Mecum Auctions will preside over the sale of the ex-McQueen 1915 Cyclone (serial number 1010A) in Las Vegas March 20-21. Collectors continue to be fascinated with the Cyclone, one of just six known to exist, and may set a new world record of over 1 million dollars. Produced only from 1913 to 1916 by The Joems Motor Manufacturing Company in St Paul, Minnesota, the extremely beautiful, brakeless 996cc, 45 degree V-Twin with bevel-driven overhead camshafts was timed in 1914 at 111.1 mph (178.6 km/h) at the Omaha, Nebraska board track, 20 mph faster than a record held by Indian at 93.48 mph, and 11.1 mph faster than another record by Excelsior at 100 mph. The Cyclone to be auctioned was previously owned by Steve McQueen and was restored by foremost early American motorcycles authority Stephen Wright
Ex Steve McQueen’s 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer To Be Auctioned Next Month
Published by February 17th, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.19 Responses to “Ex Steve McQueen’s 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer To Be Auctioned Next Month”
Comments are currently closed.
gentrification takes the fun out of life for us peons.
Does it come with a drive chain?
McQueen owned hundreds of bikes. This is one of the more exotic marques that he owned.
IT NEEDS TO BE RIDDEN !!!!!!!!!! NOT JUST LOOKED AT !!
1 of 6 know examples of gorgeous motorcycle sculpture. Should be looked at by those claiming to build “boardtrack” inspired bikes…
RE:
“…IT NEEDS TO BE RIDDEN ..”
What…. You got a board track in your back yard….???
No, it simply needs to be owned, by someone who appreciates and loves it for what it is, not for who used to own it.
-nicker-
The Cyclones are stunning, bevel drive over head cam shafts. It took decades before a standard high volume street motor cycle had it
Wasn’t the guy who designed the Engine a sowing machine technician and ended up going back to that as there was not allot of money in building such an amazing MotorCycle.
Think he died in relative obscurity as well.
If the had had the internet and mass media in those days he would of been recognised around the world AKA John Britten.
Like the Cyclone auctioned in 2009 (for $520k), this one has a modified Indian frame and forks. The work was done by Steven Wright, author of the ‘American Racer’ books, and yes this was McQueen’s prize machine. Will the ‘King of Cool’ juice send this over a $Million? We’ll see next month.
No motorcycle has bested the Cyclone’s auction price of $520k, and that was 6 years ago!
I know of only one motorcycle which has sold privately for over $1M, and that was the ‘Rollie Free’ 150mph Vincent, the ‘bathing suit bike’….
State of the art for 1913. I’m sure it’s fast even by todays standards. 111 MPH on a bike that lite with no suspension must feel a lot faster,especially on a board track with no brakes. Awesome bike. ..Z
James,
The engine designer was Andrew Strand. My grandfather Edward Sewall was his draftsman and partner. Andrew was a Swedish born engineer in the automotive field before the Cyclone effort as part of Joern’s Motor Manufacturing. After the bikes (and after WW1) he and grandpa went into business as Strand Manufacturing, a machine shop. That morphed into a gear manufacturing company, Sewall Gear. Mr. Strand was working at Eastman Kodak when he retired from working.
Yes, look at as you get it ready to ride FAST . Then bring it home and put back in the show room and appreciate it for what it is and how great it is. If you can pay a million or more you can afford to enjoy it and ride it like you STOLE IT !!!!!!!
SMS..THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU HAVE RENEWED MY FAITH IN THIS WEB SITE FOR INFORMATION AND HISTORY NOT BULL AND BAD COMMENTS
Bikes such as this are great investments but they should at least be loaned to museums where they can be seen, not used as a decorative nick-nack in some mansion.
For more vintage bike porn, I just came across this item (and boy, did I have a mess to clean up!)
Gorgeous photos of the most gorgeous bikes, that’s why they’re so damn expensive these days!
Guess Cyril doesn’t want hyperlinks posted here.
Oh well. If you want to see it, google “Gizmag 100 most expensive motorcycles’ and go through the gallery.
I bought McQueen’s Ace 4 cylinder and I’ll own this one too.
Way to go Seymour. ..Z
Could not have said it better mike
One out six that is known to exists? about to be extinct. I hope who ever buys it will put on display at a motorcycle museum. Person comes to mind is Mr Parham RIP. Record holder and historic motorcycle.
Correction to my post from Feb 17. Andrew Strand retired from Pako Corp in July 1955, not Kodak. I remembered wrong as Pako did stuff with film processing equipment. He was a Tool an Die Maker there. I found his obituary that was in the old Pako newsletter in my Cyclone files today. He died in 1970. Sorry ’bout that.
I know of 11 Cyclones. 6 might be accurate if talking only race versions, but there are a few street bikes out there still as well.