The Welbike is a British single-seat folding motorcycle produced during World War II at the direction of Station IX — the "Inter Services Research Bureau" — based at Welwyn, UK, for use by Special Operations Executive (SOE). It has the distinction of being the smallest motorcycle ever used by the British Armed Forces. Between 1942 and 1943, 3,641 units (plus a prototype and some pilot models) were built and, although not much used by the SOE, some were issued to the British 1st and 6th Airborne Divisions and some were used at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden.

The Italians, Germans and Americans also developed small motorcycles for their airborne forces during World War II.

Development

The original prototype was designed by SOE motor cycle enthusiast Harry Lester, from an idea developed by Lt. Colonel John Dolphin, the Commanding Officer of Station IX, the secret Inter-Services Military Research Establishment based in a mansion called The Frythe (latterly owned by the pharmaceutical company GSK) an hour's drive north of London near the village of Welwyn in Hertfordshire, which had been taken over for the war effort. Powered by a Villiers single-cylinder two-stroke petrol (gasoline) engine, the Welbike was designed to fit into a CLE Canister – a standard parachute airdrop container long, high, and wide. There was very limited space in the airborne equipment container, so the Welbike, which was carried in the container at an angle, had no suspension, no lights and just a single rear brake. The aim was that a paratrooper could remove the Welbike from its special green container (which was marked in white lettering with the words Motor Cycle) and its easily identified coloured parachute, and be on the road within 11 seconds. The prototype survived extensive drop testing at the Special Operations School at Arisaig in Scotland where it was demonstrated to the commando forces.

The prototype was then sent to Excelsior Ltd for further development. A number of pre-production "pilot" machines were built for further testing and experimental modifications at the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment at RAF Sherburn-in-Elmet near Leeds in September 1942, including dropping them from aircraft to land by parachute. The Villiers engine was found to be seriously underpowered when ridden by a fully equipped soldier, so it was retuned to improve the power output.

  • Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT.
  • Australian Army Museum Bandiana at Gaza Ridge Barracks, Victoria, Australia.

Two of the Prototype/Pilot models have been preserved: Serial number 2 found in Oregon, restored and sold to a collector in the Netherlands, and another with an unknown number in the UK.

Colin MacGregor Stevens' (MVPA Member 954 since 1977) private collection in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, had three complete Welbikes Mark II: Frame Serial number 1253; Frame Serial number 3839, found in original condition in Ohio, USA;

Some Mk. II Welbikes had a contract dataplate on the frame, below the seat.

Legacy

The Welbike's folding motorcycle design inspired the Japanese-made Honda Motocompo folding motorcycle that fit into 1st generation Honda City in 1981.

See also

  • List of motorcycles of the 1940s
  • List of motorcycles of the 1950s

References

  • D-Day Paratroopers Historical Center Saint-Côme-du-Mont, France (Archived)
  • SOE Welbike
  • Welbike - Colin Stevens 2011 archive
  • Welbike UK Ltd Produces replicas of the Welbike.