Cyclone production numbers

[Harleyson's]

From those names I'm guessing the year of this photo must be 1919, '20, or '21. I don't think Janke raced much beyond that. And Crolius left around then too, or was fired.

Also, there was well known guy named Howard Campbell who worked at H-D. I never knew him, but other guys mentioned him. I wonder if this is him in the pit crew? I've seen that name Ben McGinnis too, but I don't know where. Maybe an early racer?

Herb,

Dodge City 1920
http://www.harleysons.de/showdow%201915.htm

Fritz

[HarleyCreation]

Here's another one Herb. Very little info to go on though. Indianapolis Sunday Star 10-3-1915.

Dick

Excellent find. That makes three road models so far.

Anyone make it four?

One thing, the boys weren't keeping their Cyclones very long were they. Too fast? Too troublesome? Too freakish?

[HarleyCreation]

Never mind. I just looked at that address on Google Earth and there is a park there now.

Just like the Davidson home backyard workshop site is beneath a multi-story office building and the Jefferson factory a modern pole barn building. At least part of the Pennington factory still survives in Racine!

[Chris Haynes]

Never mind. I just looked at that address on Google Earth and there is a park there now.

[Chris Haynes]

Here's another one Herb. Very little info to go on though. Indianapolis Sunday Star 10-3-1915.

Dick

Anybody gone to that address and looked under the porch?

[pem]

Here's another one Herb. Very little info to go on though. Indianapolis Sunday Star 10-3-1915.

Dick

[HarleyCreation]

This is a topic that's got me wondering. I'm going to continue digging for a bit to see what shows up. Surely there's more info out there on the "Yellow Demon"!

Thanks for the pics of John's racer Lonnie. I guess that's one machine that didn't self-destruct under him!! That's one awesome piece of history!

These are awesome pieces of history and machinery, altho they did seem to self-destruct on the racetrack. How did John's survive?

I noticed earlier in this topic the McQueen Cyclone is unported while this racer is ported.

Were there unported Cyclone race motors or is the McQueen a street motor? Hmmm....

[c.o.]

This is a topic that's got me wondering. I'm going to continue digging for a bit to see what shows up. Surely there's more info out there on the "Yellow Demon"!

Thanks for the pics of John's racer Lonnie. I guess that's one machine that didn't self-destruct under him!! That's one awesome piece of history!

[HarleyCreation]

Herb, I posted this 1917 ad earlier in the thread. I guess I just assumed that it was a road machine... would it be at all likely that a race bike would make a private sale this early on?

Good find!

If that were a racer I think it would be mentioned, so let's assume that's a road model.

I found one delivered to a Cincinnati dealer (Remelin Co.) in March of 1915: says: "a REGULAR Model C-15" 7hp "finished in bright yellow with name in red." And that: "Manf. has promised delivery of any number of Cyclones desired."

Right!

That's two apparent road models.

Is there a third?

Also, the dates given for the Cyclone "1913-'17" is certainly wrong. It was a new bike in late 1914 (1915 model year) and this "1916" must be early 1916 or else a typo. 1917? I am sceptical until there is proof. But I always willing to learn and change my mind.

[jurassic]

johns cyclone

[jurassic]

don johns original racer

[c.o.]

I don't think Giorno mentioned this Cyclone to me. In 1973 $3500 was a LOT. You could still buy running Knuckleheads for $350. And he bought that Crocker for a song and he sang it himself.

Still, I can understand his "eternal" regret. My avatar pix shows I like yellow bikes...

There were 3 Egberg brothers: Roy, Chas. & John. My notecard says their dad(?) was a Minneapolis motorcycle dealer going back to 1896. But unless he was a dealer for "The Motor Cycle" by Pennington, that must mean bicycle dealer.

I've heard that Lyon story, but also that it was bogus. Not sure. Did Egberg own the Cyclone? Seems like he owned another super-rare engine or two with a shady background behind them. Better not say more...

Cyclone restored from a racer again suggests almost no road bike production. I'm thinking a VERY small handful.

Question: Does anyone have original evidence of a road model Cyclone bought by a private owner and used for road purposes c1915?

Herb, I posted this 1917 ad earlier in the thread. I guess I just assumed that it was a road machine... would it be at all likely that a race bike would make a private sale this early on?

Can you tell us what the letter to Giorno says? I'll bet it's interesting.

No, it's not very interesting, just states that the bike was authentically restored by old factory employees.

[HarleyCreation]

Bill Ottoway (Team Manager), Howard Campell (Pitman), Jim Davis, Otto Walker, Ray Weishaar, Maldwyn Jones, Ralph Hepburn, Fred Ludlow, Irvin Janke, Ben McGinnis (Pitman) and Henry Sieverson (Hank Syvertson) and Lacy Crolius (Advertising Manager Harley-Davidson Motor Co.)

From those names I'm guessing the year of this photo must be 1919, '20, or '21. I don't think Janke raced much beyond that. And Crolius left around then too, or was fired.

Also, there was well known guy named Howard Campbell who worked at H-D. I never knew him, but other guys mentioned him. I wonder if this is him in the pit crew? I've seen that name Ben McGinnis too, but I don't know where. Maybe an early racer?

[HarleyCreation]

The Lyon story is true as I have the letter to Giorno. I presume Giorno's regret was purely financial judging the way he treated his acquisitions.

Can you tell us what the letter to Giorno says? I'll bet it's interesting.