It has a vintage appearance, a gleaming pearl gray and dark red paint job and many details that some novices may easily confuse with that of a bicycle. To KICKER Powersports product line manager Dan Jobin, the 1913 Excelsior Autocycle is much more than all of those things.
 
It has been his source of satisfaction for nearly 15 years, spending his free time restoring the nearly 100-year-old motorcycle that is being displayed in the KICKER Visitors Center for public viewing until Friday, Nov. 18.
 
Jobin got the urge to restore a life-size antique in 1996. He headed to the local auto wrecking yard in Fresno, Calif., where he purchased the Excelsior.
 
Excelsior motorcycles were deemed to be an immediate success in the early 1900s because they were well-made, extremely powerful and overcame the rough roads of the time. They were also the first motorcycles to reach the intense speed of 100 mph. Years later, the “Model X” Excelsior continued to set new records for speed, stamina and extreme power.
 
Jobin said others were involved in the completion of the 1913 old-timer. Mike Lange in Wisconsin restored the engine; Steve Cook Creations in Oklahoma City updated the paint job; Rick Kirk of RK Machine in Ripley, Okla., located hard-to-find parts; Randy Walker at Walker Machine in New Braintree, Mass., restored the countershaft clutch assembly; Robby Walden in Borger, Texas, fabricated the gas and oil tanks; A.E. McRoberts supplied the rims; Heilman Antique Motorcycle Seats in Austin, Texas, recovered the seat; and Diversified Plating in Oklahoma City completed the nickel plating.
 
“Sitting in my living room is not fair to this motorcycle or the curious public,” Jobin said. “I would rather it be in an appropriate museum so people can enjoy this piece of motoring history."
 
After its visit to KICKER World Headquarters, it’s heading to Las Vegas to be auctioned off to someone who will appreciate it as much as Jobin does.