Cyclone track racing machine

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Cyclone track racing machine from 1914

The Cyclone track racing machine (1914-1915) was a racing motorcycle made by Joerns Motor Manufacturing Company , Saint Paul , Minnesota . The Cyclone is considered to be the most advanced racing motorcycle of its time; an overhead camshaft per cylinder, driven by two vertical shafts , was unique for the time.

Development and technology

Andrew Strand (1880–1970) designed the 996 cm³ 42-degree V-twin-cylinder bevel motor. The vertical shaft of the front cylinder was driven by the crankshaft, the shaft of the rear cylinder by bevel gears ; the second vertical shaft also operated the oil pump and the ignition magnet via gears. In addition, in contrast to the Indian track racing machine , the Cyclone engine already had hemispherical combustion chambers . The engine developed 45 hp at 5000 revolutions per minute with a compression of 5.5: 1. The maximum speed of the track racer is given as 110  mph (177 km / h). The motor was integrated in the single-tube frame, which is open at the bottom; the complete motorcycle weighed only 121 kg. As is usual with track racing machines, the motorcycle had no brakes. The speed was reduced by interrupting the ignition, the engine was started by pedaling.

Race and record

In 1914 the Cyclone appeared on the racetrack and, after its initial successes, earned the reputation of "yellow speed demon". Due to mechanical defects - the Cyclone was only successful on short journeys - production was stopped in 1915. In 1916, another version of the Cyclone is said to have appeared, the cylinder head of which had been redesigned, in particular to lubricate the rocker arms.

The Cyclone, only available in yellow, was also available in a street version (1913–1916) with higher handlebars and luggage rack at a price of 350  US dollars . The commercial success failed to materialize, so that at the end of 1916 and 1917, Joerns Motor Manufacturing ceased production and the company was dissolved.

How many street models (allegedly only a dozen of the track racing machines) were built and sold is questionable. 6 cyclones are said to still exist worldwide today.

A Cyclone track racing machine from 1914 was auctioned for the equivalent of 430,000 euros in 2008, the highest price ever achieved by a motorcycle. On February 4, 2012, one of the few Cyclone was stolen in a Bel Air raid .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Erwin Tragatsch : All motorcycles, 1894 until today. Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart, ISBN 3-87943-410-7 . P. 120.
  2. ↑ a b c d The Art Of The Motorcycle. Guggenheim Museum, Las Vegas, ISBN 0-89207-207-5 . P. 120.
  3. ↑ a b c d Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle. Bechtermünz, Augsburg 1996, ISBN 3-86047-142-2 , p. 126.
  4. ↑ theworldofmotorcycles.com ( Memento from February 4, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Cyclone (accessed November 20, 2011)
  5. ↑ thevintagegent.blogspot.com Cyclone for sale (accessed November 20, 2011)
  6. ↑ Motorcycle auction: Steam in the kettle. on: Spiegel online. November 7, 2011.
  7. ↑ losangeles.cbs (accessed April 12, 2013)