Mini Bike Fun

[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.