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"Loaned"
by Jerry Ottaway
George Pierce, owner of the Pierce Great Arrow Automobile Company, makers
of the famous cars, also owned the Pierce Bicycle Company. George's son
Percy, who ran the Bicycle Company, returned from Europe with an FN four,
(similar to the one on onemanspassion), and had it evaluated in designing
a new bike. The result was the Pierce Four, introduced in 1909. The single
cylinder model was introduced in 1911 to supplement the model line. Although
somewhat less exotic than the four, it was arguably a better bike. It
had a displacement of 596cc, making it larger than most singles of the
time, and a rated HP of 5. The frame contains the oil and the fuel, making
extra tanks unnecessary. Final drive is by flat belt. Impressions from
the Saddle Starting the Pierce is similar to most of the early bikes,
and is done on the stand, after turning on the fuel and oil, and flooding
the carburetor. Lift the de-compressor, a brisk pedal, drop the lever,
and its running. Throttle and spark are controlled with twist grips. After
warming up, you shut it down, and start over off the stand, pedaling off
down the road and repeating the performance, unless you are lucky enough
to have an Eclipse Clutch fitted, a period luxury. The flat belt drive
is not the greatest in the rain, as they tend to slip.
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