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RHINEBECK, NY – With thousands of old motorcycles to ogle, from brand names that are still familiar today to those that disappeared decades ago, it’s 
always tough for a spectator to select a best of show at the annual Rhinebeck Grand National Meet at the Duchess County Fairgrounds.
One bike that certainly attracted a lot of attention this weekend was found near at the start of the “Timeline” inside an exhibition hall – a 100-year-old Excelsior.
The 1914 Excelsior featured a V-twin engine of 61 cubic inches (1,000 cc) and a two-speed transmission. It was built in Chicago. The company started in 1905 and was purchased in 1911 by the bicycle maker Schwinn. It closed in 1931 when Ignaz Schwinn decided the Depression was going to last.
The owner of 1914 Excelsior is from Connecticut, but he deferred providing a name or a location. Given the rarity and value of the bike, you can’t blame him for requesting anonymity.
On the rear of the bike was a Connecticut license, the “1914” being noteworthy in that 1914 was the first year that the state listed a year in a motorcycle plate, according to Dennis Brilla, a motorcycle enthusiast and collector from Plantsville, CT.
Brilla explained that Connecticut began registering motorcycles in 1912, but did not list a year in 1912 and 1913. He had examples of 1912 and 1913 plates for sale at his stand, with a price of $395 for the first-year plate. He also had other memorabilia, including an early Indian manual. (This coming Saturday’s RIDE-CT column in “The Republican-American” tells of a recent adventure his 1933 Indian Chief had.)
Another eye-catching machine at the show was a 1956 Vespa Ape (pronounced “ah-pay”) with a Good Humor ice cream motif.
Vespa began producing the three-wheeled Ape model in 1948 and production continues to this day.
In addition to restored or at least complete motorcycles, the Rhinebeck meet had every imaginable part as well as relics awaiting new homes.
What makes the meet so special is seeing motorcycling history in front of you, such as long-forgotten brands like the Cleveland and the Sears All-State, which was made in Austria by Puch. It had a two-stroke “Twingle” engine with two pistons inside one cylinder.
For the serious collectors, there was judging. Among the entered bikes getting a once-over from the judges was a 1976 Harley-Davidson Super Glide.
I have a photograph of my grandmother and great aunt on the back of this Excelsior 1914 motorbike. She looks much, much younger than 20 years, which she would have been in 1914. I would love to email you the photo.