I've only read of the Flying Merkel and others. Thanks to you guys acquiring these gems, restoring them back to new and taking such good care of them, they'll be there for future generations after we're dead and gone....bravo!!!!
I love these old bikes. simply amazing. i also like watching the mechanics of these old engines. ie the lifters and rocker arms and what not. you can actually see them work as they're running
Good Day, Wow super rest job on that venerable racer,eh! Lead base enamels? They were really durable! Takes years to fade, over todays plastic isocyanate lacquers. I bought some CDN made lead based auto enamel yrs ago...still have it,..waiting for someday. I like ancient bikes, but cannot afford. I noticed there were no brakes on that racer. Riding it would be tricky! It sounds nice,..& no smoke!
I would give my left nut for any of those bikes Lee had tucked away! I love old Boardtrack Racers and any old Harley-Davidson Racing memorabilia! I own 2 Harleys right now but I would love to get my hands and a true vintage classic like those! I agree that old 1915 Harley 2 speed was pretty awesome!
Never even heard of this bike before yesterday (11/6/22). Went to the pondarosa and one was there, they look stunning in the flesh! They also look very fragile, must be a nightmare for spare parts. Still a gorgeous thing though
I grew up in Middletown, Ohio! I think I read something about the Miami Cycle works awhile back...Gonna have to research this now, very interesting and love this old bike, super cool !
I've never seen a Merkel in person,just magazines.However,all of the one's I have seen had "THE" in front of the name with streaks coming off of it.Maybe this is a later one and they dropped "THE" from the name.I don't know.I live 15 miles from the worlds largest motorcycle museum,Barber's Motorsports Park.He has well over 750 bikes in his collection,but as far as I know,he doesn't even have a Merkel! Would love to see one though,has to be my favorite antique bike!
All I can say Is WOW !!! That is one beautiful machine man...I really got into board trackers a couple years ago and this has to be the finest specimen I have ever seen..5 stars ! How close is that to the original paint color...Is there a paint code available ?
Right but not a classic tesioner, I meant one more like the one on dh bikes to keep enough slack but refrain it from wobbling that much which could lead to a snap and much damage both to rider and the engine.
I wish this was mine , it belongs to a gentleman who goes to the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Groups Annual rally . I'm not sure on the value and would hate to guess. I thinks it's great ANY vintage/Classic bike that is ridden on the road or taken to rallies and rode there is GREAT!! People get to see and hear that Classic sound..Can't see and hear that if it is stuck away hidden.
Lees was the belt drive though. This was a chain driven bike. But still a great bike. Me i like the org sweety looking bikes. How about that collection lee had. UNREAL !! That 1909 sears bike the pope bike all the harleys, Indians the parts the cars . I would have loved to have went through that stuff. Me i wanted that 1915 Harley 2 speed with the lighting bolt on the tank.
Nice, that. If I owned that bike I'd rename it the 'Flying Merkin'. (If you tried starting the 'Flying Millyard' like that, you'd end up flying yourself.)
Those old enamels used red lead to create some of the vibrate colors of the early 1900s - such as Merkel Orange. Which is actually an INDIAN LAKE ORANGE. I used to have a can of this lead-based orange - but it hardened up solid and turned black due to air and moisture rusting the can. Lead base paints wear incredibly well and last - but the do chalk without sealer coat - usually a varnish back in the day.
OMG!!! I absolutely love the restoration you did on this rare Flying Merkel! I just seen one of these that was a barn find that sat for 40 years in the Lee Hartaug Collection and just went to auction and it fetched $175,000 US!!! I'm curious what a stunning running restoration like this would go for! Do you have any estimated value or an appraisal of what it's worth? I'm so glad people like you keep this hooby alive by restoring these beauties and riding them!
What a nightmare,now if your in a town in Texas with perfectly smooth roads and lots of fuel stops your in luck with this thing if not think about pushing it around in the mud with a flat.Yeah neat trick and no brakes too when can get it up to 60 mph.
It's a board TRACK racer dude, they where made to ride a wooden oval track instead of a Texas road, and they aren't supposed to have brakes, imagine hitting the brakes when you are on one of those wooden banks! Yeah, you would be dead...
Don't be like that Zumipali2,if we didn't have this type of early stuff,then we wouldn't have our bikes today.Top speed of these early v twins wasn't that much slower than the aircraft of the day,i say "hats off to those early folk".
The old brilliant colors of long ago had lead in the compounds used. Chrome yellows, oranges, reds, blues etc. all had lead in them...which cannot be used today in paint mixing. The Merkels had a color very similar to "Red Lead" powder...of which I have two pounds of...which is at least 70 years old, and still good. It is toxic to use. It is not for sale... The new chemistry of paints today cannot match the old lead based paint colors of 100 years ago. They are close, but not an exact match.
The FM uses a "total loss" oiling system - put a few ounces of oil into the engine’s crankcase, and start the engine. The whirling crankshaft picked up the oil and tossed it to where it was needed on cylinder walls, bearings, and cam lobes and tappets. As the oil was lost from the engine past the piston’s rings and through the valve guides, the rider added more with a syringe-like hand pump from a small supply tank. The oil did not recirculate; it went into the engine, it lubricated, and was then lost through leakage, replaced only when the rider stroked the hand pump.
I've only read of the Flying Merkel and others.
Thanks to you guys acquiring these gems, restoring them back to new and taking such good care of them, they'll be there for future generations after we're dead and gone....bravo!!!!
HOT DAMN!! I'm a 60-year-old Aussie who's always loved the FM. But this is the first time I've actually seen and heard one run. LOVE it!
Wow that's the most glorious machine I've seen in a long time. Absolutely stunning.
I love these old bikes. simply amazing.
i also like watching the mechanics of these old engines. ie the lifters and rocker arms and what not. you can actually see them work as they're running
Most delicate rocker arms I've ever seen. Whole machine a pristine work of art.
Good Day,
Wow super rest job on that venerable racer,eh!
Lead base enamels? They were really durable! Takes years to fade, over todays plastic isocyanate lacquers. I bought some CDN made lead based auto enamel yrs ago...still have it,..waiting for someday.
I like ancient bikes, but cannot afford. I noticed there were no brakes on that racer. Riding it would be tricky!
It sounds nice,..& no smoke!
you just gotta love old machines.. the sound, the design, the passion man!
I would give my left nut for any of those bikes Lee had tucked away! I love old Boardtrack Racers and any old Harley-Davidson Racing memorabilia! I own 2 Harleys right now but I would love to get my hands and a true vintage classic like those! I agree that old 1915 Harley 2 speed was pretty awesome!
Beautyful!
I would give anything to have been able to see this bike in the boardtrack races!
Never even heard of this bike before yesterday (11/6/22). Went to the pondarosa and one was there, they look stunning in the flesh! They also look very fragile, must be a nightmare for spare parts. Still a gorgeous thing though
The best sounding name of all the vintage motorcycles!
this is the most beautful peice of machinery so raw and such craftsmanship
Thanks, I had seen some early, 1930s ads for FMs, but never heard one run!
I grew up in Middletown, Ohio!
I think I read something about the Miami Cycle works awhile back...Gonna have to research this now, very interesting and love this old bike, super cool !
The craftsmanship on the old bikes is awe inspiring, compared to the disposable crap we have today...
i've seen the Harley ,the Indian ,the Henderson, Excelsior ,but This one has the most beautiful sound !!
I have been having dreams about this since I saw this video and I have to watch it again! Its so amazing!
how do you drive if the wheel always moves even if you want stop can even stop and on it if you took it on the road and where waiting at a stop light.
bonjour.de la france!!..des motos comme ont en fait plus il faut la garder comme un précieux diamant
Very nice, love the way you started it!
@RacetrackStyle
Sure wish it was mine ..lol .great looking motor and love the sound.
This is rare boardtrack racer beside the cyclone. I love the styles
I've never seen a Merkel in person,just magazines.However,all of the one's I have seen had "THE" in front of the name with streaks coming off of it.Maybe this is a later one and they dropped "THE" from the name.I don't know.I live 15 miles from the worlds largest motorcycle museum,Barber's Motorsports Park.He has well over 750 bikes in his collection,but as far as I know,he doesn't even have a Merkel! Would love to see one though,has to be my favorite antique bike!
Witnessing something amazing here. I mean damn it's a Flying Merkel!!!
Awesome I live in Middletown. What year is that beast?
Did you see that Bike shake and quiver with pent up, horsepower. That's why I ride an old V-Twin.
Tony: Exactly what I was thinking. I have a car that removes me from the experience. But for my motorcycles I demand the authentic feeling.
All I can say Is WOW !!! That is one beautiful machine man...I really got into board trackers a couple years ago and this has to be the finest specimen I have ever seen..5 stars ! How close is that to the original paint color...Is there a paint code available ?
Stunning classic bike!!!!!!!!
@royalbrainwave
I would think the motor has some shake BUT I'm sure the rollers don't help.
Once on the road I bet the shake goes away.
Lovely old bike sir.
Right but not a classic tesioner, I meant one more like the one on dh bikes to keep enough slack but refrain it from wobbling that much which could lead to a snap and much damage both to rider and the engine.
I wish this was mine , it belongs to a gentleman who goes to the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Groups Annual rally . I'm not sure on the value and would hate to guess.
I thinks it's great ANY vintage/Classic bike that is ridden on the road or taken to rallies and rode there is GREAT!! People get to see and hear that Classic sound..Can't see and hear that if it is stuck away hidden.
This beautifully restored Husqvarna 1925
I think you would be close in the price .
I would love to see this go down the road.
Another Great classic
They've got an unrestored one just like this at the museum in sturgis except that one has a manual oiler
Just curious, does anyone here know which company makes the period correct white rubber balloon tires?
Eric Mowrey
Coker tyre company 👍
Old bikes have a soul ! Lovely but the chain has no tensioner which is a bit wobbling and scary !
What a great sounding bike.
That color is amazing!
I'm anxious to see what he brings this year.
Lead Powder..I have heard of this ..never seen it .
Paint has come a long way for sure .
Respect to all involved. Piece of history
Amazing its pure heaven im blown away !!!
I love the exposed pushrods! Like a BSA.
Lees was the belt drive though. This was a chain driven bike. But still a great bike. Me i like the org sweety looking bikes. How about that collection lee had. UNREAL !! That 1909 sears bike the pope bike all the harleys, Indians the parts the cars . I would have loved to have went through that stuff. Me i wanted that 1915 Harley 2 speed with the lighting bolt on the tank.
its restored right?
Nice, that. If I owned that bike I'd rename it the 'Flying Merkin'. (If you tried starting the 'Flying Millyard' like that, you'd end up flying yourself.)
Thats a nice bike, but man does that thing shake more than my pan!
If you like this, check out the work of Roger Goldammer,
he built something similar, but newer,
whats the value of this bike? i think at least 100k
good to know that my last name is merkel too ^^
Sounds great I must say.
Nice write up on this bike inMotorcycle Mojo ( Canadian Mag)Jan/Feb issue
Sounds awefull compared with mine?
I beleieve the owner said this was as close to the original paint as he could get.
I'm not sure of the paint code.
It IS one nice machine for sure !
Those old enamels used red lead to create some of the vibrate colors of the early 1900s - such as Merkel Orange. Which is actually an INDIAN LAKE ORANGE. I used to have a can of this lead-based orange - but it hardened up solid and turned black due to air and moisture rusting the can. Lead base paints wear incredibly well and last - but the do chalk without sealer coat - usually a varnish back in the day.
He does nice work for sure .
I was hoping he would bring something different this year .
brought his early Indian.
His bikes are NICE!!
whats tthat for an engine?
1000cc V-twin with a top speed of approximately 60 mph.
That's a beauty
Just plain excellence.
What a beauty!
@Rick258442 Agreed. It just doesn't look right without some age showing.
beautiful bike
That look so brutal! i would love to see it competing against a modern bike
Is this an ex-Maldwyn Jones racer?
wahhh !! 👍👍👍👍👏👏👏
Most people after inheriting $100,000: “I’m paying my house off and getting a Tesla”
Me: “I’m buying an original Flying Merkel”
I wouldn't want to get my left leg caught up in that exposed chain to the rear wheel :-)
OMG!!! I absolutely love the restoration you did on this rare Flying Merkel! I just seen one of these that was a barn find that sat for 40 years in the Lee Hartaug Collection and just went to auction and it fetched $175,000 US!!! I'm curious what a stunning running restoration like this would go for! Do you have any estimated value or an appraisal of what it's worth? I'm so glad people like you keep this hooby alive by restoring these beauties and riding them!
I'm not sure Eric. Maybe Cocker Tires. If not they might be able to point you in the right direction.
What a nightmare,now if your in a town in Texas with perfectly smooth roads and lots of fuel stops your in luck with this thing if not think about pushing it around in the mud with a flat.Yeah neat trick and no brakes too when can get it up to 60 mph.
It's a board TRACK racer dude, they where made to ride a wooden oval track instead of a Texas road, and they aren't supposed to have brakes, imagine hitting the brakes when you are on one of those wooden banks! Yeah, you would be dead...
Don't be like that Zumipali2,if we didn't have this type of early stuff,then we wouldn't have our bikes today.Top speed of these early v twins wasn't that much slower than the aircraft of the day,i say "hats off to those early folk".
+valerie brown
Thanks Valerie.Although Not mine you are so right
It sounds even better standing next to it..
haha, found out that the construktor was a relative of me
brutal beauty
The old brilliant colors of long ago had lead in the compounds used. Chrome yellows, oranges, reds, blues etc. all had lead in them...which cannot be used today in paint mixing. The Merkels had a color very similar to "Red Lead" powder...of which I have two pounds of...which is at least 70 years old, and still good. It is toxic to use. It is not for sale...
The new chemistry of paints today cannot match the old lead based paint colors of 100 years ago. They are close, but not an exact match.
Cool 👍
I dare you to ride it!
Good luck
amazing
It had to be tied down because it really did try to fly. 😁😂😋
I agree
Now that would be nice!
it is such a shame we here in Denmark EU can not build bikes like this. It is just not legal!
oh wait this one has it too
What a sweet mechinacal wonder!
Sweet!
That's weird because my last name is merkel
SWEET !
My word..
Look!!!! A Unicorn.
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet !
bad ass piece of AMERICAN history don't talk Shit!
@asd36f
Hmm That I couldn't tell you..If I see him I will ask.
If I had one I'd call it Angela
hobby* my bad! lol
Shake, Rattle & Roll......
The Merkel family should have stayed in manufacturing motorbikes ...instead becoming Kanzler if Germany.....would have been a better world
SOUND OF HELL!!!!!
Restored its not cool like a original .
lol..
your leaking oil
The FM uses a "total loss" oiling system - put a few ounces of oil into the engine’s crankcase, and start the engine. The whirling crankshaft picked up the oil and tossed it to where it was needed on cylinder walls, bearings, and cam lobes and tappets. As the oil was lost from the engine past the piston’s rings and through the valve guides, the rider added more with a syringe-like hand pump from a small supply tank. The oil did not recirculate; it went into the engine, it lubricated, and was then lost through leakage, replaced only when the rider stroked the hand pump.
awesome video that sound is like music!
bad ass piece of AMERICAN history don't talk Shit!