Mark 2 Welbike

Collapsible motorcycle powered by a Villers 98cc 2 stroke engine designed for use by paratroops. There are post-war welded joints in the frame forward of the seat post plates where the frame was cut for transit to Australia. The handlebars have been welded in the upright position and no longer fold. The bike has a replacement Australian made seat. Markings -

Registration on tank – 2223
Frame – MK (broad arrow) 148?? (could be 149) – very roughly stamped
Engine – Villers Deluxe Junior B 5784
Transmission housing – XXEL687
Seat – Bell Gents 30 30 Made in Australia

The Welbike was designed for packing in a parachute container, to be used where the dropping point was some distance from the operational point.

With practice, the contaner could be opened, motor cycle unfolded and started up within one minute. The cycle could be ridden across an average field, could go up any ordinary hill, and in the event of very rough country, could be lifted over the bad patches, or if necessary, hung on the back with webbing equipment. The motorcycle had a range of 80 miles, speed of 30 mph, and a weight incliuding petrol and oil of 80 lbs. Fuel supply was 6 pints of oil/petrol mix.

It is understood that this vehicle was retrieved from the island of Morotai where it had been used by a Light Aid Detachment to regularly fetch the mail.

Information on starting the bike can be seen in NAA A3269, Q9/B folios 223-4. See also NAA: A3269, Q11/13(I)