Oldtimers

Triumph 1910 3½ HP 499 cc with Brampton Variable Gear frame # 152324 engine # 8564 4 2 The first Triumph motorcycle appears in 1902, equipped with a Belgian Minerva engine. In 1903 and 1904 JAP and German Fafnir engines are employed and by 1905 Triumph’s own engine, designed by Charles Hathaway, comes in use. Winning the single cylinder class in the 1908 TT races on the Isle of man gives an enormous boost to sales of Triumph machines. The cubic capacity of the engine grows from 363 cc in 1905 ti ...

BSA 1933 B33-2 249 cc OHV frame # A1806 engine # A2.561 BSA’s 1933 range comprises models from 249 cc till 986 cc. The model ranges get a letter code: “B” for 249 cc, “R” for 348 cc, “W” for 499 cc, “M” for 595 cc and finally “G” for the big 986 cc twin. Three types of machines are offered in the “B” class, all with bore x stroke dimensions of 63×80 mm. The B33-1 is a side valve machine, the other two have overhead valves. The B33-3 is the “Blue Star” Sports version with tuned engine, full cradl ...

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 ...

Indian 1916 Model K “Featherweight” 221cc two stroke single engine # 22H179 Late in 1915 the Indian management decides that a small two stroke utility type machine will add to their coverage of the market. In many countries light two strokes are getting popular and also the American domestic market appears to be ready for such a type of Indian. So early in 1916 a new model is presented in the catalogue: “ The Indian Featherweight is transportation made practically universal. By this we mean it h ...

Indian 1907 2¼HP ca 311 cc IOE ‘CAMEL BACK’ engine # 5378 Oscar Hedstrom and George M. Hendee, both active in the cycle racing world, got together to found the Hendee Manufacturing Company as a partnership, with Hendee as President and General Manager, and Hedstrom as Chief Engineer and Designer. Their first prototype was presented in 1901 and during that year six machines were built, of which two were sold. The first machines were powered by a single-cylinder, ca 213 cc ‘F-head’ (inlet over exh ...

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 ...

BMW 1928 R57 494 cc ohv transverse twin frame # 25723 Engine # 70343 The 1928 BMW range comprises four models: two in the 500 cc class, the R52 sv and the R57 ohv, and two models in the new 750 cc class, the R62 sv and R63 ohv. The new 494cc models are again further developed: the front brake diameter goes from 150 to 200 mm, and there’s a new 3-speed gearbox with oil lubrication instead of the earlier grease-filled boxes. The kick starter now works in line with the crankshaft, the earlier model ...

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 ...

Rudge 1937 “Sports Special” 495 cc four-valve OHV single frame # 61107 engine # S3394 The Rudge-Whitworth company is already an established bicycle factory when the firm starts to manufacture motorcycles in 1911. Their first machines are 499 cc IOE singles. They develop the famous Multi Gear, with a possibility of up to 21 gear positions. In 1924 the factory introduces a new range of four valve singles and in 1928 Graham Walker manages to win the Ulster Grand Prix on a Rudge, after a heroic hand ...

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 ...

Henderson 1919 “K” 1301 cc four cylinder side valve frame & engine # 2Z4261 One of the most charismatic names in American motorcycling history, Henderson produced nothing but four-cylinder motorcycles in the course of its 20-year existence. The company was founded by Tom and William Henderson in Detroit in 1911 and with the phrase “a new one from Detroit” the Henderson factory introduced its first production model in November 1911. To underline its qualities Carl Stevens Clancy made a journey ar ...

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 ...

BSA 1955 DB 34 GS “Gold Star” 499cc OHV frame # CB32.2381 engine # DB34.GS.302 Top model for 1939 in the BSA range was the M24 Gold Star, the ultimate sportsman’s dream. It had bore x stroke dimensions of 82×94 mm, a foot-controlled 4-speed gearbox and a specially tuned engine, individually built and bench tested. It was fitted with an aluminium cylinder and head and Amal TT carburetter. The Gold Star name was derived from the award won on 30th June 1937 by the great Wall Handley who achieved a ...

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 ...