FFs The Early Years

NSU Hammock
Neracar
Lawson
Avro Monocar & Wilkinson
Monotrace
Dalnik
CZ

NSU produced a couple of prototypes in the 50s as part of a speed record breaking project. This was so succesfful that they started an exercise to turn it into both a road bike and a GP racer. Unfortunately, the FIM introduced some very restrictive fairing rules for racing and the progress of M/C deisgn took a very different turn. It's amazing to think that if this had not happened, we might all be riding this sort of thing today.

Neracar

Built in Syracuse, NY, with 2000 produced in 1922, 27,000 in 1923, and 2700 in 1924.

Lawson

Built on a Neracar chassis, Mr Lawson built this in 1948 using a 288cc straight 4 from Mr Haythorn. It had outriggers that dropped under gravity and locked in position. They can just be seen hiding in the rear bodywork.

the Avro Monocar and Wilkinson

In case you think that FFs are a recent phenomenon from the 70s and 80s, these two machines were built in 1926 and 1912. I don't have much information on the Wilkinson but the Monocar was built by Sir Alliot Verdon-Roe, the famous aircraft engineer. He used it as personal transport and "...he regularly used to ride it from Southampton to Manchester and back in normal outdoor clothing."

Monotrace

The Monotrace was built in France in 1925.

Dalnik

The Dalnik was produced by Jan Anderle in 1942 and had front wheel drive.

Built in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s and powered by a Jawa 250cc engine.