Joe Merkel Motorcycles

The founder of the company joe merkel began designing engines for motorcycles in 1902 and built his own motorcycles beginning in 1903 including a one cylinder engine with a capacity of 316 cc which was also used in the contemporary indian.

Joe merkel motorcycles. This fork became the instrument of choice on racing machines of other. The merkel motorcycle company was one such firm. Thus the merkel light motorcycle was born. That same month joseph merkel a michigan native who manufactured bicycles and cars before turning his full attention to motorcycles made the fateful decision to merge his fledgling milwaukee based business with the light manufacturing and foundry company in pottstown pennsylvania.

Started out as a bicycle manufacturer but in 1903 joseph merkel also manufactured single cylinder motor cycles. Joseph merkel was considered to be one of the finest engineers in u s. Designed by joseph joe merkel the bike that bore his name included a number of innovations including an early precursor of telescopic forks a monoshock rear end cam driven valves a throttle linked oil feeder and ball bearings rather than the usual bronze bushings in the engine. Joseph merkel started building motorcycles in milwaukee at the turn of the century.

In 1902 merkel introduced his first motorcycle a small displacement straight drive single of his own design. The merkel motor co. The founder of the company joe merkel began designing engines for motorcycles in 1902 and built his own motorcycles beginning in 1903 including a one cylinder engine with a capacity of 316cc which was also used in the contemporary indian. The speed and handling of his machines provoked more concerted efforts from indian excelsior and.

Merkel was among the most innovative of the pioneer motorcycle companies. These machines and their riders enabled merkel to develop a patented spring front fork that was to become the forerunner of the modern telescopic front fork. Merkel s motorcycles were to set many performance standards in the emerging american racing scene. Merkel was an early pioneer among motorcycle companies and in 1905 merkel produced several racing machines which set the performance standards in early american racing.

Joseph merkel was the founder of merkel motorcycles manufacturer of machines better known as the flying merkel the flying merkel was one of the leading racing and road machines of the 1910s earning numerous victories in a variety of contests of the day. In 1903 joe merkel first designed and built his merkel light single and v twin engine motorcycles in pottstown pa with much success.