ATDTDA (17): V-twins (463.12)

[Tim Strzechowski]

"Frank found he couldn't sleep, and headed down to the nearest saloon.  Out in front, where once only horses had been tied, now stood Silent Gray Fellows and Indian V-twins, modified expressly for these mountains, with heavy-duty clutches, belts, chains, or gear-boxes" (p. 463).


Excelsior was founded in 1907 by Ignaz Schwinn, namesake for the famous Chicago based bicycle manufacturer. Schwinn would become one of the United States' largest motorcycle builders with its line of Excelsior Autocycles (as it termed its motorcycles in an early sales play), and also with its Henderson Four line, which was introduced in the twenties. Schwinn would not stay in cycles, however. Eventually, the market got the best of him, and he shifted to strictly bicycle making - the brand still carries his name to this day. 

Excelsior Versus Indian

>From its start, Excelsior was forced into competition with Indian, which had ruled the American motorcycle market and racetracks since its founding in 1901. Harley Davidson had not yet emerged as the force it would become later in the century. The Excelsior with its intake over exhaust V-twins proved a formidable opponent and took home more than its share of race trophies and cycle sales. 

A Range of Excelsior Autocycles

The Excelsior Autocycle was offered in a wide variety of models in the 1910s beginning with a 449cc single cylinder and V-twins of 746cc and 996cc. Early models fed power to the rear wheel via a leather band; by 1914, Excelsior had moved up to linked chain drive. 
 
http://www.bikerenews.com/AntiqueBikes/1914ExcelsiorVtwin.html