Classic Motorcycles: The Art of Speed

227 Pages·2016·84.35 MB·English

by  Pat Hahn

C
2

11
of of
oo
rr
PP
CLASSIC_MOTORCYCLES_001-085_11651_C2.indd 1 19/9/16 5:31 PM
CLASSIC_MOTORCYCLES_001-085_11651.indd 1 JJoobb:: 1111665511 TTiittllee:: 221199118844 -- AArrtt ooff SSppeeeedd CCllaassssiicc MMoottoorrccyycclleess ((MMBBII)) 1/9/16 12:16 pm
(LCH)( LTCYHL) PPaaggee:: 11
© 2016 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. Acquiring Editor: Darwin Holmstrom
Photography © 2016 Tom Loeser Project Manager: Jordan Wiklund
Art Director: Brad Springer
First published in 2016 by Motorbooks, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group Cover Design: Simon Larkin
USA Inc., 400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA. Book Design and Layout: John Sticha
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
On the endpapers: 1910 FN (front) and 1974 Ducati 750 Sport (rear).
quartoknows.com On the front cover: 1955 AJS 7R.
Visit our blogs at quartoknows.com On the back cover: 1957 Maico Typhoon.
On the frontis: 1927 Henderson Four.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without On the title page: 1966 Venom Thruxton gauge cluster.
written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been
reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no Printed in China
responsibility is accepted by producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of
copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort
has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied.
We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve
inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.
Motorbooks titles are also available at discounts in bulk quantity for industrial
or sales-promotional use. For details contact the Special Sales Manager at Quarto
Publishing Group USA Inc., 400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN
55401 USA.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN: 978-0-7603-5179-6
Digital edition: 978-0-76035-414-8
Hardcover edition: 978-0-76035-179-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Hahn, Pat, 1969- author.
Title: Classic motorcycles : the art of speed / Pat Hahn ; photographs by Tom
   Loeser.
Description: Minneapolis, Minnesota : Motorbooks, 2016. | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016023889 | ISBN 9780760351796 (hardback)
Subjects: LCSH: Antique and classic motorcycles--Pictorial works. |
 Motorcycling--History. | BISAC: TRANSPORTATION / Motorcycles / Pictorial.
   | TRANSPORTATION / Motorcycles / History. | TRANSPORTATION
T
/ Motorcycles /
3
 General.
T
Classification: LCC TL444.2 .H34 2016 | DDC 629.227/5--dc23
2
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016023889
111

ofofof
ooo
rrr
PPP
CLASSIC_MOTORCYCLES_001-085_11651.indd 2 1/9/16 4:57 pm
CLASSIC_MOTORCYCLES_001-085_11651 C3.indd 2 Text JJoobb:: 1111665511 TTiittllee:: 221199118844 -- AArrtt ooff SSppeeeedd CCllaassssiicc MMoottoorrccyycclleess ((MMBBII)) 27/9/16 09:23
(LCH()L TCYHL) PPaaggee:: 22
T H E A R T O F S P E E D
CL ASSIC MOTORCYCLES
P A T H A H N
P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y T O M L O E S E R
T
C
22

11
of of
oo
rr
PP
CCLLAASSSSIICC__MMOOTTOORRCCYYCCLLEESS__000011--008855__1111665511__CC22..iinndddd 33 1199//99//1166 55::3377 PPMM
Text JJoobb:: 1111665511 TTiittllee:: 221199118844 -- AArrtt ooff SSppeeeedd CCllaassssiicc MMoottoorrccyycclleess ((MMBBII))
((LLCCHH)) TTYYLL PPaaggee:: 33
CONTENTS
PART I THE EXPERIMENTAL YEARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
1903 Mitchell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
1910 FN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
1913 Thor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
1914 Indian Hendee Special and 1938 Sport Scout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
1915 Militaire Deluxe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
1921 Mars 1000 Replica   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
1922 Megola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
1922 Motosacoche . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
1923 James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
1924 Moto Guzzi C4V 500cc, 1947 Bicylindrica, 1955 V-8 Replica, and 1956 250 DOHC . . . . .54
1927 Henderson Four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
1928 Neander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
1929 Harley-Davidson JDH and 1975 XR750 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
T
C
22
1 1
of of
oo
rr
PP
CCLLAASSSSIICC__MMOOTTOORRCCYYCCLLEESS__000011--008855__1111665511__CC22..iinndddd 44 1199//99//1166 55::4401 PPMM
Text JJoobb:: 1111665511 TTiittllee:: 221199118844 -- AArrtt ooff SSppeeeedd CCllaassssiicc MMoottoorrccyycclleess ((MMBBII))
((LLCCHH)) TTYYLL PPaaggee:: 44
PART II FINDING THE GROOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
1929 Norton CS1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Circa 1925 Rudge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
1932 Brough Superior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
1933 Matchless Silverhawk 4 and 1960 G50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
1936 Zündapp K800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
1938 Benelli Monotubo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
1938 DKW SS350 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
1939 BMW Rennsport Kompressor   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
1939 Vincent Series A Rapide, 1947 Series B Rapide, and 1949 Black Lightning . . . . . . . . .126
1940 Crocker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
1951 Velocette KTT Mark Eight and 1966 Truxton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
1953 NSU Rennmax and 1955 Sport Max . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
1955 AJS 7R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
PART III THE ART OF SPEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164
1955 Triumph TR5 and 1959 Bonneville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
1957 Maico Typhoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
1959 MV DOHC 125 and 1965 350 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180
1960 JAWA Factory Racer and Jawa Ice Racer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
1963 Honda CR93, 1966 CB450, 1970 CB750 K0, and 1992 NR750 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196
1969 Villa Grand Prix Racer   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208
1974 Ducati 750 Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
Britten V1000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216
PHOTOGRAPHER’S NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222
INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224
T
2

11
of of
oo
rr
PP
CCLLAASSSSIICC__MMOOTTOORRCCYYCCLLEESS__000011--008855__1111665511._inCd2d.i n d5d 5 119//99//1166 45::5471 pPmM
Text JJoobb:: 1111665511 TTiittllee:: 221199118844 -- AArrtt ooff SSppeeeedd CCllaassssiicc MMoottoorrccyycclleess ((MMBBII))
(LCH)( LTCYHL) PPaaggee:: 55
Part 1
The Experimental Years
W
e might think we live in an era of rapidly changing motorcycle
technology, but in reality the pace of change today is incremental
compared to the early years of motorcycling. While it’s an epic sport
bike that would trounce the Grand Prix race bikes of old on any
track, today’s Yamaha YZF R1 has more in common with a thirty-year-old FZR
1000 than it has differences.
In the early days, this was not the case. And that’s because the first several
decades of motorcycling marked a period of trial and error. There was little
orthodoxy in design because no one had yet figured out what did and what did not
work. Thus, you had engines produced in every possible size and configuration,
from crude De Dion-style single cylinders to complex aircraft-style radial five
cylinders, and those engines were utilized in a wild variety of ways, from being
mounted in the now-traditional location in the frame cradle to being mounted under
the seat, or even, in the case of the above-mentioned radial five-cylinder, in the
front wheel.
While most of the innovative designs tried in the early years of motorcycling
didn’t catch on, usually with good reason (imagine the effect the centripetal force
produced by the engine rotating in the front wheel would have on steering!), they did
lead to this being the most creative period in motorcycling history, resulting in the
production of the most fascinating machines.
T
C
22
11
of of
oo
rr
PP
CCLLAASSSSIICC__MMOOTTOORRCCYYCCLLEESS__000011--008855__1111665511__CC22..iinndddd 66 1199//99//1166 55::5587 PPMM
Text JJoobb:: 1111665511 TTiittllee:: 221199118844 -- AArrtt ooff SSppeeeedd CCllaassssiicc MMoottoorrccyycclleess ((MMBBII))
((LLCCHH)) PPaaggee:: 66
C
2
11
of of
oo
rr
PP
CLASSIC_MOTORCYCLES_001-085_11651_C2.indd 7 19/9/16 5:58 PM
CLASSIC_MOTORCYCLES_001-085_11651.indd 7 JJoobb:: 1111665511 TTiittllee:: 221199118844 -- AArrtt ooff SSppeeeedd CCllaassssiicc MMoottoorrccyycclleess ((MMBBII)) 1/9/16 12:16 pm
(LCH)( LTCYHL) PPaaggee:: 77
Chapter 1
1903 Mitchell
I
n the 1800s in the United States’ Midwest, The frame was heavy, but the little De Dion–type
wagon making was big business; not only motor in the bike could get it up to 35 miles per hour
was there need to outfit Midwestern farmers, or more. Local bicycle enthusiasts, now growing
but also to outfit the overlanders heading bored with all that tiresome pedaling, were elated
west on the Oregon and California Trails. One with the kind of horsepower the engine was putting to
of the biggest builders in the business was the the ground. This thing was quite fast for its time.
Mitchell Wagon Company. Henry Mitchell was the The Lewis team took the bike on the road,
first wagon manufacturer in Chicago, with a high- showcasing its technology and reliability, and started
quality product that made Mitchell a household name producing motorcycles en masse, churning out more
in the late nineteenth century. The company went on than six hundred bikes that year. The bikes were
to automotive manufacturing, but not before dabbling popular, in part due to their ability to win races,
with the century’s greatest invention: the motorcycle. competing head to head with another well-established
In 1898, the father and son team of William marque, Indian. In 1904 engineers whittled down
Turnor Lewis and William Mitchell Lewis (Henry’s the frame into a lighter, stronger, loop frame, with a
son and grandson) bought a wheel works shop in lower center of gravity that gave it a competitive edge
Racine, Wisconsin, renamed it, and began making on the hills and in the curves. And while the bike was
the transition from animal-drawn wagons to human- still heavy, it could reach nearly 60 miles per hour.
and gasoline-powered machines. The factory was Despite the innovation, the Lewis family’s
first used to build bicycles, then quickly moved on to attention had already turned to the next evolution
motorized bicycles and, by 1899, motorcycles, though of mobility: cars. The publicity surrounding the
their first motorized machines were actually slower Mitchell motorcycles had tapered off, and rivals
than the fastest bicycles produced at the time. Excelsior, Indian, and Harley-Davidson had stepped
The Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company released its up their efforts to try to market, build, and sell more
first motorcycle, the Mitchell Automobike, in 1902. motorcycles than anyone in the world.
Before Harley-Davidson appeared on the Midwestern scene,
Mitchell motorcycles—a household name in its own right—
was competing head-to-head and winning races against the
C
2 Indians, dominant in their time.

11
of of
oo
rr 8 Classic Motorcycles
PP
CLASSIC_MOTORCYCLES_001-085_11651_C2.indd 8 19/9/16 6:01 PM
CLASSIC_MOTORCYCLES_001-085_11651.indd 8 Text JJoobb:: 1111665511 TTiittllee:: 221199118844 -- AArrtt ooff SSppeeeedd CCllaassssiicc MMoottoorrccyycclleess ((MMBBII)) 1/9/16 12:16 pm
(LCH()L TCYHL) PPaaggee:: 88