I found another picture of a classic bike that I took at the Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport NY this summer.

This is the Curtiss 40hp 8 cylinder motorcycle which set the land speed record 136mph in 1907. Take a look at the riding position on the picture hanging on the wall, yikes.

http://home.twcny.rr.com/embedded/pictures/curtiss_v8.jpg

Gary

That's awesome, and two years before H-D (1909) introduces its first V-twin powered motorcycle. The V-twin (49.5 cubic inches), produced seven horsepower.
Billy

Yea, Glenn Curtiss (of Curtiss - Wright fame) was quite an engineer. Mostly known for his airplanes, his first love was motorcycles.

http://www.linkny.com/~curtiss/

Gary

billy , in 1907 hd had a v-twin but it didn't work right so the never interduced it to the public , seems the wopping 6 horse power was too much for the old leather belt drives

136 mph....is quicker than most sporties or big twins will do now


Imagine trying to hang on to that thing at those speeds :yikes :censor

also look real close at the bike and you'll see no brakes

bet they woun't of worked real good to stop it at a buck 30 anyways

by the way that motor was out of a derrigible (sp) , curtiss was a maniac , gotta love him