S-22720-0-1

320c.1927 Excelsior 750cc Super-XRegistration no. EX 7221Frame no. 1779Engine no. 1779The famous American Excelsior motorcycle was produced by theExcelsior Motor Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois from1907 until 1931, latterly under the ‘Super-X’ brand name. The firstExcelsior was a belt-driven single cylinder machine, the engine ofwhich formed part of the frame. A 61ci (1,000cc) v-twin joined therange for 1911, at which time Excelsior was acquired by bicyclemaker, Ignaz Schwinn. In 1913 the twin was offered with all-chaindrive while two-speed planetary transmission and a leaf-sprung,Indian-style front fork were two of the following season’s innovations.Alongside rivals Harley-Davidson and Indian, Excelsior offered athree-speed countershaft transmission for 1915, at the same timeintroducing a new frame with curved top tube and smoothly roundedtank, a first for Excelsior. Deeply valanced mudguards distinguishedthe v-twin of 1917. ‘Military’ olive green was adopted as the Excelsiorlivery that year and would remain the only option until 1920 whennavy blue became the norm. In 1921 a 74ci (1,200cc) v-twin wasadded to the range, but by this time Excelsior had acquired themanufacturing rights to the Henderson Four and the days of thebig v-twins were numbered. They were gone by 1925, Excelsiorpreferring to concentrate its resources on the Four and the newlyintroduced Super-X 45ci (750cc) v-twin.Introduced to the US market in 1925, the Super-X retained the BigTwin’s F-head valve gear while reverting to the leading-link front forkused on its earliest ancestors. Elsewhere though, it was extensivelyredesigned, featuring unitary construction of the engine/gearboxand geared primary drive encased with an alloy casting, innovationsdoubtless inspired by the contemporary Indian Scout and Chief.There was a higher-performance Super Sport model available andthis pair of Super-Xs continued with few changes, other than a switchto a streamlined, teardrop-shaped fuel tank for 1929, until IgnazSchwinn pulled the plug on motorcycle production in the spring of1931.First registered in the UK in August 1951, this Excelsior Super-Xwas purchased by the current vendor in August 1985, the previouskeeper being recorded as one James Glyn Hunt of Beckenham,Kent. Last MoT’d in 2010-2011 (certificate on file) the machine willrequire re-commissioning and the customary safety checks beforereturning to the road. A copy parts list, two expired tax discs and aV5C registration document come with it.£15,000 - 18,000€21,000 - 25,000104 | the spring stafford saleBidders must satisfy themselves as to the description and condition of each lotprior to bidding. All lots are sold “as is/where is” with all defects and faults.