Classic bike nuts usually go googly-eyed over motorcycles you can see through, but here's a stunner that defies that archetype.
Last weekend I got a note from Bike EXIF founder Chris Hunter saying he made a "real discovery... very oddball, and very Flash Gordon, I think your readers might like it?" After clicking through to his site, I couldn't agree more; this stunning specimen was built in 1936 by O. Ray Courtney, based on a 1930 Henderson presumed to be a 100 mph Streamline model.
For insight into this sweet assemblage of french curves, I dropped a line to Classic Motorcycles guru John Glimmerveen, who told me, "The Excelsior Henderson company made some of the most reliable and fastest bikes of their time; they even out sold Harley Davidson and Indian for a time. Not only were they fast and reliable, they looked great too, especially the streamlined KL model." John adds, "But the Art Deco version takes both the looks and streamlining a stage further. If anyone wants to sell me one for the original price of $435, I would be interested!"
John is working on an Excelsior board racer replica which I'll keep you up to date on, but in the meantime you can see more shots of this art deco beauty in my Custom 1930 Henderson Photo Gallery.
Sources: Bike EXIF, Knucklebuster
Photo © Grail Mortillaro, Knucklebuster Inc.; Click for photo gallery
That is just plain cool. Awesome find Basem…thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it, Rico!
Basem
This was the one really cool thing I saw at the Rhinebeck, NY motorcycle swap a couple of months ago. Most of the other bikes and rusty parts (does your pan head need a first gear with only one broken tooth?) made me very happy to get back to my modern fuel injected bike.
You’re never too young to love Harley’s..even if it’s on a onesie..
just viewed the site liked the commet about making use of the jalopy in rheinbeck instead of under glass i could imagine your next progect ?!!!!!!