Mini Bike Fun

[Too Many Projects]

This is my current bike. Bought it new in 2000...12,000 miles.
I had a 1995 Springer in Aqua Pearl, but that color wasn't a choice in 2000. It came Black and stayed that way until 2018. I bought used sheet metal, had it painted the correct color and HAND pinstriped and lettered with correct 1995 Blue and Silver colors.

[Mr70]

Sweet Mitch!

[Billohio]

I was looking at future Mecum auctions and there were several Hondas I think at the Houston sale. Looked nice

[wheelhop]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

Very nice... '74 ?

It’s a 78 KZ1000 with a 73 paint scheme

[SMS]

Awesome bikes guys!

My Grandfather was a partner in the creation of the Cyclone Motorcycle in the 19teens in St Paul, Mn. He was the draftsman for the engine. The Cyclone was the first production overhead cam cycle engine and was extremely fast for its day, winning on board tracks and dirt tracks across the country. The effort however was short lived as high production costs, competition and WW1 did them in.

We think about 300 bikes were built, including road and track models. 12 are known to remain today, and most of those have replica frames around a Cyclone motor.

Here are a few photos.

First pic is me and Dad with the owner of one of the few engine/frame numbers matching road models. Still actively being ridden.

Second pic is the only known original paint road bike. There is also an original paint race bike out there.

Period shot from a team rider.

Page from the 1915 sales brochure showing the stripped stock version.

[jl8z28]

I have 2 mini cycles

[Too Many Projects]

Originally Posted by SMS

Awesome bikes guys!

My Grandfather was a partner in the creation of the Cyclone Motorcycle in the 19teens in St Paul, Mn. He was the draftsman for the engine. The Cyclone was the first production overhead cam cycle engine and was extremely fast for its day, winning on board tracks and dirt tracks across the country. The effort however was short lived as high production costs, competition and WW1 did them in.

We think about 300 bikes were built, including road and track models. 12 are known to remain today, and most of those have replica frames around a Cyclone motor.

Here are a few photos.

First pic is me and Dad with the owner of one of the few engine/frame numbers matching road models. Still actively being ridden.

Second pic is the only known original paint road bike. There is also an original paint race bike out there.

Period shot from a team rider.

Page from the 1915 sales brochure showing the stripped stock version.

WOW, that is WAY cool. My Dad was born and raised in St Paul and rode Indian's and Harley's but I don't recall him mentioning a Cyclone. BUT, he was born in 1925 and would have started riding around '39-40, so they may have already been scarce.


The pic with the cam cover removed is really cool, shaft driven, overhead cams.

[SMS]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

WOW, that is WAY cool. My Dad was born and raised in St Paul and rode Indian's and Harley's but I don't recall him mentioning a Cyclone. BUT, he was born in 1925 and would have started riding around '39-40, so they may have already been scarce.


The pic with the cam cover removed is really cool, shaft driven, overhead cams.

Here is some detail on the cam drive and internals. They used beveled gears and SK roller bearings heavily. Later the same gents opened a gear company.

Note also the race version had ports in the cylinder walls so at BDC it had extra breathing capacity. Grandpa also built a sled out of Cyclone parts.

[Too Many Projects]

Those pics are priceless. Even the mag is shaft/gear driven. Seems way ahead of the time, with all the ball bearings. Too bad the economy killed this.


Those ports at the bottom of the cylinders is how a Detroit Diesel runs, but they are 2 cycle and depend on the blower to force feed air into the cylinder. That engine was very innovative.


That improvised sled is really neat too. People would make what they need from what they had back then.

[SMS]

Thanksgiving Day mini-bike fun!