Beautiful Fn from 1912

Working

La Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre (FN) began as a munition manufacturer, turning to the production of motorcycles around 1900. Best known for its sensational four-cylinder models, the first of which appeared in 1905, the Belgian company demonstrated the same innovative spirit in the design of its singles, being among the first to adopt unitary construction of engine and gearbox, permitting the use of geared primary drive.

In 1900 the firm’s first powered two-wheeler was produced by mounting a clip-on engine in a bicycle frame, and in December the following year the first production model arrived, powered by a 133cc single-cylinder engine.

FN’s single-cylinder models evolved gradually, growing in size firstly to 188cc before arriving at 285cc, by which the atmospheric inlet valve had given way to a mechanically operated one. Variable-pulley transmission had been introduced on the belt-driven singles in 1907 but would be superseded by shaft drive soon, its introduction coinciding with that of the two-speed gearbox.