1935 | Motosacoche Type 208 F

A rare "survivor": A 1935 Motosacoche 250cc Type 208 F Sport in its original paint and chrome from French production.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Dufaux brothers patented the idea of a "Motosacoche", a compact engine that could be hung as a "bag" on any bicycle, and it was this built-in engine that eventually gave the name to the motorcycle company founded around this patent. With the continuous expansion of the engine range, the built-in engines were soon marketed as M.A.G. engines, which stood for Motosacoche Acacias Genève and sometimes referred to the company's location in this Geneva neighborhood. In the years between the wars, Motosacoche became a reputable manufacturer of motorcycles and built-in engines and supplied them to a large number of European motorcycle factories. Among other things, the quality and reliability of the engines were appreciated, which was underlined by numerous racing successes.

France was also a large sales market right on the company's doorstep, which could also be managed geographically well and promised more cost-efficient production. Thus, at the beginning of the 1920s, certain Motosacoche models began to be manufactured under license in Lyon, an activity which became even more relevant due to the devaluation of the French franc at the end of the 1920s.

The Motosacoche Type 208 was built only in a short window of time in the mid-1930s, based on the proven 250cc single cylinder engine with IOE from M.A.G. production. The Type 208 F presented here is a product of Motosacoche-France which was based in Lyon and liked to use components from French suppliers like the Magneto-France ignition. Further characteristic for the French production was the downward curved form of the gas tank, a design element which was not to be found with the Geneva versions in such a way and lifted these Motosacoche thus further from their Swiss brothers and sisters.

Also, this 208 F, probably a sports version as can be seen from the faded tank inscription, still presents itself in the original paint which is extremely rare for motorcycles of this time. The original colored and chromed fenders, another rarity, is also an indication of French production. The bike is unrestored and largely complete, but has not run for decades and is consequently not rideable in its current condition. The engine turns, but certainly needs attention as does the Albion transmission. The engine is probably still the original unit. It should be noted that Motosacoche has never paid attention to number equality between engine and frame.