Beskrivning
DOUGLAS MARK IV
348cc
FIRST REGISTERED 5th AUGUST 1950
HAS LATEST V5C WITH ORIGINAL FRP961 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE REGISTRATION NUMBER.
MATCHING ENGINE AND FRAME NUMBERS
HAS BEEN FULLY RESTORED BY PREVIOUS KEEPER AND UNFORTUNATELY HAS BEEN IN GOOD STOREAGE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE BELIEVE DUE TO ILLNESS. WE HAVE RECOMMISSIONED THE BIKE AND IT SOUNDS SWEET. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTURES REPRESENTS VERY GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY. THE LONDON DOUGLAS CLUB IS STILL THRIVING AND LOTS OF FUN DAYS AND SPARES HELP SHOULD YOU NEED IT.
During the Second World War Douglas made many stationary engines, and then restarted motorcycle production with the T35, another ohv flat-twin 350cc, set across a duplex fame with torsion bar rear suspension. Various Sport and Competition offshoots were built in the next few years, including the 90 Plus and 80 Plus, and the standard bike evolved through several incarnations MK3, MK 4 to become the Mark V. The Mark V was built until the introduction of the Dragonfly in 1955. Douglas found plenty of ingenious methods of solving problems which led to a raft of patents, not only for Radialdraulic leading link forks (1948) and torsion bar rear suspension (1944) but also a butterfly valve carb (1945) and gearbox with final chain drive for transverse twin engines (1947) When the Douglas sprung frame arrived it ‘set a new standard of comfort’ and was a massive improvement over the competition: ‘handling was excellent by any standards and particularly those of the day’. Douglas reckoned that ‘the 180-degree cylinder disposition assures a power curve free from vibration – the crankshaft accepting a power impulse for every revolution’ and, as Steve Wilson once commented, flat twins offer ‘inherent good balance, low centre of gravity and smoothness.
By modern standards the Mark 4 is a tiny little bike; it barely comes up to your knees. It’s also not the fastest motorcycle Douglas ever built: quicker than the Dragonfly which replaced it, but still happier at 50mph than 60. In common with other Douglas engines of its era it likes to be revved, which riders of big Brit singles can find somewhat disconcerting.
Jeff Clew was heard to say that; ‘There’s something special about just sitting on a Mark Douglas. I swear that if I was led into a completely dark room full of motorcycles and asked to locate which one was a Douglas, its riding position and feel would immediately give it away’
•Engine: OHV horizontally-opposed twin
•Capacity: 348cc
•Bore/ Stroke: 60. 8 x 60mm
•Compression: 7. 25:1
•Gearbox: 4-speed, unit construction
•Frame: Duplex cradle
•Electrical system: Lucas Magdyno
•Front suspension: Radiadraulic forks
•Rear suspension: Swinging fork with torsion bars
•Brakes: 7-inch
•Wheels: 3. 25 x 19-inch
•Fuel capacity: 3 gallons
•Wheelbase: 54. 5-inches
•Ground clearance: 5. 25-inches loaded
•Weight: 325lb aprox
•Owners’ Club: LDMCC - details above
This is a lovely classic bike ready to be enjoyed by the next owner
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