Harley-Davidson 1928 “JD” 1212 cc IOE V-twin engine #29 JD 7399 For 1928, about 4300 model J machines were sold; the 1212 cc JD was much more in demand with more than 11,000 units leaving the factory. Not surprisingly perhaps, as the price difference between these models was a mere $10. 1928 was the first year of the internal expanding front brake which was a practical innovation indeed. Some more new developments for model year 1928 were the addition of an air cleaner, larger size wheel spokes ...
BMW 1928 R47 Sports Model 494 cc ohv transverse twin frame # 5109 engine # 35678 In the nineteen twenties the BMW side valve models are marketed as touring machines, the more exclusive overhead valve types are presented as Sports mounts. The first is the R37 that is brought out in 1925 and has the smallest production run of all commercially produced models in the company’s motorcycling history: only 152 leave the factory. The R37 is replaced by the improved R47 that is introduced alongside the s ...
Scott 1915ca. Standard 3 ¾ HP Two Speed 532cc water-cooled two-stroke twin combination frame # 823/640 engine # 4129 Alfred Scott, a gifted Yorkshire engineering genius, starts experimenting with twin cylinder two-stroke power around the year 1900, when he mounts his little air-cooled twin in front of the steering head of his Premier bicycle. He keeps on refining his design and by 1910 the open-framed machine, so much different from standard motorcycle practice, is attracting more and more atten ...
Velocette 1948 KTT Mk VIII 348cc OHC frame # SF 147 engine # KTT 1018 The firm of Veloce Ltd. was formed in 1905 by Johann Goodman. It was a family business that concentrated on sound motorcycle engineering principles. Their first machines were lightweight four strokes; after that a line of top-class 250cc two strokes was brought out. In 1924/ 25 Percy Goodman designed the 350cc overhead camshaft model K, a machine destined to win many TTs and other races, starting with the 1926 Junior TT that w ...
Vincent 1952 “Comet” 499cc OHV single, frame # RC-1-10958/C, engine # F5AB/2A/9058 Since his schoolboy days Philip Vincent had been a great admirer of Howard Raymond Davies, who had begun manufacturing HRD machines at Wolverhampton in 1924. While studying mechanical engineering at Cambridge Vincent built his prototype Vincent Special that already incorporated the strong triangulated and braced sprung rear fork that would remain a feature of all Vincents-to-come. In 1928 Vincent acquired HRD Moto ...
BMW 1928 R63 734cc OHV transverse twin frame # 21327 engine # 75357 In 1928 BMW presented two new 500s, the side valve R52 and the overhead valve R57. The company also provided engines in the 750 cc class with the same cycle parts: the 745 cc side valve model R 62 with bore x stroke of 78 mm and the 734cc ohv R 63 with bore x stroke of 83×68 mm. The R63 was with its 24 hp a spirited performer on the road but it was also raced by the works alongside its 500 cc stablemates. Like the latter, it pio ...