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Motorworld’s newspaper №58
During the WWII, the French Army also used the René Gillet motorcycle equipped with 1000 cc double-cylinder flathead V-engine and a sidecar. The machine had a rear-wheel chain drive. The frame was made of welded tubes. The front fork had a short leading link, which was a typical feature of the René Gillet motorcycles. This design was unique because the engineers managed to combine a rigid fork with movable levers holding the wheel. At this, one of the levers was a bicycle fork transmitting the movements of a wheel to the spring, which was located under the handlebar.
The motorcycle is equipped with a sidecar 1937 Bernardet Sport. Information provided by ASSOCIATION DES CYCLES ET VÉHICULES BERNARDET
Most of these machines were captured by Germans during WWII, then repainted, the markings were changed, and further these bikes were extensively used by the Wehrmacht soldiers. Besides, the German engineers scrupulously examined the machines they have got in order to adopt French design for their own machines.
| Manufacturer | René Gillet, France |
| Years of manufacture | 1922 – 1958 |
| Quantity produced, units | N/A |
| Price | 7750 F |
| Today’s value | 25 366,53 $ |
| ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION | |
| Тип | V-twin, flat-head |
| Engine capacity, cc | 982 |
| Bore and stroke, mm | 80 х 97,7 |
| Engine rating | 20 hp |
| Sparking | Magneto |
| Carburetor | Zenit |
| Battery | 6 V |
| Clutch | Multiple-plate, oil-bath |
| Transmission | 4-speed |
| FRAME AND WHEELBASE | |
| Frame type | Welded tubular |
| Front suspension | Leading link fork |
| Rear suspension | Rigid |
| Brakes | Drum type |
| Wheel size | 4,00 х 27 |
| DIMENSIONS | |
| Length, mm |
2 550
|
| Width, mm |
1 570
|
| Height, mm |
1 140
|
| Wheelbase, mm |
1 500
|
| Ground clearance, mm |
170*
|
| Seat height, mm |
820*
|
| Mass, kg |
300
|
| Gas tank size, l |
13
|
| Maximum speed, km/h |
85
|
| Range, km |
192
|
