Getting back to my visit to the Deeley Motorcycle Exhibition in British Columbia, here’s something that goes waaaaaay back in time…sort of.
1910 Harley-Davidson Model 6A
In 1910, Harley-Davidson was still only making single-cylinder powered motorcycles. That year, they built 3,168 example – 334 of which were top-of-the-line as they were equipped with a magneto (a $40 option on a $210 bike). One of those 334 has survived 115 years until today, and according to the seller it’s the “only known complete original magneto-ignition 1910 in …
1947 Indian Chief
The Indian Chief doesn’t need much introduction. It’s one of the all-time icons of motorcycling. The model was first introduced in 1921, amid one of Indian’s many rough patches. With sales down 30 percent, the brand decided that luxury was the path to success. On Labor Day (kind of late in the season to be rolling out a new model, …
80 Year-Old Racer – 1946 Harley-Davidson WR
The WR is an interesting bike in Harley’s storied history. Designed specifically for Class C competition, it featured a 738cc V-twin with several upgrades. Sold as a stripper-spec racing machine, it did not have lights or brakes, and was sold to assist privateer efforts to avoid putting money into a factory team. It was incredibly successful – by 1948, it …
1944 Harley-Davidson E Model
There are a few questions to be asked about this particular bike, and considering its price tag I reckon they’re worth asking.
1916 Cleveland 1-B
I have some questions about this bike, so proceed with caution. It was listed on eBay back in December and doesn’t appear to have been sold. Now, in addition to being listed on Auto Barn’s site, it can also be found on Facebook with a minimalist description: “All original complete running bike.”
1941 BMW R12
The BMW R12 was an evolution of the iconic R7 concept and it was the first motorcycle in the world with hydraulically damped telescoping forks. BMW produced roughly 36,008 over a production run between 1935 and 1942.
No Reserve – 1965 Cushman Super Silver Eagle
In the wake of the Second World War, the United States was experiencing a transportation boom, and Cushman Motor Works was eager to capitalize on the trend. Come 1949, the Nebraska-based manufacturer dressed up one of its 50cc scooters to resemble popular baggers like the Harley-Davidson Big Twin and Indian Chief. Dubbed the “Eagle,” the little scooter proved an instant …
1924 Ner-a-Car
Designed by Carl Neracher in 1918, the Ner-A-Car was sold as a cheap automobile alternative. Approximately 10,000 were built and sold in the US, and another 6,500 were built and sold in England under license. Here’s one of the latter.
1930 Indian 101 Scout
The Indian Scout was introduced in 1920 – eight years later the 101 Scout was released and some motorcycles consider it to be the most iconic Indian motorcycle ever built thanks to a bevy of racing-inspired upgrades. Said upgrades included a stronger frame, improved suspension, a longer wheelbase, and a front brake. However as the Great Depression took hold, Indian …
1913 Indian Big Twin
The last Indian to feature the F-head engine in a cradle-spring frame, the Big Twin is one of the milestone bikes of Indian’s long history. 1913 was the first year of the cradle and 1915 was the last year of production before Indian stopped racing efforts to help with the war, replacing Oscar Hedstrom’s design with their first flat head …
In Poland – 1943 BMW R12
The BMW R12 was an evolution of the iconic R7 concept and it was the first motorcycle in the world with hydraulically damped telescoping forks. BMW produced roughly 36,008 over a production run between 1935 and 1942.
1939 Triumph Tiger 70
When Edward Turner was moved from Ariel to become the General Manager and Chief Designer of Triumph, one of the sweeping changes he made was to update the naming of the 250, 350, and 500cc Mk.5 singles. There were other changes but the bikes got an actual name of “Tiger”, which a suffix hinting at the what the claimed top …
1948 BSA B31
BSA’s first new model after WWII, the B31 was a single-cylinder four-stroke designed to be used as basic transport. The 17 horsepower engine was sufficient to get the bike up about 70 miles per hour.
No Reserve – 1958 Yamaha YE-1 Project
Yamaha’s first motorcycle was the 1955 YA-1, and there’s plenty of information about that model out in the digital world. But I’ve been hard-pressed to find any real information on the YE-1, another motorcycle from Yamaha’s early history. Do you know anything about it?