1925 Zenith 680cc

Lot details
Registration No: CD 9589
Frame No: 9119
Engine No: GT/A38818
cc: 677
MOT Expiry Date: None

Although little known to many of today's motorcycle enthusiasts, Zenith was a leading marque in the early years of the last century. They were perhaps best known for the Gradua, a popular model in its day, with its adjustable gearing operated by a long `coffee grinder' like hand-lever. By the 1930s, Zenith machines were either Villiers and JAP single-cylinder powered. The start of the Second World War, however, which saw most manufacturing facilities in Britain having other priorities, effectively terminated Zenith motorcycle production.
The JAP-engined Zenith 680 was a medium-weight, twin-cylinder bike, which not only gave buyers a powerful solo ride, but also offered consumers impressive flexibility for combination work. Introduced in late 1923, the model was progressively improved and received critical acclaim in contemporary road tests. The bike's near silent running and lack of vibration was, declared reviewers, like "riding a motorcycle driven by steam".
In 1925, a Zenith, like the 680 bike being auctioned here, was capable of achieving a maximum speed of 65mph and could be bought for £74. Apart from having Beaulieu provenance, this 677cc twin-cylinder sidevalve example also has the benefit of having been formerly the property of F W (Freddie) Barnes, the Zenith designer and rider who established several records at Brooklands for the marque. The current condition of frame, paint, brightwork, suspension and cycle parts are described by entrants the National Motor Museum Trust as being generally good.