed Youngblood's Motohistory, Ed Youngblood, retrieved 2013-10-20

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PROFILPELAJAR.COM

FN Four

Technical details

Four-cylinder engine

First four-cylinder motorcycle?

Comparable motorcycles

Specifications

Legacy

Race history

Museum exhibits

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links

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