FN’s first two-wheeled motorised attempt debuted with a small single-cylinder 133cc engine. They chose the route of attaching the engine to a bicycle frame, something which was very popular at the time.
The company later started to introduce new engines with greater capacity, namely 188cc and 300cc units. This was very much in line with what other European manufacturers were doing as the motorcycle began to emerge as a popular choice of transport.
The Portuguese market played an important role in history of FN. The brand was represented in Portugal at the very beginning of the 20th century—just one year after the Belgian manufacturer entered the motorcycle market.
It was the famed Casa Beirão who introduced the FN to Portugal, selling their single-cylinder models and later the four-cylinder versions. The importer even enrolled a team in national sports events to demonstrate FN’s performance and quality to his prospective customers.
The FN on display at the Museu do Caramulo is most likely one of the oldest examples of the brand’s work present in Portugal. It features a single-cylinder engine with a clutch and a two-speed gearbox.