Support the Olympia, Washington Toy Run this next Saturday.

Olympia, Washington Toy Run 2009
Saturday, December 5
10:00 am - Gate Opens
11:00 am to 12:30 pm - Performers
1:00 pm - Ride leaves from South Sound Center in Lacey
Admission is a new toy or $10/single or $15/couple

There are now 435 members in the Virtual Motorcycle Gang!

RIDE SAFE!

Two new posts and pics thanks to Peter Galea and Neil Tucker

Two photos and two posts below (Henderson Motorcycle and James Motorcycle) were sent to me by Peter Galea,as originally provided by Neil Tucker. They belonged to a cousin of Neil's from Newfoundland in Canada.

That's about all we know of the actual bikes in the photos, but the story of the two motorcycle companies is in the two posts below.

Enjoy!
Here is Peter getting onto his Harley. I don't have a pic of Neil.

Thanks for those great photos and the chance to learn some more about the history of motorcycling worldwide!

Ride Safe!

The James Motorcycle Co. - Birmingham, United Kingdom

The James Cycle Company Ltd.,
James Works,
Gough Road,
Greet,
Birmingham 11

The James factory in Sampson Road North, where motorcycles were first produced.

The James Cycle Company, as it names suggests, was originally a cycle manufacturer and was founded around 1883 - 1884 by Harold James (sometimes known as Henry James.) Some authors shew James as starting in 1870 but this is incorrect.(I thank Birmingham author Ray Shill for his research)

James were one of the earliest successful cycle manufactures in Birmingham and continued making bicycles into the 1950s.

Henry James first appears in the trades directory as a bicycle manufacturer around 1883-84 occupying premises at the rear of 121 Constitution Hill, a former bed making works. Later on the premises are shown occupied by one, Harold James, before the move to Sampson Road.

On May 22nd 1897 the company was incorporated, becoming the James Cycle Company Limited. It is believed that the company at this stage moved to Sampson Road North. Harold James retired from the company at its incorporation.

The first James motorcycle, which was designed by Frederick Kimberley was produced in 1900 and motorcycle production continued until 1904 and then was suspended, recommencing again in 1908.

The company moved to much enlarged works in Greet in 1907.

In 1911 James pioneered and introduced the all enclosed chain drive with countershaft gear.

The new works in 1908

The new works at Greet in 1908

During the First World War, James produced over 600 motorcycles for both the Belgian and Russian armies as well as supplying military pedal cycles for the British and Allied governments. James also still specialised in bicycles, tricycles, tandems and in later on in specially designed tradesmen carrier bicycles.

In 1930 James took over Frank E. Baker Motorcycles Ltd of Alvechurch Road, Northfield, Birmingham.

During The second World War the company was again pressed into war service, making 2600 lightweight military motorcycles. Additionally, two stroke autocycles were also made for the Allied Forces.

The works, which occupied half of Tomey Road, was badly damaged by an air raid in November 1940. Full production was not able to be resumed until 1943.

The manufacture of lightweight motorcycles during the war and possibly the air raid damage, seems to have changed the post war direction of the company, as they never produced a four stroke motorcycle again. Also post war production was changed to exclusively lightweight motorcycles.

James experienced financial difficulties in the early fifties and were taken over by Associated Motorcycles Ltd. (AMC) in 1951. Unfortunately for James, the AMC style of management was not to be its saviour.

In 1956 AMC made the key move that would be the start of the 10 year end for James. Unhappy about the supply of two stroke engines from Villiers and feeling that their engines could be improved upon, they decided to make their own engines which were designed by the Italian, Vincent Piatti. They spent three enormously expensive years developing the engines but they proved to be so troublesome that Villiers had to be employed to rectify them! It was typical of AMC management!

In 1956 the Cadet was given a new frame, the Commando was introduced and the Comet changed.

In 1957 James models were combined with Francis Barnett of Coventry who had been taken over by AMC in 1947. Engines were now AMC!!!!

In May 1960 James announced a scooter, with an AMC 149cc two stroke engine, four speed gearbox and a Duplex frame.

james scooter

In 1961 it was becoming obvious that AMC were in serious financial trouble. In order to reduce overheads Francis Barnet production was transferred from Coventry to the James factory at Greet in 1962. Both marques continue to appear alongside each other. The range being integrated and similar. Only the colour and badges distinguished the difference between the two marques. (James was maroon and Francis Barnett was arden green)

On August 4th 1966 the end came for AMC and the James and Francis Barnett names disappeared for ever.

Post war models;

99cc Comet
122cc Cadet
197cc Captain(P) The James factory survives in Tomey and Gough Road, Greet.

Henderson Motorcycle Company

Henderson Motorcycle Co

History 1911 ~ 1917


In October 1911 the Henderson Motorcycle Co, 268 Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Michigan (pictured above) announced a new 4-cylinder, 56 cubic inches, 7 H.P. motorcycle. 25 were to be ready for sale at $325 from January 1, 1912 with the expectation of producing 1,000 machines for the year. The brainchild of William G. Henderson (in partnership with his brother Tom W. Henderson) was the third 4-cylinder motorcycle to be manufactured in America. One of its most innovative features was the inclusion of a folding hand crank for easy starting. The new Henderson proved to be a very desirable machine.

1913 saw several improvements in the design to the Model B, most notable being to the forks, a lower saddle position and a better brake. In the October 1, 1913 issue of World Motorcycle Review it was reported that Carl Stearns Clancy of New York had circled the globe on his 1912 Henderson, complete with an impressive set of photographs.

The 1914 Model C was the first to have gears: a two-speed gearbox incorporated in the rear hub.

In 1915 with the Model E the wheelbase was reduced from 65” to 58” resulting in far superior handling. This was achieved by removing the large footboard in front of the engine and replacing it with two smaller ones attached to the outside of the frame. This was sold alongside the longer wheelbase and slightly earlier Model D.

The 1916 Model F took on the shorter wheelbase of the Model E. Improvements included a “mechanical oiler” driven from the cam gears and a kick-starter.

Significant advancements were made with the 1917 Model G. The oil was now held in the crankcase, as in a car, replacing the much inferior splash system. A three-speed gearbox was attached as part of the rear engine and operated with a heavy-duty clutch. This new Henderson was an elegant machine that matched (and with some exceeded) the performance of the big twins. Both sales and Henderson dealerships, like the bike, rocketed.

On June 13, 1917, Alan Bedell smashed the coveted transcontinental long distance record held by “Canonball” Baker on an Indian Twin, since 1915, when he rode his stock 1917 Henderson from Los Angeles to New York City (3,296 miles) in just seven days, sixteen and a quarter hours. In 1917, surfaced roads went as far as the city limits, the rest were punishing even for today’s off-road vehicles. Alan Bedell had already set a new 24-hour record at Ascot Park, California averaging 48 m.p.h. for a distance of 1154 miles. July, 1917 saw Roy Artley take the Three-Flag record, travelling from Blaine, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico (1,667 miles) in just three days and twenty five minutes.

In spite of these successes the company was experiencing severe financial difficulties caused by spiralling material and labour costs combined with poor and irregular supplies due to the First World War. The result was that on November 17, 1917, Ignaz Schwinn bought Henderson. Schwinn had made his fortune manufacturing bicycles. The earlier acquisition of the Excelsior Motor and Manufacturing Company in 1911 had been a perfect way of expanding and diversifying his business. The Henderson Four was in his sights as a perfect stable mate for the Super-X and the opportunity was just not to be missed. Before the end of the year Henderson motorcycle manufacture had moved lock, stock and barrel to 3700 Cortland Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Welcome to new WMA member Joao Pinto

From: Joao Pinto

Hey there!

I've already accepted your request on LinkedIn.
As requested, I'm sending the one picture I have available at the moment.

By the way, I must admit I don't always follow the 6th "rule": "6. You roll down the window of your car to wave at an oncoming motorcyclist." All the rest are true, though.

Ride Safe!

Welcome new member; Conrad V. Busuttil to 'The Virtual Motorcycle Gang'.

Dear Robert,

 

It was a pleasure to find your e-mail of acceptance to the WMA. I have never had a bike in my life and now at 37, I have bought my first, a 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 2053cc.  It is an absolute pleasure to ride, very stable and responsive and it seems as though she wants to take all the streets of Doha in Qatar at one go. 

 

Unlike many other countries, now is the time to start enjoying a ride in Qatar as the climate in the Middle East has started to stabilise and the mercury is now levelling at lower and cooler readings.  There are many enthusiastic bikers in Qatar and one would usually find them going around on Friday's early in the morning (since Friday is a weekend for us here). The roads are empty at that time and it is bikers' haven. I still have to fit into a "gang" and hope to do so soon for I feel you are not a full biker until you are a gang buddy too!

 

Many thanks and safe riding to all members out there around the world.

 

 

 

Conrad V. Busuttil

 

Doha, State of Qatar

Winter Riding anyone?

Click on the newspaper clipping and it will explode to full size.





While thinking about all the high performance motorcycles I've seen on the roads already this winter; I detect a trend of riders who will ride all year long.

I ran across this great website that has myriads of photos of motorcycles; many that are part of newspaper or magazine articles from the past. It is a lot of fun to spend some time on this website.

Ride Safe this winter!

Let's ride!

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO MAKE IT EXPLODE TO FULL SIZE!