The Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Brand Is For Sale.

It includes the intellectual property, all federally registered trademarks, the previous motorcycle frame and engine designs, as well as the expired patents that can only be effectively exploited by the owner of Excelsior-Henderson. The brand will be auctioned off by Mecum Auctions in Las Vegas on January 27, 2018 at the South Point Hotel & Casino.

Excelsior-Henderson saw its greatest successes under the ownership and direction of Ignaz Schwinn, whose empire in Chicago was created from profit on his bicycles. During 10 years, from 1911-21, Henderson’s were the only 4-cylinder motorcycles produced in the U.S., and by the late 1920s, it was Excelsior-Henderson and Indian that dominated the 45 cubic-inch market with the Super X and Scout models. Schwinn correctly foresaw a major downturn in motorcycle sales for 1930, and decided to pull the plug on his big bikes and focus on bicycles, which were likely to continue selling well when jobs were scarce. The company never again produced motorcycles.

15 Responses to “The Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Brand Is For Sale.”


  1. 1 Boomer Oct 12th, 2017 at 9:22 am

    Maybe Polaris will buy it and drop Indian…

  2. 2 Chief Waldo Oct 12th, 2017 at 9:39 am

    Anyone want to go partners? I’ll chip in five bucks!

  3. 3 burnout Oct 12th, 2017 at 9:48 am

    Well there was that 1999-2000 thing. I have one in my shop now. peace

  4. 4 BD Oct 12th, 2017 at 9:55 am

    I believe they are also throwing in the Brooklyn Bridge

  5. 5 Fzzzz Oct 12th, 2017 at 10:31 am

    What a beautiful bike. Hope something good comes out of this besides boutique clothing,

  6. 6 TH Oct 12th, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    This raises more questions than answers. Does it exclude all of the IP from the revival, or could someone work with those designs?

  7. 7 bigitch Oct 12th, 2017 at 2:05 pm

    start a ‘go fund me’ site and get the money together to buy it.
    all people who donate become part owners

  8. 8 James just another crazy kiwi Oct 12th, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    The tires are not matching in that picture… just saying

  9. 9 Boomer Oct 13th, 2017 at 2:50 am

    The 2000 E-H Super X was a very nice feat of engineering. Too bad it didn’t stay in production. Just think of all the potential custom applications

  10. 10 Hillbilly Jim Oct 13th, 2017 at 8:15 am

    Big itch I have always thought if all the serious fan of motorcycling and all the engineering genius threw a couple bucks together, we could revive a famous marquee like Excelsior. Like a stock buy in kind of thing. I am sure somewhere out there in motorcycle fantasy land lives the right combination of talent and funding to make it work without breaking anyone’s bank.

  11. 11 Seymour Oct 13th, 2017 at 9:28 am

    No.

  12. 12 Brontolo Oct 13th, 2017 at 10:41 am

    I’m with big itch and hillbilly Jim. I test drove the 1999 EH and loved the motor and that anti-dive front end they had. But another big twin retro bike, I would like to see it come back with the in line 4.

  13. 13 rebel Oct 13th, 2017 at 1:37 pm

    Excelsior Inc. Billy?

  14. 14 Martin Twofeather Oct 20th, 2017 at 4:58 pm

    Is this true Cyril?Have you talked to Dan Hanlon?

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Cyril Huze