BODYWORK: Chassis number: 167308.

MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Single-cylinder, four-stroke engine. Displacement: 346 cc (70 x 90 mm). Transmission: chain-driven. Gearbox: three-speed. Frame: single cradle tubular steel. Front suspension: parallelogram fork. Rear suspension: rigid.

HISTORY: In the early 1930s, Motobécane launched its first four-stroke engine to avoid relying on external suppliers such as JAP or Blackburne. Known as the B engine, it powered an entire range of models between 175 and 500 cc, including the B44. This 350 cc touring motorcycle featured side valves and a gearbox integrated into the engine block—a distinctly modern configuration for its time, when separate gearboxes were still the norm. It produced 4 hp and reached a top speed of 60 km/h. It was also known as “the doctor’s motorcycle”, as many rural doctors in France used it throughout the 1930s and 1940s. The example offered dates from 1936 and has been completely rebuilt. It only requires a tune-up to return to trouble-free use.