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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.
.

**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

**Splash_4** · 20th December 06, 08:15 AM

Be careful there as well. My wife got into genealogy late last year. It is almost as addictive as kilts. Of course, I can see you riding your Harley in a black leather kilt heading to a family resource center!

**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.

**BroosterB1** · 20th October 08, 06:35 PM

Somewhere in my aunts house is a picture of my great grandfather circa 1903 standing high and pround next to his brand new Woorley ( striaght in line 6), she has another of my grandfather on his 1919 Indian, my dad still has a picture on his desk of his 1947 Harley, I on the other hand have multudes of all sort of pics from my first honda Trail 50 (I was 8) to my current 1998 Suzuki Intruder 800. Nothing better than a motorcycle, unless it's a kilt, or the love of a good woman.

**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.

**Riverkilt** · 23rd May 08, 07:35 PM

Hey, my little brother turns 50 next month. He's been a police motor most of his adult life. Also still runs them desert motorcycle race thingies and does the 1,000 mile rides.

He sent me this pic of him doing a wheelie on his police motor wearing flip flops and shorts. Can't remember if it was a BMW or Harley...suppose the experts know.

He claims doing a wheelie on a police motor is a tough thing to do so that makes this a brag pic.

Ron