Results 1 to 15 of 22

Thread: Quite a bike...

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. 04-23-2018, 08:50 AM #1
    Truckman's Avatar
    Truckman
    Truckman is offline Registered Member
    Join Date
    11-22-03
    Location
    In the Village...
    Posts
    44,013

    Quite a bike...

    Not really being a two-wheeler guy, I am unfamiliar with a lot of the older names in motorcycles...My daily spin through YouTube turned up this episode of Jay Leno's Garage in which he takes us on a ride with his unrestored 1931 Henderson police bike...I never even heard of Henderson, but it was apparently the premier choice for law enforcement until depression jitters caused the company's owner to shut down production, and concentrate instead on his other two-wheel company, Schwinn...

    Far ahead of its time in engineering, it featured an 80 CI, overhead valve, five main bearing, four cylinder engine with a top speed of around 110 MPH...Jay says his has so much torque he can accelerate smoothly fro 10 MPH up to top speed in third gear...This one has a reverse gear for sidecar work...

    Two fuel tanks, magneto ignition, springer front fork and a sprung seat made it reasonably comfortable and reliable for long-term riding, although Jay said the brake is a little dicey at times...It was the fastest production vehicle commonly seen on American roads, which made it very attractive for police work...Quite a machine...Jay says he's owned this one for 30 years without ever having to turn a wrench on it......Ben

    The future is forged on the anvil of history...The interpreter of history wields the hammer... - Unknown author...
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 04-23-2018, 12:33 PM #2
    Dork
    Dork is offline Guest
    Join Date
    12-21-17
    Posts
    872
    That's a neat motorcycle & cool part of history......
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 04-25-2018, 06:43 AM #3
    mgrist's Avatar
    mgrist
    mgrist is offline Charter Member
    Join Date
    10-21-01
    Location
    Columbia, S.C.
    Posts
    14,620
    That is beyond cool! I don't even know if I've heard of a Henderson but I like it!!!
    This is your mind on drugs!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 04-25-2018, 07:58 AM #4
    TxMusky
    TxMusky is offline Guest
    Join Date
    10-20-03
    Posts
    15,885
    Pretty amazing that it is in good enough shape to ride out on the roads at that age. Really says something about how they were built in that era.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 04-25-2018, 10:21 AM #5
    Truckman's Avatar
    Truckman
    Truckman is offline Registered Member
    Join Date
    11-22-03
    Location
    In the Village...
    Posts
    44,013
    Quote Originally Posted by TxMusky View Post
    Really says something about how they were built in that era.
    I was watching WC Fields in "The Bank Dick" the other day, and there was a car chase involving police motorcycles...They were obviously genuine cop bikes from the equipment they had, but I did not pay enough attention to notice whether they were inline fours, V-twins or something else...After I finish my current Amos 'n' Andy marathon, I'll break out the Bank Dick DVD again and check...I couldn't find that sequence on YouTube......Ben
    The future is forged on the anvil of history...The interpreter of history wields the hammer... - Unknown author...
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 04-25-2018, 02:30 PM #6
    Wannabe
    Wannabe is offline Nov 5, 1946 - Nov 19, 2018
    A Friend Who Will be Missed.
    May He Rest In Peace
    Join Date
    10-25-15
    Posts
    1,465
    Kinda curious as to the price to get one of those in that shape today. I am sitting down and holding on.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules