Francis-Barnett ‘trail bike’ pre-dated them all!

Sam Hewitt

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25th April 2018

After reading the Greeves article in OBM (February), I wonder how readers would classify the Francis-Barnett Overseas Falcon 65?

Based on the Falcon 58 road model, it incorporated parts from trials and scrambles machines to cater for markets where a machine was needed for operation under cross-country conditions.

**Ah, those trials of long ago! Onlookers follow R K Hiscox’s progress on his 1953 Francis-Barnett Overseas Falcon 65 as he enters a stream bed section during a typical 1950s’ event.**

I know of only two of these in this country, and each has a story to tell. One is in the Coventry Transport Museum, and was pictured in Classic Bike Guide in September 2006.