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**Navyguy** · 20th December 06, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Splash_4

... I can see you riding your Harley in a black leather kilt heading to a family resource center!

Riding is one of the few actions I would not try kilted, just not enough protection. I crashed once and even though I was fully outfitted I still got some road rash. A leather kilt??? Not me, I find them too goth or fetish related, just not my thing. I'm a jeans & T-shirt guy.

**Scott Gilmore** · 20th December 06, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Navyguy

... To answer the questions, I have a full size picture at home and the tank reads xcelsior (hope I spelled that right), the company is still around but smaller. ...

Yes, it's an Excelsior (pre-Henderson from the date). It's an atmospheric side valve V-twin (air cooled, of course) that appears to be set up for either flat track, or perhaps even board track racing. The rear wheel is almost certainly driven by a leather belt. It didn't have a clutch in the normal sense -- the rider engaged the belt by rolling forward and increasing the tension on the belt on the pulleys.

It took mui grande huevos to race a bike without any front brake (and only the rumor of a rear brake, if any at all) back then. No suspension to speak of either. Racing deaths were fairly common.

Nice photo. You're right to treasure it. Thanks for posting.
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**Alan H** · 20th December 06, 09:13 PM

GREAT picture.... I really enjoyed that.

**mbhandy** · 20th December 06, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Scott Gilmore

It took mui grande huevos to race a bike without any front brake (and only the rumor of a rear brake, if any at all) back then. No suspension to speak of either. Racing deaths were fairly common.
.

Not only all that but only a leather helmet. mui grande huevos

MrBill

**Zardoz** · 20th December 06, 11:03 PM

Excelsior started selling bikes in 1908,with a belt drive 500cc single. The V-twin (as pictured) came along in 1910, first with a 820cc engine then 1000cc's after 1911. They were well regarded and very successful racers, holding many early records. They shut down in 1931.

Maybe

but it's one of my areas of interest :rolleyes:

**Scott Gilmore** · 21st December 06, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

Excelsior started selling bikes in 1908,with a belt drive 500cc single. The V-twin (as pictured) came along in 1910, first with a 820cc engine then 1000cc's after 1911. They were well regarded and very successful racers, holding many early records. They shut down in 1931.

Maybe [off topic] but it's one of my areas of interest ...

Yes, we are digressing here, sorry, but Excelsior was around in 1903, and even earlier. It was founded as the Excelsior Supply Company, originally a bicycle manufacturer. But you're right, they apparently didn't build their first motorcycle until 1905 (according to one source I found). Still, oddly, there are some representations of 1902 and 1903 Excelsiors out there that seem to be reputable.

1903 Excelsior 550cc with wicker sidecar

1902 Excelsior

1903 Excelsior

Having said that, you're certainly right about the pictured racer - it's newer than nineteen-oh-anything. For one thing I was wrong about the drive, which on second glance isn't leather at all (though it could well have been if it really was a pre-1910 model). It looks more like an early teens model maybe??

One way or the other, that's a nice photo. Interesting looking character in the saddle, too. Glad to see it posted.
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**Zardoz** · 21st December 06, 07:00 PM

Scott, to go even farther into the realm of off topic digression.... The bikes you pictured are indeed Excelsiors, but not from Chicago! They were made by the British Excelsior company in Coventry England.(notice the sidecar is on the left side, Sidecars are trditionally on the curb side, US hacks are on the right) They started in 1896 as a bicycle company, put out their first motorcycle in 1902, and unlike the US company , stayed around until the 1960s.

**Scott Gilmore** · 21st December 06, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

Scott, to go even farther into the realm of off topic digression.... The bikes you pictured are indeed Excelsiors, but not from Chicago! They were made by the British Excelsior company in Coventry England........

I'm so confused!!! . . . . . (Thanks for the clarification - I think.)

So, nice picture, innit? :)

**Navyguy** · 22nd December 06, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

Excelsior started selling bikes in 1908,with a belt drive 500cc single. The V-twin (as pictured) came along in 1910, first with a 820cc engine then 1000cc's after 1911. They were well regarded and very successful racers, holding many early records. They shut down in 1931.

Maybe

but it's one of my areas of interest :rolleyes:

Maybee I'm wrong about the year. (I probably am.) I will call my mom hho has the original and the date is written on the back. I know that it was taken on july 4th after taking first place in an Army race, I think in South Carolina. Dont shun me cause I got the year wrong please. LOL

**Navyguy** · 23rd May 08, 08:00 AM

Well, I was looking through all my old post and found this one. I have the info on the photo now. The pic was taken Juli 4th 1918. My Great Grandfather was the winner of th 15 mile Army Championship Motorcycle Race, Camp Greene, Charlotte,NC. I don't know how old the bike was when the picture was taken though.