'Rudge Multigear' motor bicycle

Made:
1915 in Coventry
maker:
Rudge-Whitworth Limited
'Rudge Multigear' motorcycle

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'Rudge Multigear' motorcycle
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

'Rudge Multigear' motorcycle, designed and built by Rudge-Whitworth Ltd, a company formed by the merger of two bicycle manufactures in 1894.

This motorcycle resulted from the famous nineteenth century cycle firm of Rudge amalgamating with the Whitworth Cycle Co. to manufacture Rudge ‘Multi’. By 1911 they started to produce motorcycles and in 1912 the Rudge Multigear was released. It was the first machine of its capacity to cover over 60 miles in an hour on Brooklands track and in 1914 Cyril Pullin won the Isle of Man International Tourist Trophy race on a Rudge Multigear. These achievements ensured the ‘reliable Rudge’ was not overlooked by the War Office and several Rudge models including the Multigear were used by the British Army in the Great War. However, in 1923 with changes in the manufacturing of the gear box, the Multi’s production ended.

The motorcycle is known as a ‘multi’ because of the variable-speed gear which embodies features patented by the manufacturers in 1910. The design includes variable pulleys on the engine shaft and on the rear wheel, the one expanding as the other contracts, so that a gradual change of drive ratio from the engine to the rear wheel is obtained.

Details

Category:
Road Transport
Object Number:
1915-361
type:
motorcycle
credit:
Rudge-Whitworth Ltd.

Parts

'Rudge Multi' Motor Bicycle

'Rudge Multi' Motor Bicycle

"Rudge Multi" motor bicycle. See TOP record for extended information.

Measurements:
overall: 1140 mm x 880 mm x 2100 mm, 109.5 kg
Object Number:
1915-361 Pt1
type:
motor bicycle
Part of 'Rudge Multi' motor bicycle

Part of 'Rudge Multi' motor bicycle

Drive band from "Rudge Multi" motor bicycle, 1915-361 pt.1. See TOP record for extended information.

Object Number:
1915-361 Pt2
type:
drive band
Parts of 'Rudge Multi' motor bicycle

Parts of 'Rudge Multi' motor bicycle

Cardboard box containing assorted parts for "Rudge Multi", 1915-361 pt.1, as follows: (a) Coil of rubber/fibre drive band; (b) Tyre pump; (c) One front stand clip; (d) One clutch spanner; (e) Small box containing spare clips for acetylene tubing; (f) Nine spare belt fasteners; (g) Two engraved brass stamps; (h) Two miscellaneous steel objects. See TOP record for extended information.

Object Number:
1915-361 Pt3
type:
motor bicycle components
Parts of 'Rudge Multi' motor bicycle

Parts of 'Rudge Multi' motor bicycle

Fibre box containing assorted parts for "Rudge Multi", 1915-361 pt.1, as follows: (a) Sealed envelope marked "Original parts off Rudge Multi Motorcycle"; (b) Wrapped objects marked, "Motorcycle tool box linings"; (c) Wrapped objects marked "Rudge Multi Motor Cycle Tool Boxs". See TOP record for extended information.

Object Number:
1915-361 Pt4
type:
motor bicycle components