Thread: The Welbike

Designed specifically for the airborne forces, the Excelsior Folding Motorcycle, better known as the Welbike, featured collapsible handle bars, steering column and saddle so that it could be packed into a standard equipment container.
The official allocation of these handy little machines to a British Airborne Division was 529 and after the war the vehicle was developed into the two-speed Corgi.

• TYPE: Single-seat folding motorcycle
• ENGINE: One 98 cc Excelsior single-cylinder two-stroke engine WEIGHT: 70 Ib (32 kg)
• DIMENSIONS: Length 4 ft 4 in (1.32 m), 4 ft 3 in (1.30 m) when folded; Height 2 ft 6'/. in(0.78 m), I ft 3 in (0.38 m) when folded; Width I ft 10 in (0.56 m), I ft 0 in (0.30 m) when folded
• PERFORMANCE: Maximum speed Approximately 30 mph (48 km/h) Range on one 6'/2-pint (3.7 litre) tank of fuel 90 miles (142 km)

This Welbike was dropped into Arnhem for the "Red Devils" the Allied Airborne Force.

A paratrooper inspecting his Welbike, known to the paratroopers as the Corgi but its chosen name was the Welbike.

A paratrooper preparing to bring his Welbike into action after it was dropped from the air by parachute. These bikes were very useful when creating inter-unit contact within the dropping zone.

The Welbike seen here packed into its container ...

Really don't see a reason as to why these bikes were dropped, surely something more important could have taken its place in air drops?

Originally Posted by Cpl Smyth

Really don't see a reason as to why these bikes were dropped, surely something more important could have taken its place in air drops?

Total waist of resources in its day, i am sure that these bikes made no impact in winning the war and was used as some type of gimmick.