The 1911 Excelsior bike was famedbicycle - maker Schwinn ’s entry into the motorcycle market .
Motorcycle Image Gallery
Mr. Ignatz Schwinn had been in the business of build up bicycle for several age when he make up one’s mind to capitalize on the motorcycling craze that was sweeping the res publica .
By meld a 500 - mil De Dion single - cylinder railway locomotive with a stout bicycle underframe , Schwinn put the first Excelsior motorcycle on cut-rate sale in 1908 – or at least , the first Excelsior bike to be build up in the United States .
Strangely , the name was already in use on motorcycles produced by disjoined companies in both Germany and England .
Although it produced some minuscule two - strokes , Excelsior was better known for its four - diagonal one and V - twins , the latter arriving in 1910 . All of the four - stroke models used F - head word ( overhead intake , side exhaust ) engines of Excelsior ’s own design .
For 1911 , the 30 - cubic - inch single could be ordered with a option of magneto or battery electrical organization . The run - nexus front ramification supply only a small amount of travel , but that was more than was afforded by the rigid frame in back .
As was vernacular for the earned run average , the single was drive by a wide leather belt , with advancement retard by a rearward coaster brake .
On the following page are more ikon of the 1911 Excelsior .
For more great motorcycle articles and pictures, check out:
1911 Excelsior Pictures
The 1911 Excelsior bike featured a 30 - three-dimensional - column inch single engine and a excogitation resembling a bicycle – not surprising considering it was designed by Schwinn .
