Harley-Davidson 1942 “WLC” 750cc side valve V-twin frame # 8A 1354 A engine # 42WLA68130 Harley-Davidson began producing the WLA in small numbers in 1940, as part of a general military expansion. The later entry of the United States into World War II saw significantly increased production, with over 90,000 being produced during the war (along with spare parts the equivalent of many more). Harley Davidson would also produce a close WLA variant for the Canadian Army. This model was called the WLC. ...
Hobart 1921 “2 ½ HP Spring Frame” 269 cc Villiers MK IV two stroke engine # C 2285 William Hobart Bird (c1851-1934) started to manufacture bicycles in 1884. In 1901 motorcycle production was also taken up and soon the company developed an excellent reputation for the high workmanship that was apparent in their bicycles and motorcycles. The company also supplied frames and engines to other manufacturers. At first Dalton and Wade engines were employed, later models were fitted with JAP singles and ...
Indian 1915 7 HP “Model C3” 994 cc IOE V-twin engine # 72G745 Indian’s first, 38.61ci (633cc) v-twin appears in 1907 with an engine clearly derived from that of the single, though mechanical inlet valves – introduced for 1908 – are an early improvement. The twin’s rear cylinder continues to form part of the frame until 1909 when a loop frame of the type favoured by rivals Harley-Davidson is adopted. The Springfield Company’s first ‘Big Twin’ debutes that same year displacing 61 ci. By 1913 India ...
Raleigh 1922ca 2¾ HP 348cc side valve “2¾ HP Lightweight” frame # 11773 engine # 11340 In the beginning of the 20th century Raleigh’s main business is in the cycle trade. Company founder Frank Bowden is a firm believer in variable gear systems and from the end of 1902 the Raleigh Cycle company puts the Sturmey-Archer cycle hub gear on the market. There is some motorcycle production between 1899 and 1906, but only after the first world war serious thought is given again to motorcycle production. ...
BMW 1969 R69US 590 cc OHV transverse twin frame & engine # 665749 In 1955 BMW introduces a new line of twins with a completely redesigned frame with trailing fork rear suspension and Earles fork front suspension. The final drive shaft is no longer exposed but is enclosed in the right arm of the trailing forks. All three new models, the 500 cc R50, and the 600 cc R60 and R69 have 18 inch wheels in place of the earlier 19 inch ones, twin leading shoes in the front brake, smaller mudguards and larg ...
MV Agusta 750S America Frame # MV750*2210380 DGM Engine # 221-0360 The 750S America model was introduced in 1975. It featured blockier styling and a larger engine than previous MV 750s. MV Agusta’s glorious racing background gave rise to numerous street bikes over the years, such as the 1977 MV Agusta 750S America motorcycle. The 790-cc double-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine in the 1977 MV Agusta 750S America motorcycle had its roots in a 500-cc racing powerplant. The exhaust system is a combi ...
Norton 1948 Model M30 “Manx” 499 cc OHC single frame & engine # C11M 14566 After five years of meticulous work, Dutch self-employed mechanical engineer and 3D-artist, Niels Schoen, has completed a unique document. Counting 164 pages and narrated in English, this book entirely reveals his 1948 Norton racer down to the very last nuts and bolts in a series of 3D illustrations that are unseen before. It took him nine months to execute the main task: have each item taken from the motorcycle, measure ...
Clément 1903 ca 1 ¾ HP 143 cc OHV Autocyclette frame # 18463 engine # LM 1815 Clément is one of the true French motorcycle pioneers and this particular model was produced around 1903. The big outside flywheel acts as a pulley for the direct round rubber belt transmission to the rear wheel. The seat tube is fitted with an adjustable belt tensioner. A spray carburettor takes care of the correct mixture and there is a throttle valve in the intake tube. Ignition is by trembler coil and battery, neat ...
Ascot-Pullin 1929 “ Sports Utility” 496 cc OHV frame # 184 Engine # AP 184 Cyril Pullin was a rare bird among the many fascinating motorcycle inventors of the early 20th century; while there were many rider-designer-manufacturers during the era, he was in very rare company of men who not only designed, built, and raced motorcycles, but also won an Isle of Man TT race, a distinction he shares only with Howard R. Davies (HRD) and Charlie and Harry Collier (Matchless). Pullin had an extremely inven ...
Phébus 1899 “Berceuse” 2 ¼ HP 269 cc De Dion Bouton quadricycle frame # 1368 engine # 10618 In 1895 De Dion Bouton begins to market motorized tricycles and from the start they are very successful. Year after year the design is improved and soon many manufacturers, big and small, introduce three wheelers, often with De Dion engines. A well-known make at the turn of the century is the Phébus motor tricycle. The marque takes its name from the Greek and Roman sun god, Phoebus (Apollo). The vehicles ...
Triumph 1973 X-75 Hurricane 740 cc ohv triple frame & engine # TRX75 XH 01920 When, in 1968, the new BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident triples were shown to the American BSA-Triumph management, they were not impressed. They knew Honda had the CB750 coming along and they felt the triple’s price of $1800 was too high and that technical details (like vertically split crankcases and pushrod ohv valve train) were far from “cutting edge”. However, they acknowledged that the bike was fast, and a sales team ...
Indian 1923ca PowerPlus “Big Valve” racing style special 998 cc side valve V- twin engine # 71V409 The Indian PowerPlus engine is a design of Charles Gustafson, who had already earned fame as an engine designer at the Reading Standard company. His task was to design a powerful, robust, reliable and production friendly engine to replace the old F-head V-twin design of Oscar Hedstrom. The resulting 61” side valve PowerPlus introduced in 1916 was an immediate success and this model is still one of ...
Indian 1919 “ N-19 ” PowerPlus 998 cc side valve V- twin engine # 82M971 By 1915 the Indian Board starts to have worries about the financial situation of the company, because the IOE engine and Hedstrom-designed carburettor are costly to produce. The inlet-over-exhaust configuration was adopted by most American manufacturers and was basically a good design, but it had one weakness: the inlet valve pushrods and rockers were external to the engine and thus exposed to the elements. This could give ...
FN 1920 “285 T” 285 cc side valve frame # 60056 engine # 35 The first FN single with shaft drive came on the market at the end of 1909. It was quite an innovative little machine with bore and stroke dimensions of 65×75 mm giving a capacity of 247 cc. The specifications included a multiple plate clutch and a two speed gearbox. Weight of the machine was 65 kg and the fuel consumption was less than 3 litres per 100 km. This light single became a popular seller next to the FN four cylinder model. In ...
Harley-Davidson 1914 “10E” single speed 989 cc IOE V-twin engine # 1580EH The first V-twin Harley prototype is displayed at the Chicago Motorcycle Show in February 1907, but it isn’t until 1909 that the first twins are for sale; officially they are still considered prototypes and only 27 are sold. The engine has a capacity of 880cc and has atmospheric intake valves. The standard colour of these machines is Renault Gray with carmine striping. The engines are not as good as the company expects so ...
Moto Guzzi 1972 ”V7 Sport” 748cc OHV V-twin frame # VK12879 engine # VK32041 The Moto Guzzi V7 Sport is introduced in 1971 as a new and improved version of the standard V7. For their new superbike the engineers at Moto Guzzi install the alternator on the crankshaft nose which allows the engine to be fitted lower in a new frame, thus improving the centre of gravity. The new frame is a significant improvement over its forbear and when combined with the revised 5-speed gearbox and large-diameter dr ...
Bianchi 1934 “Frecchia Azzurra Gran Sport” 496 cc OHV frame & engine # 65631 The history of Bianchi begins in 1885, when Edoardo Bianchi opens his first shop in the Via Nirone in Milan and starts to construct bicycles. In 1888 he’s the first in Italy to move from solid tyres to the Dunlop-patent air chamber type. From 1897 till 1902 tricycles and quadricycles are produced and in 1902 comes the first motorcycle, fitted with a De Dion-Bouton engine. Car manufacture starts in 1908. Most models from ...
Fick-Honda 1963 CB 77 500 cc OHC twin Classic racer frame # CB77-62-20282 engine # CB72E-210071 The famous Dutch bitza wizard Cees Fick astounded the Dutch motorcycle scene in the 1960s and 70s with a number of fabulous projects, all completely figured out and built by himself. For the first one, Cees Fick used an Ariel 1000 Square Four powerplant and installed it in a Norton frame, a combination that is commonly called Noriel. The second one was more exotic as the engine came from a car: a 1000 ...
Peugeot 1912ca Motocyclette Légère 2 ½ HP Type “MD” 333 cc AIV V-twin frame # 16287 engine # 24484 In 1910 Peugeot brings out a light V- twin motorcycle that will become an enormous success. The “Moto Légère MD” is equipped with a 333 cc (55 x 70) 45 degree V-twin engine with automatic inlet valves, direct belt transmission, Bosch magneto, single lever Claudel carburettor and Truffault front forks. The little machine proves easy to start, easy to handle and is very reliable. Moreover, it weighs ...
Motosacoche 1912 M5 2 ¼ HP 290cc side valve single frame # A4905 engine # MV 23819 In 1899 the brothers Henri and Armand Dufaux from Geneva, Switzerland, design a little four-stroke engine. This compact unit can be bolted into the frame of any ordinary pushbike: The “Motosacoche” -which approximately means “engine-bag”- is born! Very soon the quality and practical utility of the invention becomes known even far beyond the Swiss territory. Gradually the engines grow bigger and more powerful, twin ...