The theme of Transport continues with British Motorcycles, following buses in 2001, jet airliners in 2002, toys in 2003, and steam locomotives and ocean liners in 2004.
For most of the 20th century Britain was a world leader in motorcylce development and manufacture. Royal Mail's celebration of the UK motorcycle industry is illustrated with a wide range of manufacturers, and the machine on each stamp represents a major leap forward in design at the time.
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1st class (30p) - Norton F1 1991, road version of race winner |
40p - BSA Rocket 3 (1969), only 3 cylinder 'superbike' |
42p - Vincent Black Shadow 1949, fastest standard motorcycle |
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47p - Triumph Speed Twin 1937, two cylinder innovation |
60p - Brough Superior 1930, bespoke luxury motorcycle |
68p - Royal Enfield 1914, small engined motor bicycle |
1st Class : Norton F1. 1991. Engine capacity: 588cc.
Power output: 95bhp. Top speed: 145mph
After a decade in the doldrums, the revered Norton marque made a
dramatic comeback in the 1980s with unorthodox road and track
motorcycles. Powered by piston-less Wankel rotary engines, their
storming power delivery was silky smooth. Based on Norton's successful
rotary
racer, the F1 of 1990-1992 had a liquid-cooled engine in an aluminium
frame and sported the latest suspension and braking technology.
Scorching acceleration and 145mph capability made the F1 a demanding,
but very exhilarating, motorcycle to ride. Fewer than 150 were made
before the tiny Norton factory ceased production.
40p : BSA Rocket 3. 1969. Engine capacity: 750cc.
Power output: 58bhp. Top speed: 145mph
BSA's Rocket 3 was one of the original superbikes, offering mighty
120mph+ performance along with superb roadholding and a high level of
comfort.
Its growling three-cylinder engine was designed to sustain high speeds
without the vibration that plagued large capacity British twins.
When the BSA Group launched the Rocket 3 late in 1968 (press preview and
some US sales, not launched on UK market until following year)
alongside the basically similar Triumph Trident, there were high hopes
for American sales success. But the machines' unusual styling was not
widely appreciated and the British triples struggled to compete against
sophisticated and lower-priced new machinery from Japan. In 1973 the
last BSA motorcycle rolled off the production line after the company
merged with Norton-Villiers.
47p Triumph Speed Twin. 1937. Engine capacity: 500cc.
Power output: 27bhp. Top speed: 92mph.
Triumph's Speed Twin launched for 1938 changed the face of motorcycling.
Its smooth and powerful parallel twin cylinder engine was such a
revelation that when postwar production
resumed, every major British marque offered a 500cc twin designed on
similar lines. Designed by the brilliant Edward Turner, the stylish and
compact Speed Twin could top 90mph, but being simple to manufacture, it
was keenly priced. Swift 650cc twins derived from the 500cc original
would make Triumph a world famous and profitable marque in the 1950s and
1960s. In 1951 Triumph was bought by BSA and manufacture of Triumph
motorcycles continued when BSA merged with Norton-Villiers.
60p Brough Superior 1930. Engine capacity: 1000cc.
Power output: 45bhp. Top speed: 110mph.
Claimed by company proprietor George Brough to be the 'Rolls Royce of
Motorcycles', the Brough Superior was truly in a class of its own.
Brough's most famous product, the handsome SS100, was sold with a
100mph guarantee and renowned for superb roadholding. A lusty one-litre
V-twin engine made by JAP powered the SS100 via a Sturmey Archer
three-speed gearbox with hand change. This Alpine Grand
Sport version has Bentley & Draper rear springing. Brough's most
famous customer was Thomas Edward Lawrence, otherwise known as 'Lawrence
of Arabia', who owned six SS100s. During World War II motorcycle
production at Brough ended in favour of aircraft components.
68p Royal Enfield 1914. Engine capacity: 425cc.
Power output: 14bhp. Top speed: 50mph
Royal Enfield got into its stride as a motorcycle maker in 1910 and soon
became known for solid, dependable products. One was this lively Model
140 middleweight with an unusually sized 425cc V-twin engine.
Its advanced features included automatic lubrication, and all-chain
transmission at a time when hide belts were still widely used to drive
the rear wheel. An ingenious twospeed mechanism was operated by a
'coffee grinder' handle alongside the petrol tank. Royal Enfield went on
to make larger V-twins and a series of rugged single cylinder machines.
Production at the Redditch factory ceased in 1970, although the Royal
Enfield marque lives on with motorcycles manufactured in India.
Technical details:
Designed by Atelier Works from illustrations by Michael English. Printed
in litho by Walsall Security Printers.
All images are Copyright 2005 by Royal Mail.
The limited edition Norvic First Day Covers will show a vintage Velocette
motorcycle: the company was started in 1905 but Royal Mail overlooked
this important centenary!
With set of 6 stamps, one cover with postmark M9667 Silverstone ALL
SOLD, the other with L9650 Snetterton, Norfolk - Price £8.95.
Also available:
Post Office FDC with a full set and any postmark in stock
Set of stamps unused or VFU
Set of postcards reproducing the stamps (PHQ cards)
Special postmarks available on the Day of Issue are shown here:
Ref FD517 Official Bureau postmark (speedometer) |
Ref FD518 Official Solihull postmark (spoked wheel)(location of National Motorcycle Museum) |
Ref FD518N Official Solihull non-pictorial postmark |
Ref L9650 British Motorcycles, Snetterton, Norwich |
Ref M9667 Silverstone, Towcester, Northants. |
Ref L9660 BSA, Speedwell House, Southampton |
Ref L9659 Road Racing Legend AJS, Goodworth, Clatford, Andover |
Ref L9658 The Rolls Royce of British Motorcycles, Brough Superior, Tonbridge, Kent |
Ref L9655 Ace Corner, London NW9 |
Ref L9653 Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, New Milton, Hants |
Ref L9656 Stevenage - Vincent Black Shadow |
Ref M9661 Birmingham - BSA Rocket |
Ref M9662 Coventry - Triumph Speed Twin |
Ref M9663 Nottingham - Brough Superior |
Ref M9664 Redditch - Royal Enfield |
Ref M9665 Wolverhampton - Norton F1 |
Ref M9666 Sheen Road, Birmingham |
Ref M9668 The Norton & The Sun Inn, Birmingham |
Ref M9669 Silverstone Harley-Davidson, Towcester, Northampton | Ref M9671 Classic Bike Silverstone, Towcester, Northampton |
Ref L9657 Bletchley Park Post Office Urgent Despatch |
Ref L9649 Biko Close, Uxbridge, Middlesex |
Ref L9648 Automobile Association 1905-2005, Fanum House, Basingstoke |
Ref L9647 TMC Southfield Road, London W4 (Triumph logo) |
Ref L9646 The best day out in England, Beauliey Hants (motor museum) |
Ref L9654 Ace Corner, London NW10 |
Ref M9670 British Motorcycles, Birmingham |
Ref L9674 Verralls, Veteran & Vintage Motorcycles Handcross Haywards Heath |
Ref M9681 Royal Enfield Development Pioneers, Blockeley, Moreton in Marsh |
This page updated 9 August 2005
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January 11 Farm Animals |
February 8 British Journey - South West England 24 Jane Eyre & Brontes prestige book |
March 15 Magic Circle Centenary 22 Wilding Castles Miniature Sheet |
April 5 New definitives 8 Royal Wedding 21 World Heritage Sites 26 Definitive reprints provisional date |
May 10 Definitive reprints provisional date |
June 7 Trooping the Colour 21 Smilers sheet - Flag stamp, White Ensign 21 Definitive reprints provisional date |
July 5 End of World War II 19 British Motorcycles |
August 5 London 2012 Olympics 23 Europa - Gastronomy |
September 22 Independent Television 50th Anniversary |
October 4 Small greetings definitives & Smilers 18 Battle of Trafalgar |
November 1 Christmas Christmas Robins Smilers Sheet |
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