When asked to pick my favorite antique bike, I immediately faced two dilemmas. One, I couldn’t pick just one. Maybe I could narrow it down to a Top Ten Fav’s after much gnashing over 100s of outstanding machines. Then another issue with the assignment, about the designation…antique. People toss about different time frames for the classifications of antique, vintage, classic and even “veteran.” U.S. states stipulate different parameters when it comes to issuing antique and historical vehicle plates. Various international and national clubs also put forth their own time frame definitions, for example, the Vintage BMW group breaks it down as follows:
Classic (at least 25 years) – of course that doesn’t mean your crusty Honda 250cc Rebel is a “classic” although a lot of used cycle sales ads add “classic” to anything 25 years or older. Obviously, other criteria establish a true classic.
Vintage (1948-1969) – About a 20 year spread that encompasses most of the Golden Age of British bikes.
Antique (1923-45) – Another 20 years or so but wait a minute…bikes were being built back way earlier, like in the late 1880s.
So here’s the rub. The BMW “antique” class starts at 1923 simply and logically because the first BMW appeared in that year. When you recall that Indian debuted in 1901, Harley-Davidson in 1903, you push back the time-lime. More so when you factor in Triumph appearing in 1883. Also there’s the matter of several hundred motorcycles produced all over the world that totally disappeared into the history books with maybe a hand full surviving if that, most ground up during the World Wars as metal fodder.
All that said, I’m going to pick my 10 Favorites based both on personal experience and my Bucket List, so it’s a bit of a mishmash. No doubt all those reading this have their own 10 Fav’s and hopefully are still enjoying one or more of them. And who know what will top the list 20 or more years from now? Much of it revolves around the old adage, “standing the test of time” or nowadays, how extraordinarily valuable/expensive a bike becomes at auction feeding frenzies. And yes, all of us have the “I coulda bought” back in the day stories, but those “barn farms” still happen, case in point the recent discovery of a warehouse full of Brough-Superiors in England. So keep an eye open at that the next garage sale sign you spot.
Okay, now for my Ten Top Fav “Antiquish” Bikes…listed in chronological order of production:
An American milestone motorcycle, the Marsh (1900-1913) was among the first purpose built motorcycles rather than simply a bicycle fitted with a motor. The 510cc IOE single produced 3.5 horsepower capable of propelling the belt-driven 150 lb. machine to a then blistering 40 mph. The unusual 90 degree exhaust design helped keep heat from frying the rider’s leg while the “salami” shaped underslung fuel tank held 1.5 gallons, a second tank mounted behind the seat carrying another ½ gallon.
In 1905 Marsh joined Charles Metz of Orient bicycle and motorcycle fame to form The American Motor Co., the Marsh name changing to Marsh & Metz or M.M. Today the original Marsh singles, produced at the very beginning of motorcycle production, are exceptionally rare…in fact this is thought to be the only one.
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1910 Flying Merkel – V-Twin Model – Torpedo Tank
Single Cylinder
Engine: IOE Single/500 cc/3 HP
Weight: 150 lb.
Top speed: 40 mph
Joseph Merkel set up shop in Milwaukee in 1902, and by 1905 was setting loose his racing versions. He patented the spring front fork and pioneered monoshock rear suspension as well as a throttle-controlled engine oil. In 1909, the name “Flying Merkel” appeared on the gas tank, Maldwyn Jones besting Cannonball Baker in a 10-mile race. In 1914 the Flying Merkel won the National Endurance Run from Chicago to St. Louis. WWI and other factors ended the brilliant effort in 1917. This example appeared at the 2013 Moto Corsica Classica at Willow Springs Raceway was up for grabs at only $127,000. The name alone is worth it, right?
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1914 Feilbach Limited
Arthur Otto Feilbach and his brother William tinkered together their first machine at home around the same time and city as Harley-Davidson. They built a limited number of motorcycles but quickly earned a rep for being well-engineered and reliable mounts. Like the first Harleys, the Feilbach was a “thumper”…a single cylinder, in this case displacing 350cc (21 inches) and activated by pedals linked to a belt drive.
Like the first Harleys, the Feilbach was a “thumper”…a single cylinder, in this case displacing 350cc (21 inches) and activated by pedals linked to a belt drive. By in 1907 the builder was officially registered with the city of Milwaukee as the “Feilbach Motor Co., Ltd.” but only three bikes built and sold. With continuing innovative improvements, by1913, sales jumped to158. A 1130cc V-twin came next, the machines receiving rave reviews, but financial vagaries closed down operations in 1916.
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Cyclone – 1914/15
While the competition bikes were painted a “violent yellow” apparently to make them more visible during race events, the color was not particularly popular with the public. A more sedate blue paint was an option for the road going machines, the first Cyclones following the trends of the time featuring a conventional loop frame and front coil-spring forks similar to Indians of the day. Later models benefited from a rear suspension set-up consisting of swinging arms controlled by a leaf spring mounted vertically behind the seat. All Cyclones during this period were clutch operated, single speed chain-driven designs. And all featured Andy Strand’s beautifully designed and crafted bevel gear driven single overhead cam V-twin powerplant. While the Cyclone was the king of the hill racer of the time tearing up the dirt tracks at speeds reaching 110 mph, and that with a one gear transmission, showroom sales faltered, the plant closing its doors in 1915 after producing a purported 300 (but probably far less) road machines and far fewer racers.
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1916 Pope 1000cc Twin
The Pope motorcycle company was founded by Civil War veteran (Union side) Lt. Col. Albert Augustus Pope, one of the unsung heroes of early American transportation. His enterprise began back in 1870 with the production of bicycles, then in 1896 branched out to the design and building of automobiles, those pioneering efforts began in 1896. He was a major promoter of the paving of new roads, the surfaces on which his vehicles could then flourish.
Pope Single – (white tires correct for period)
In 1911 the Pope name appeared on motorcycles with their production centered in Westfield, MA. Pope was in several ways ahead of its time with early rear suspension system and leaf-spring forks. Its engine of double overhead valve (DOHV) design was quite advanced and produced some 18 hp. In addition the Schebler carburetor company designed a special carb unique to the Pope. The last of the vaunted Popes would fade from production in 1918, and as result their rarity insured.
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Butterscotch Mystery Bike – 1916 Traub
Unless this bike was created in an alternate universe that one day we might explore, it remains a total mystery. You can see it, touch it, smell it at Dale Walksler’s Wheels Through Time Museum. What is known about can be summed up in the following few words:
It was discovered in 1967, concealed in the brick wall of a residence in Chicago. Its maker is unknown. All of its parts, excluding the seat, carb and magneto, are apparently hand-built. None of the parts is interchangeable with the components of any other early machine. The engine displaces 80 cubic inches and features massive 2-inch valves. The 3-speed transmission if of a unique design with two neutrals plus there’s two ways to operate the clutch. While there’s no front brake, the rear unit is also unique as it’s a double-acting design. Front suspension is an elliptical spring design, There are not one but three tool compartments. Apparently tools were seldom needed. The bike is in perfect operating condition and performs flawlessly to speeds in excess of 80 mph.
A “real” Indian Chief complete with original tank shifter, plunger frame and “tractor” solo seat. Snapped at annual Hansen Dam event. One look at those swoop valence fenders and you know it’s an indelible image from motorcycling history. While he 45ci twin powered Indian Scout was produced from 1922 – 1953, the Chief only wore the art nouveauish fender skirts for three years of production (1940-43).
Yoshi and Kyoko of The Garage Company in Inglewood, CA consider their Chief a top favorite in their collection.
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Vincent- Any Vincent!
Black Shadow, Rapide, Black Prince, Comet…Norvin, Egli…you name it…the Vincent has to be included in any kind of list. In this case, it’s a custom version built in Malaunay, France.
First introduced in 1928 (so they qualify as “Antique”), the British made HRD/Vincents motorcycles saw the end of the factory line in 1956, but their charisma never faded, in fact only intensified over the years. Swiss motorcycle designer Fritz Egli was a leader in re-vitalizing the 1950s Vincent, having started his career as a motorcycle designer in 1967. While a devoted fan of the Vincents, he found the dated chassis not up to modern performance par and so designed his own frame and suspension upgrades around the vaunted Vincent motor. Patrick Godet, also one of the marque’s leading exponents, embarked on their resurrection in the early 1990’s when he was able to re-import a batch of Vincents that had been languishing in Argentina.
Ducati + Norton Wunderbike
Mitch Talcove’s 1200cc Vincent powered Ducati framed wunderbike aka “Vincati” took Best British Custom.
Nicely Restored Vincent Black Shadow at speed.
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Tank Poetry
Okay, so it’s not that old, just 50+ years, but the tank just moves it up the ladder in my opinion. A stock 1965 R60/2 BMW takes a quantum leap to stellar status thanks to after Ernst Hoske gas tank that holds 10-12 gallons of petrol for long distance cruising. Original Hoske tanks can run over $2K while repro from Indian are around 800 but use smaller Monza gas cap and minus the large tool cover.
Natural Combination
The 30 hp 600cc R60 was in production from 1956-1969, about 20,000 made, many combined with sidecars. While there was a telescopic front end version as well, this R60/2 wears the iconic Earles Fork front end which many think provides the smoothest ride. R60 rider Danny Liska rode R60s from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego in one trip, another from North Cape in Europe to South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, his book published in 2004. I’ve got 150,000 miles on my 40 year old BMW and not touched the
Motor.
Snortin’ Norton
Another of the author’s personal rides, in this case a 1969 Commando 750. Norton, which first built bikes with their own engines in 1908, upped the ante big time with the new Commando series in 1968 featuring its vibration dampening “Isolastic Suspension,” basically rubber mounting the engine. It was voted #1 Motorcycle of the Year several times. This bike wears correct Atlas mufflers seen on early Commandos.
