Francis-Barnett affectionately known as the Franny-B was founded after Gordon Francis married the daughter of Arthur Barnett, the builder of Invicta bikes. The pair teamed up and began motorcycle production in Coventry in 1920. In 1947 the company was incorporated into the AMC empire and eventually merged with James, which at the end became indistinguishable as from 1962 the Francis-Barnett was manufactured at the James factory. This marque has always been closely associated with the Villiers two-stroke engines which it carried right up until it's demise in the mid sixties, although AMC made their own engines for some models in the early 1960's. They were always a pleasing bike although they did not have the aura of the bigger manufacturers.

Click links for reviews and the photo to see a full size version

   

1954 Falcon 67
Villiers 8E 197cc

1955 Falcon 70
Villiers 8E 197cc

1955 Cruiser 71
Villiers 1H 225cc

1957 Plover 78
Villiers 30C 147cc

1957 Falcon 74
Villiers 8E 197cc

1961 Cruiser 84
AMC 250cc

1962 Cruiser 89
Villiers 2T 249cc

1962 Cruiser Sport 91
Villiers 2T 249cc

1963 Falcon 87
AMC 200cc
 

Francis-Barnett Road Model Reviews
Merlin 51 1946-48, Villiers 9D 122cc, 2-stroke, 3 speed, 178lbs
Girder Forks with Rigid Frame, it sported twin exhaust and silencers, despite being a single. They housed a 3 pint oil tank between the left-hand rear frame stays, with its own tap and measure, to make the rider independent of garages for petrol. The rear mudguard was split and hinged for easy access to the rear wheel.

Merlin 52/53 1948-63, Villiers 10D 122cc (1948-52), 12D 122cc (1953), 2-stroke, 3 speed, 181/193lbs
Basically the same as the Merlin 51 but with simple Telescopic front forks with Rigid Frame. The rear number plate hinged to give access for rear wheel removal. This model lost the oil tank at the rear, except on export models.

Falcon 54/55 1948-53, Villiers 6E 197cc (1948-52), 8E 197cc (1953),  2-stroke, 3 speed, 187/199lbs
Basically the same as the Merlin 51 but with simple Telescopic front forks with Rigid Frame. The rear number plate hinged to give access for rear wheel removal. This model sported a bigger capacity engine, although this model did not have the oil tank at the rear, except on export models.

Merlin 57 1951-53, Villiers  10D 122cc (1951-52), 12D 122cc (1953), 2-stroke, 3 speed, 212lbs
Based on a new frame, which consisted of a single main loop with a bolted on sub-frame and sporting simple telescopic front forks with Swinging Arm Rear Suspension mounted in rubber bushes.

Falcon 58 1951-53, Villiers  6E 197cc (1951-52), 8E 197cc (1953), 2-stroke, 3 speed, 218lbs
Based on a new frame, which consisted of a single main loop with a bolted on sub-frame and sporting simple telescopic front forks with Swinging Arm Rear Suspension mounted in rubber bushes. This model bearing the bigger capacity engine.

Kestrel 66  1953-54, Villiers 13D 122cc, 2-stroke, 3 speed, 164lbs
This model replaced both all the Merlin models, which were now discontinued. A very simple machine with telescopic front forks and now with plunger rear suspension.

Falcon 67 1953-54, Villiers 8E 197cc, 2-stroke, 3 speed, 238lbs
Replacing all previous Falcon models, this again was a simple machine with three rate springs in the hydraulically damped telescopic front forks and swinging arm rear suspension. The centre stand was improved and a dual seat fitted.

Cruiser 68 1953-54, Villiers 1H 224cc, 2-stroke, 4 speed, 280lbs
This bigger version of the Falcon had an all new frame to carry the more powerful engine. The frame consisted of steel pressings welded together to form the main down-tube welded to two tubes that formed the support for tank and seat base. The machine had the same Falcon 67 three rate springs in the hydraulically damped telescopic front forks and swinging arm rear suspension. The only other changes were the size of brakes and rear tyre width.

Kestrel 69  1954-55, Villiers 30C 147cc, 2-stroke, 3 speed, 170lbs
Changes to this model consisted of new hydraulically damped telescopic front forks, a bigger engine unit and full width hubs, but still fitted with the plunger rear suspension.

Falcon 70 1954-55, Villiers 8E 197cc, 2-stroke, 3 or 4 speed, 243lbs
Basically the Falcon 67 with a new frame with dual seat and a central enclosure housing the battery and electrics and sporting the now familiar hydraulically damped telescopic front forks and swinging arm rear suspension.

Cruiser 71 1954-55, Villiers 1H 224cc, 2-stroke, 4 speed, 280lbs
This model was an up-rated Cruiser 68 with full width hubs.

Plover 73 1955-56, Villiers 30C 147cc, 2-stroke, 3 speed, 190lbs
Basically a Kestrel 69, but with a central enclosure into which the rear springs were hidden by mounting further forward.

Falcon 74 1955-57, Villiers 8E 197cc, 2-stroke, 3 or 4 speed, 243lbs
The telescopic forks were now enhanced with an 18" front wheel, the rest of the bike was basically the same.

Cruiser 75 1955-57, Villiers 1H 224cc, 2-stroke, 4 speed, 280lbs
The telescopic forks were now enhanced with an 18" front wheel, and a unique centre stand mechanism was fitted which left the wheels on the ground and was released by a lever, which operated a cam. The rest of the bike was basically the same.

Plover 78 1956-59, Villiers 30C 147cc, 2-stroke, 3 speed, 233lbs
The Kestrel now became the Plover 78 with the frame gaining swinging arm rear suspension and a central enclosure. A dual seat was fitted and a tail silencer.

Light Cruiser 79 1958-60, AMC 175cc, 2-stroke, 4 speed, 247lbs
Based on the standard Cruiser model but with a new smaller AMC engine.

Cruiser 80 1956-63, AMC 250cc, 2-stroke, 4 speed, 290lbs
The Cruiser 80 was an up-rated 75 with the new AMC engine, the main down tube became a single pressing. The silencer was longer and an 18" front wheel was fitted to this model.

Falcon 81 1957-59, Villiers 10E 122cc, 2-stroke, 3 speed, 244lbs
The Falcon 81 was no major change from the previous model, but the new engine had a vertical cylinder 10E engine.

Cruiser 84 1959-62, AMC 250cc, 2-stroke, 4 speed, 307lbs
The Cruiser 84 followed the trend of other manufacturers by providing a very hansom full rear enclosure for the rear end. This was to provide better weather proofing and the rear number plate was removed to give access to remove the rear wheel. Leg shields were fitted and also a valanced front mudguard.

Plover 86 1959-62, AMC 150cc, 2-stroke, 3 speed, 171lbs
Replacement for the Plover 78 using most of the original cycle parts.

Falcon 87 1959-66, AMC 200cc, 2-stroke, 4 speed, 268lbs
A new frame was the main change encompassed in the Falcon 87, which otherwise remained the same with the new AMC engine unit.

Fulmar 88 1961-65, AMC 150cc, 2-stroke, 3 speed, 225lbs
A radical design departure saw the paneling stretch from the headlight through to the rear mudguard. A new spine frame consisting of tubes and bolted sections supported the new AMC engine and short leading-link front forks with the conventional rear swinging arm suspension. Much like the Ariel Arrow, the tank was mounted within the frame and there was a tool box fitted in the dummy tank paneling.

Cruiser Twin 89 1961-66, Villiers 2T 249cc (1961-63),  4T 249cc (1964-66)cc, 2-stroke twin, 4 speed, 299lbs
This model was the Cruiser 84 with the new Villiers 250cc engine.

Fulmar Sports 90 1962-65, AMC 150cc, 2-stroke, 4 speed, 223lbs
Featuring sports handlebars, a fly screen and polished mudguards. The gear box was also up-rated to 4 speed and special silencer.

Cruiser Twin Sports 91 1962-66, Villiers 2T 249cc (1962-63),  4T 249cc (1964-66)cc, 2-stroke twin, 4 speed, 295lbs
Featuring sports handlebars, a fly screen and polished mudguards. The twin had an increased compression ratio and a very stylish smaller tank was fitted.

Plover 95 1963-65, AMC 150cc, 2-stroke, 3 speed, 200lbs
Times were now becoming hard and this new model had a single tube spine frame with large dual seat and a hump backed tank.

Model 96  1965-66, AMC 150cc, 2-stroke, 3 speed, 165lbs
Replacement for the Fulmar and Plover the 96 used the AMC engine in a simple conventional loop frame.