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BIG X / EXCELSIOR HENDERSON
has only been one choice in American motorcycles for todays cowboy, the Harley Davidson that we have just visited. As I mentioned Harley Davidson is the only American motorcycle made today, the last time it had competition was before Excelsior-Henderson was closed during the great depression.
Fact: Between 1869 and 1935 there were over 200 motorcycle
companies in the United States. Included in this group were
three companies making and selling motorcycles here in the Twin
Cities. There was the Minneapolis, Wagner and the Cyclone.
Even with all these companies, only three dominated the market,
Harley Davidson, Indian and Excelsior motor manufacturing.
Excelsior was established in 1876 at a bicycle factory in Chicago. In 1911, Ignaz Schwinn, founder of the Schwinn bicycle Company, bought Excelsior. The Excelsior was the first bike to go over 100 miles per hour, the first to circle the globe and set many more records. It was considered the worlds finest motorcycle by pundits throughout the world.
In 1917, Schwinn purchased the Henderson Motorcycle Company and the Excelsior-Henderson was born. The bike was completely redesigned with a teardrop fuel tank, low-slung seat, full-valanced fenders and balloon tires. Harley-Davidson later adopted and standardized these features a few years later on their bikes and they still are true to this form today!