America’s Golden Age
The early 20th century saw motorcycle development grow rapidly in the US, and while some bought in technology from Europe, most American makers chose to forge ahead with their own various solutions. Roads between cities were entirely unmetalled, so effective suspension was a vital development, as was rugged construction, ease of access for tyre repairs, and forms of gearing to cope with hilly terrain.
Pierce Four, 1910
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 699 cc, in-line four |
| Top speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
Best-known for its cars, Pierce-Arrow began with bicycles and built the first Pierce Four motorcycle in 1909. It was innovative but expensive and bankrupted the company by 1914.
Emblem 4 HP, 1910
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 531 cc, single-cylinder |
| Top speed | 48 mph (77 km/h) |
Emblem’s V-twins and singles had their own engines in loop frames; the smallest variety was fitted into this model. The company, whose slogan was “Class, Power, Speed, and Satisfaction”, faded after WWI.
Henderson 7 HP Four, 1912
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 934 cc, in-line four |
| Top speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
Built from 1912 to 1931, Hendersons became popular with police forces as they were faster than anything else on the roads; one was ridden around the world between 1912 and 1913.
Pope model L 7/8 HP, 1911
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 998 cc, V-twin |
| Top speed | 65 mph (105 km/h) |
A unique rear suspension, overhead valves, and a three-speed gearbox were advanced features of the Pope Model L, which cost as much as a Ford Model T.
Harley-Davidson Model X8, 1912
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 494 cc, single-cylinder |
| Top speed | 35 mph (56 km/h) |
The original single-cylinder Harley-Davidson of 1903 had been refined into this model by 1912. The company’s products of this period were known as “Silent Gray Fellows”.
Harley-Davidson 11 HP, 1915
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 989 cc, V-twin |
| Top speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
With mechanical lubrication, interconnected clutch, three-speed gearchange, and an optional electric kit, this rugged machine coped well with unmetalled US roads .
Indian V-Twin Roadster, 1912
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 633 cc, V-twin |
| Top speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
In addition to the touring V-twins, Indian offered these race-derived roadster models with twist-grip controls and lightweight construction—ideal for amateur competition.
Indian 4 HP Single, 1913
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 500 cc, single-cylinder |
| Top speed | 40 mph (64 km/h) |
Indian built 32,000 bikes in 1913, 90 per cent of them twins, but also produced this single, which benefited from advanced swinging-arm rear suspension.
Indian Two-Sixty Standard Model, 1914
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 988 cc, V-twin |
| Top speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
This one-liter luxury twin was the first motorcycle with electric lighting fitted as standard. Some versions were made with electric starting as well.
Sears Deluxe “Big Five”, 1914
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 575 cc, single-cylinder |
| Top speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) |
The Sears Roebuck catalogue sold a range of motorcycles from 1912 to 1916, with trailing-link front suspension and engines made by Spake, as on this “magneto model”.
Smith Motor Wheel, 1915
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 150 cc, single-cylinder |
| Top speed | 27 mph (43 km/h) |
In 1914, A.O. Smith Corporation of Milwaukee acquired US rights to the British Wall Motorwheel, which clipped onto any bicycle to provide instant power assistance.
Cleveland 2½ HP, 1919
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 179 cc, single-cylinder |
| Top speed | 38 mph (61 km/h) |
With its small two-stroke engine turned transversely to the normal layout, this low-slung Cleveland was distinctive and, being inexpensive, sold rather well.
It is a quote. The Motorbike Book – The Definitive Visual History 2012
