1919 Excelsior Model 19 Big-Valve Twin

• YEAR: 1919
• MAKE: Excel­sior
• MODEL: Model 19 Big-Valve Twin
• ENGINE: 61 cu. in. 1,000cc intake over exhaust 50-degree V-Twin with chain final drive
• ENGINE NO: 102181
• FRAME NO: 2116
• TRANSMISSION: 3-Speed Manual gearbox with tank-side shift
• CARBURETOR: Schebler
• IGNITION: Bosch magneto
• STARTER: Kick
• SUSPENSION: Leaf spring front fork, rigid rear frame
• EXHAUST: 2-into-1
• CONTROLS: Twist-grip for throttle and ignition advance
• SEAT: Sprung leather with sliding pillar spring
• LIGHTS: Acetylene headlight and tail light
• BRAKES: Contracting band rear brake, no front brake
• WHEELS: Spoke with color-keyed steel rims and 3.50-28 front and rear tires
• FEATURES: Matching rear luggage rack
• HISTORY: From the Urban S. Hirsch III Collection

The Excel­sior 1919 Model 19 Big-Valve Twin was a high-performance motor­cycle known for its powerful 1,000 cc, 61-cu. in. 50-degree V-twin engine, popular for racing and long-distance riding. The Model 19 featured a unique design—a distinctive frame with a large, arched top tube that accommodated a curved fuel tank. The “Big Valve” designation refers to its large intake valves, which contributed to its impressive power output. Its power and three-speed transmission, a significant upgrade for the era, made it useful in World War I. Model 19s were successful in various racing events, including board track racing and long-distance endurance runs. Wells Bennett was a notable rider who used the Model 19 for record-setting rides, including a transcontinental run with a sidecar and a Three-Flag (Canada-Mexico) record, averaging 32 mph on dirt.

According to Mecum Auctions, “The Excel­sior twins of the 1910s and ’20s used the most highly developed F-head design in the industry, and their special racing models proved the point decisively by taking many firsts, like the first motor­cycle to be officially timed during a race over 100 mph in 1912 at Playa del Rey board track… Its famous Big Valve racers were magnificently tuned machines that were capable of sustained high speeds and beating their much larger rivals.”

This beautifully restored 1919 Excel­sior Big Valve Twin from the Urban S. Hirsch III Collection is an example of one of the most powerful V-twins in American industry. Its 61-cubic-inch, 1,000 cc intake-over-exhaust 50-degree V-twin engine often beat out larger competitors. It sports engine number 102181 and frame number 2116. The frame style is unique, with the top tube making a long arc from the steering head to the saddle lug. Initially, the Big X used a belt drive, but progressed to a two- and then three-speed gearbox by 1915. By 1919, this model was operated with a three-speed manual gearbox with a tank-side shift. The carburetor is a Schebler, and the ignition is a Bosch magneto. Excelsior’s unique tin cover hides the kickstarter. Although there is no rear suspension with its rigid frame, the front fork features a “military type” leaf spring with trailing link and extra bracing. The flat gas tank has an elegantly curved top, and the front fender is skirted, the last year of the distinctive style. The motor­cycle is controlled by a twist-grip throttle and ignition advance, with a contracting band rear brake and no front brake. The seat is sprung leather with a sliding pillar spring. Offered with a variety of lighting options, this Model 19 sports an acetylene headlight and taillight. The spoked wheels with color-keyed steel rims rest on 3.50-28 front and rear tires. The look is complete with a tan steel tank featuring gold logos and red pinstriping with matching fenders and even a rear luggage rack.

The Excel­sior Supply Com­pany was founded in 1876 by George T. Robie in Chicago to distribute sewing machine and bicycle parts, but expanded into the Excel­sior Motor and Manu­fact­uring Com­pany in 1907 with Frederick Carlton Robie at the helm as president. Motor­cycle production began in 1908, and by 1912, Ignaz Schwinn, owner of Arnold, Schwinn & Co. of Schwinn Bicycles, pur­chased the com­pany. His extensive engineering facilities allowed for the development of engines modified for greater strength and speed. Together, they set a new record as an Excel­sior motor­cycle was the first to be officially timed at a speed of 100 mph in 1912. Schwinn acquired the Henderson Motor­cycle Com­pany in 1917, combining three impressive forces.

In 1925, the Excel­sior Super X model was released, the first motor­cycle with a 45 cu. in. V-twin engine, to compete with the Indian Scout. Indian and Harley-David­son quickly followed suit, but by 1928, Excel­sior was in third place behind them among U.S. motor­cycle manu­facturers, rounding out the Big Three. Despite the success of Schwinn’s motor­cycle production, after the stock market crashed in 1929, motor­cycle sales plummeted, and by 1931, with a full order book, Ignaz ordered production to cease. His words, “Gentlemen, today we stop,” may have saved the com­pany, as focusing on bicycles was a far more cost-effective endeavor, leaving surviving relics as a piece of American history.