Merkel Motorcycle History

These machines and their riders enabled merkel to develop a patented spring front fork.

Merkel motorcycle history. The company was relocated each time and the merkel brand name was changed to merkel light and later to the flying merkel. In the struggle for survival joseph merkel merged his business twice with other manufacturing companies. 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. Merkel was among the most innovative of the pioneer motorcycle companies.

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. Merkel was among the most innovative of the pioneer motorcycle companies. By that time. Merkel s motorcycles were to set many performance standards in the emerging american racing scene.

This eventful history ended when production of motorcycles ceased during world war i. The motorcycle was produced from 1911 to 1915. By 1905 merkel had decided to engage in competition and produced several racing machines. Started out as a bicycle manufacturer but in 1903 joseph merkel also manufactured single cylinder motor cycles.

History the merkel brand first appeared in milwaukee wisconsin in 1902 when joseph merkel set up shop producing single cylinder motorcycles. Merkel s motorcycles were to set many performance standards in the emerging american racing scene. 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. This fork became the instrument of choice on racing machines of other.