|
1913
Pope Model L Pope
was a well-known name in the fledgling automotive industry, and Colonel
Pope was behind the Pope-Hartford, and Pope Toledo. The first Pope motorcycle
appeared in 1908, and was a V-belt drive single with atmospheric intake,
and no clutch or gearbox. It was a good little bike, but it was this model
L that took the industry by storm when it appeared in 1913. The Pope had
an overhead valve, V-twin of 61cu.in. (1000cc)! Although the Pope Company
didn’t support a factory race team, privateers on Popes occasionally
managed to humble the pros on Indians, Excelsiors, Flying Merkels, Thors
and Harleys that first year, on the board-tracks. They were soon eclipsed
by the 8 valve Indians, Harleys, and ohc Cyclones, but these were specially
constructed racers, and the Pope twin was never intended to be more than
a roadster. When my friend Mike Sherwin examined the twin Pope engine
I have, he remarked on how similar it was to the "90 bore" English JAP
twin. It makes one wonder who copied whom? We will probably never know.
Jerry’s bike is a single speeder with clutch, and with that much
power in such a light frame, you don’t miss the gearbox, particularly
around Jerry’s home in the flatlands of Kansas.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Click
and drag the QTVR image below to rotate the Pope.
|
|||
 |
|||
