Excelsior-Henderson Coming Back

EXCELSIOR-HENDERSON COMING BACK

ADD EXCELSIOR AND Henderson to the list of motorcycle names

that entrepreneurs are attempting to revive.

Efforts are already under-way to produce new Indians and Vincents, (see Roundup, August, October), and now Dan and David Hanlon have formed the Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Manufacturing Division, based in Burnsville, Minnesota.

Excelsior first made motorcycles in 1905, and in 1912 its “X” model was the first bike clocked at 100 mph. Excelsior bought Henderson in 1917, but the Depression and the growing popularity of cars forced the company’s demise in 1931.

No release date has been given for the first new Excel-

sior, which David Hanlon says will be the Super X, a largedisplacement V-Twin cruiser. He says the bike will be produced within two years.

Hanlon would not release information about the Super engine, but sources say the bike will be powered by a 1385cc, dohc, fuel-injected, 50-degree Twin that already exists in prototype form.

Once the Super X is on the market, Hanlon says E-H will release the Henderson DeLuxe Four, an inline-Four touringoriented cruiser. Third will be the American X, which Hanlon calls an entry-level “economy cruiser.” He says the company will focus on cruisers and tourers; no sportbikes

are in the works.

Further details about the company are limited. “We’re well on our way, but we want to be conservative with the release of information,” says Hanlon. “For example, we don’t want to create false hopes by setting release dates.”

Hanlon did say the Super X will be priced competitively with Harley-Davidson’s Big Twins. He adds that components will be sourced from outside manufacturers and assembled by Excelsior-Henderson, at a factory in an undetermined location. Hanlon admits the project requires “vast amounts of money,” saying the company is being funded in stages. -Robert Hough