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6918
MAJESTIC
750 JAP-Bridier Charron -1929
Over-ambitious ideas
The Majestic was
already an exceptional motorcycle with its normal unit-construction Chaise
350cc ohv engine, but its manufacturer, Georges Roy, was more ambitious.
One-Off Majesties
For his personal
transport, Roy used a Majestic fitted with a Cleveland four-cylinder engine, and
a prototype was built with a four-cylinder Chaise engine. Another unique model
was delivered with a 750cc ohv Gnome & Rhone Type X engine, whose flat-twin
layout and shaft transmission were ideally suited for the Majestic.
Art Deco Paint Job
At the 1929 Paris
Salon, seven machines were displayed on the Majestic stand, two of which were
powered by 750cc JAP V-twin engines set transversely in the frame. Grand Luxe versions
were shown attached to Bernardet sidecars and given distinctive crackle-finish cream
paint jobs in the Art Deco style. There were never any other examples of the
Majestic 750 JAP than the two displayed at the salon. Yet, these were not
hastily-built show mockups, and the details of their construction revealed that
series production was intended. The transverse mounting of the British engine was
a feature that gave excellent cooling but nevertheless had not been seen in France
since the Moto-Cardan and Moto-Ader of 1904. In this engine-transmission layout
(shared with the side-valve 750 Helyett-JAP unveiled at the same salon), the
power unit was coupled to a French Bridier Charron gearbox with shaftand- bevel
final drive.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 747cc
(70x97mm) air-cooled JAP-type MT V-twin four-stroke mounted transversely;
Marchal combined dynamo-contact breaker ignition
Power Rating: 19
hp
Valves: overhead
Fuel System:
carburetor
Transmission:
Bridier Charron 3-speed, hand lever shift; shaft final drive
Suspension:
sliding pillar with hub-center steering by cranks (front); rigid (rear)
Brakes: drum
(front & rear)
Wheels: 19 inch
(front & rear)
Weight: 485 lb
This remarkable machine made a spectacular appearance
at the 1929 Paris Salon- but was never seen again.