Excelsior

[AdminGuy]

Tommo!

I have a problem. A friend of mine here in Norway owns a V-twin Excelsior with engine number T3048. He means that this is a 1912 model. This is all wrong again compared to your list. 3048 should be a 1909 model from your list, and 1910 was the first year with v-twins. Something is not right here. The register cover on his bike is not aluminum but nickel plated bronze.

I guess we just have to wait and see if other members are villing to unveil their engine numbers and years. I have already recived e-mails with engine numbers and production years from people that don't whant their bike ID to be published on this forum. That is perfectly OK with me. The important thing is to try to get a complete list that we can rely on.

I am looking froward to hear from you all on klund@loit.no

[AdminGuy]

Today I learned that Jerry Hatfield is wrong in his book, and singles was also produced in 1913 and 1914.

Engine 19795 is owned by Peter Dilworth (chunks23@hotmail.com), and this is a single (1913??). I have also recived e-mails from others telling me that they own post 1912 Excelsior singles.

I guess we just have to dig deaper into this. Please help me!

[excel15]

I have my grandfathers 1915 Excelsior twin, with documentation indicating he purchased it from the factory in November 1915, calling it a 1915 model. Motor number is 77918. From Knut's list of numbers, this would be a 1916 model. So, what do I really have? bas2910@aol.com

[AdminGuy]

Hi!

My best guess is that you have a 1916 model produced in 1915. Just like now you can buy a 2003 model car in late 2002.

I am just guessing over here, but I think it is a good one....:-)

If you post a picture of your bike it would be a lot easyer. There should be some differences to 1915 and 1916 (in the parts list the 1915 has it's own listing, while 1916 is combined with 1917).

[capa]

Hi excel15,

Here is an easy way to tell if your X is a 15 or 16;

Look on the right side of the gas tank just behind the shifter. The 16 and later models have a petcock there with fuel lines running to the front and rear cylinders for cold start priming.

The 15 has just primer cups on the cylinders without the lines or valve on the tank, (and no provision on the tank for a valve).

Hope this helps!
Jerry

[Tommo]

I thought it might be an appropiate time to bring this earlier discussion on Excelsior dating back up as although the questions asked at the time were not answered it may assist with some of the dating questions being asked elsewhere on the forum.

Tommo

[Ian Biddle]

Just having a browse.... I know its an old thread but...

For anyone still interested in the vin nos,
www.yesterdays.nl have bikes fom the years 1910,12,14,17,18,22 all showing the bike and vin numbers

[Paulvenne]

I checked the 1914 2 speed I am assembling now and the engine number is 59313. The "patina" of the engine cases and the original clutch housing on the 2 speed would make me think that this is the original engine to the bike. Hope this helps, Paul

[aka HAWG]

has anyone got the breakdown for the singles??

aka HAWG

[Paulvenne]

I just looked at yesterdays.nl and they only have a couple of Excelsiors, a 1917 and a 1920. I didn't see serials for either although they might spit them out if you asked. Paul