My grand father (John Thomas Pocock) owned and raced a Flying Merkel motorcycle. sadly, I have no photos of him racing or of him with his bike. However, I do have the memories of the many stories he used to share with me and his love of that motorcycle.
I live 7 miles from the Middletown, OH factory where these were built. In fall of 1911 production was moved from Pottstown, PA to Middletown. Joe Merkel came along as part of the deal. Miami Cycle & Mfg Company were a well know bicycle manufacturer, brands such as Racycle & Miami. The 1912 design was continued while Joe Merkel completely redesigned the entire motorcycle, hence the rear monoshock suspension introduced in 1913. Production continued until about 1916 when the supply of German bearings dried up due to WW1. Bicycles were produced until 1922. I have 2 of the bicycles, a 1917 Miami & a 1920 Racycle, although I recently donated the Miami to the Middletown Historical Society to display in their museum.
I personally knew a man who worked at his father's dealership selling Flying Merkels in Peekskill, NY from 1915-1918. After which, they switched to selling automobiles. "We could only get them in yellow!", he told me, laughing.
I saw one of the Flying Merkels in the classic orange paint at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamoosa Iowa. Loved it some much I bought the Flying Merkel T Shirt and refrigerator magnet. If you ever get near this museum you should plan to spend the whole time they are opened there...there is so much to see!
A friend of mine found a 1916 Indian Power Plus in an old barn. It mas complete except the engine was missing. all original paint, although somewhat rusted. It was a board walk racer. It was very cool to see in person and sit on it. Too bad the engine was missing..
The quality of your vlog offerings has improved remarkably lately. You’re telling solid stories without filler. Good photos good supporting narrative. The history of Merkel was fascinating. Keep it up.
I have no idea why, but these early machines, which were scarcely more that motorized bicycles, the spirit of innovation which birthed them, and the sheer STONES it took to ride them speaks to me far more than most modern motorcycles
A good friend of our family had one of these in his collection. Before he died, I got to go down to Las Vegas with him and see his whole collection get auctioned by Mecum. At that time, it was the largest antique American motorcycle collection owned by one person. I’m sure several museums bought some of his bikes.
I watched board track racers at Wauseon Ohio and Davenport Iowa, such great race machines. Harley had what they called the wrecking crew, one member had a piglet and that's where the term "'HOG" came from. Cyclone also made a great racer. Bart you may want consider looking into Al Crocker and his story. Stay in the wind all you riders!
Another great history of a fascinating bike, thanks. While I've never ridden anything that old, the my very first powered vehicle was a WWII vintage Whizzer that we found at the dump, without engine or transmission, belt drive. My brother and I took an old lawnmower engine, made one speed reduction with belts and pulleys, and did the clutch the same way the early Merkel did at 1:22 in your video: an idler that tensioned the drive belt. Very crude but it worked, at least until our grumpy neighbor called the cops on us. The cops were nice but that was the end of our Whizzer excursions.
I have only seen 1 Flying Merkle. It was at the Sacramento Easy Riders show over a decade ago. It was a gorgeous bike. I think it was yellow with board track style handlebars.
Awesome Job 💪! I love learning old Engineering in motorcycles beginning's. I still believe that innovations from the past can be Reevaluated into the best application's in Today's production's.. Great work's. Keep on Going.💪
Bart I have come to love your videos. You’re always bringing to the forefront motorcycles that were true game changers in the industry. Your narration is smooth as glass and easy to listen too. Bravo Sir.
I really love these historical presentations. I was recently in the market for a chainsaw, so I did a lot of research to make sure i bought the right machine. I was surprised to learn there's never been a successful American chainsaw manufacturer. Great video. Keep crushing.
really? I thought that Husqvarna made Chainsaws until 1980 in the USA? Now they are not, or they make the parts overseas and ship them to the USA for Manufacture.
I don't usually comment, but I'd love to see a video from you about motorcycle racing history, from the 1st racetrack at Brooklands in 1907, that inspired boardtrack and oval racetracks of the USA.
Working in a Auto manufacturing factory in the 1960 I remember seeing one there in a collection in South Australia . I always remember the odd name and orange paint job .. I think the bike is still the Birdwood motor museum in. South Australia .
Indian was one of the first major builders to adopt rear wheel suspension, most famously with their 1913 Indian 1000cc twin with its swing arm and leaf spring configuration. Another motorcycle that was decades ahead of its time was the 1915 Pope twin with its adjustable rear plunger suspension. A few others that were ahead of their time purely for cosmetic reasons are the early 1910’s Cleveland, Cyclone and Henderson motorcycles for their round frames and gas tank in a time where they were mostly square-ish.
Placed joke ad for a mrkl 4 sale 16 yrs ago. $250. Bogus non exist phone. Paper that printed ad got calls from around the world. (Really). Had no idea that would happen was
It seems that the competition between the small companies created many innovations, that would be used by the larger companies in the end. Competition is good and competition between many is good, it would be a benefit to have it again in all our economic sectors.
Thirty years ago I had a chance to buy a Flying Merkel board track bike. The owner would only sell it as part of a collection. Buying the entire collection was beyond my means at the time.
There was a very early bike that had an engine mounted on the front wheel. Jay Leno did a video on it years and years ago. It cracked him up and he said " The engineering question no one ever asked." I bring this up as maybe something you might want to do a video on.
You missed the most advanced motorcycle of that period... the bevel driven overhead cam Cyclone. A 1000cc V-twin built in my home state of Minnesota. But overall good job. I love your postings. Rick
Their reproduction is much better looking to me than the HD Sportster tribute model and well priced. Now in my 8th decade I'm getting a bit old for such toys but it would make one hell of a final rider to carry me into the sunset of my life.🤣
Merkel wasn't decades ahead of the competition. Several other early makes offered rear suspension (Indian, Jefferson, Pope, etc.) Harley-Davidson didn't need rear suspension because they had the Full-Floteing seatpost that worked so well they kept it until 1957! Merkel's biggest contribution wasn't even mentioned: It's 1903 loop frame chassis model that inspired the first production Harley-Davidson motorcycle introduced in 1905.
Why do you have an image of Blackpool Tower, realy very interested to know why this image was shown ie was there a connection with Mr william Llyons of Swallow cars, the founder of Jaguar cars located in Blackpool
Am I the only one who sees that in 1901, everything was "decades ahead of its time?" lol If he'd built it in the 1870's, then yeah, it would have been ahead of its time.
I sold my 15 with the mono shock back in y2k along with my 13 indian single merkel was superior unfortunatly both had no damping so bouncy ride ,indian went back to hardtail not long after. When a merkel went to the boards harly and indian had a run for their money
I think HONESTLY, a Foreblad SP or a MEW Goldwing CAN be put on that Merkel Sentence... But since a Fireblade SP is NOT a bike competing in COMFORT than technically No, but if it had the same views as a Goldwing, then yes... A goldwing is the best of the best and it IS EXTREMELY RELIABLE...
It's a shame reliability and quality won't sell well to consumers. People want big numbers for performance and specs, loads of gadgets and gimmicks all of that at the lowest price. Anything different will be hopelessly niche and ultimately fail in the marketplace
That's crazy talk. Quality and reliability sell incredibly well. Honda sells tons of bikes and every one of them will go 100x the distance a Merkel will without an adjustment or maintenance. The industry now vs then is apples and oranges.
@@rustyshackleford4728 You're comparing a modern mass-produced bike to a hand made thing from a million years ago. All modern bikes are more reliable! If you paid attention to this channel you'd know best of the best typed stuff is niche, like Bimota for example even Honda's best of the best forays ended up being commercial failures
My grand father (John Thomas Pocock) owned and raced a Flying Merkel motorcycle. sadly, I have no photos of him racing or of him with his bike. However, I do have the memories of the many stories he used to share with me and his love of that motorcycle.
I live 7 miles from the Middletown, OH factory where these were built. In fall of 1911 production was moved from Pottstown, PA to Middletown. Joe Merkel came along as part of the deal. Miami Cycle & Mfg Company were a well know bicycle manufacturer, brands such as Racycle & Miami. The 1912 design was continued while Joe Merkel completely redesigned the entire motorcycle, hence the rear monoshock suspension introduced in 1913. Production continued until about 1916 when the supply of German bearings dried up due to WW1. Bicycles were produced until 1922. I have 2 of the bicycles, a 1917 Miami & a 1920 Racycle, although I recently donated the Miami to the Middletown Historical Society to display in their museum.
I personally knew a man who worked at his father's dealership selling Flying Merkels in Peekskill, NY from 1915-1918. After which, they switched to selling automobiles. "We could only get them in yellow!", he told me, laughing.
I saw one of the Flying Merkels in the classic orange paint at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamoosa Iowa. Loved it some much I bought the Flying Merkel T Shirt and refrigerator magnet. If you ever get near this museum you should plan to spend the whole time they are opened there...there is so much to see!
A friend of mine found a 1916 Indian Power Plus in an old barn. It mas complete except the engine was missing. all original paint, although somewhat rusted. It was a board walk racer. It was very cool to see in person and sit on it. Too bad the engine was missing..
The quality of your vlog offerings has improved remarkably lately. You’re telling solid stories without filler. Good photos good supporting narrative. The history of Merkel was fascinating. Keep it up.
I have no idea why, but these early machines, which were scarcely more that motorized bicycles, the spirit of innovation which birthed them, and the sheer STONES it took to ride them speaks to me far more than most modern motorcycles
A good friend of our family had one of these in his collection. Before he died, I got to go down to Las Vegas with him and see his whole collection get auctioned by Mecum. At that time, it was the largest antique American motorcycle collection owned by one person. I’m sure several museums bought some of his bikes.
I watched board track racers at Wauseon Ohio and Davenport Iowa, such great race machines. Harley had what they called the wrecking crew, one member had a piglet and that's where the term "'HOG" came from. Cyclone also made a great racer. Bart you may want consider looking into Al Crocker and his story. Stay in the wind all you riders!
Saw a crocker once. It was fantastic and ahead of it's time. Elwood smooth
@@richardsavoie1073 I saw a couple. Outstanding!
How old are you 110?
@@fearsomename4517 figured you were full of it😉
@@colinmunro7337 Look it up. I belong to the AMCA. Everything I said is true.
This channel is criminally undersubscribed. The content is so good.
Another great history of a fascinating bike, thanks. While I've never ridden anything that old, the my very first powered vehicle was a WWII vintage Whizzer that we found at the dump, without engine or transmission, belt drive. My brother and I took an old lawnmower engine, made one speed reduction with belts and pulleys, and did the clutch the same way the early Merkel did at 1:22 in your video: an idler that tensioned the drive belt. Very crude but it worked, at least until our grumpy neighbor called the cops on us. The cops were nice but that was the end of our Whizzer excursions.
Never seen this one that I recall. One of the most beautiful bikes I 've seen.
I have only seen 1 Flying Merkle. It was at the Sacramento Easy Riders show over a decade ago.
It was a gorgeous bike. I think it was yellow with board track style handlebars.
My 66 Honda S90 had 8 brake hp and would top out at 70 mph. lol. Excellent video
There is a least one of these in the UK, I have seen it at several shows a few years back. Sounds great when it`s fired up.
I wrote a song, " The Ballad of Maldwyn Jones", as a tribute to my favourite ex-pat Welshman Merkel for ever.
Awesome Job 💪! I love learning old Engineering in motorcycles beginning's. I still believe that innovations from the past can be Reevaluated into the best application's in Today's production's.. Great work's. Keep on Going.💪
Bart I have come to love your videos. You’re always bringing to the forefront motorcycles that were true game changers in the industry. Your narration is smooth as glass and easy to listen too. Bravo Sir.
Nice collection of vintage clips.
Another excellent presentation Bart. Two thumbs up!
I think it was just yesterday when I subbed and already legend-tier content! This channel is really underrated for the motorcycle community :D
One of these was lost in the Top Mountain Crosspoint Motorcycle Museum fire. Two years ago.
I really love these historical presentations.
I was recently in the market for a chainsaw, so I did a lot of research to make sure i bought the right machine. I was surprised to learn there's never been a successful American chainsaw manufacturer.
Great video. Keep crushing.
mcculloch and homelite were very successful chainsaw manufactures for many years
really? I thought that Husqvarna made Chainsaws until 1980 in the USA? Now they are not, or they make the parts overseas and ship them to the USA for Manufacture.
smith husqvarna is a swedish company. They may have done some manufacturing in the USA in the past, but they're not American company.
Homelike was a USA made.
McCulloch was a very successful US chainsaw manufacturer.... Amongst many other products.
The brand is owned by Husqvarna now.
The Vincent black shadow had a mono-shock too. I sat on one once. (Next time I was in the shop, it had a “please do not sit on motorcycle sign”). 😂
I don't usually comment, but I'd love to see a video from you about motorcycle racing history, from the 1st racetrack at Brooklands in 1907, that inspired boardtrack and oval racetracks of the USA.
I'd never heard of Merkel but now I wish there was a modern version released so I could own one
*The "Flying Merkel?" Isn't that a bedroom technique perfected by the ex-Chancellor after too much Jäger?* 🧐
Working in a Auto manufacturing factory in the 1960 I remember seeing one there in a collection in South Australia . I always remember the odd name and orange paint job .. I think the bike is still the Birdwood motor museum in. South Australia .
Amazing piece of history! Thanks for sharing.
Indian was one of the first major builders to adopt rear wheel suspension, most famously with their 1913 Indian 1000cc twin with its swing arm and leaf spring configuration. Another motorcycle that was decades ahead of its time was the 1915 Pope twin with its adjustable rear plunger suspension.
A few others that were ahead of their time purely for cosmetic reasons are the early 1910’s Cleveland, Cyclone and Henderson motorcycles for their round frames and gas tank in a time where they were mostly square-ish.
I rode for 57 yrs. Started in 63. I love talking old bikes
Fascinating. First time I've heard of this make. Thanks for putting this together!
Raced amateur flat track 4 15 yrs. Loved it. Got too old. Now it hardly exists Elwood smooth
Placed joke ad for a mrkl 4 sale 16 yrs ago. $250. Bogus non exist phone. Paper that printed ad got calls from around the world. (Really). Had no idea that would happen was
I saw this or bike like it at an antique motorcycle show in Monterey, California. they were ahead of their time.
I wonder if Fred Merkel who raced Motorcycles in the USA was related.I think he rode MGP as well.Great vision and story,thanks.
So this is where Phineas and Ferb show got the flying mackerel from! I loved that episode.
Great Video, Buddy.
Thanks for the making.
Tom 😎
great video bart , here`s a few more that you could add for various different reasons , HRD Vincent C ,Moto Rumi Little Ant,Ducati cruiser 1951
I got to see one of these up close at Mecum auction, very interesting bike.
There was one of these in a second hand shop in Parkes, NSW. Australia.
thing of BEAUTY
Awesome vid!! I live right outside of Pottstown, PA was great to see that up close shot of the engine made there!!
It seems that the competition between the small companies created many innovations, that would be used by the larger companies in the end. Competition is good and competition between many is good, it would be a benefit to have it again in all our economic sectors.
Thirty years ago I had a chance to buy a Flying Merkel board track bike. The owner would only sell it as part of a collection. Buying the entire collection was beyond my means at the time.
There was a very early bike that had an engine mounted on the front wheel. Jay Leno did a video on it years and years ago. It cracked him up and he said " The engineering question no one ever asked." I bring this up as maybe something you might want to do a video on.
Mengola i think
You missed the most advanced motorcycle of that period... the bevel driven overhead cam Cyclone. A 1000cc V-twin built in my home state of Minnesota. But overall good job. I love your postings.
Rick
Rick I mentioned the legendary Cyclone race machine. I've seen them in person, very rare and impressive.
Their reproduction is much better looking to me than the HD Sportster tribute model and well priced. Now in my 8th decade I'm getting a bit old for such toys but it would make one hell of a final rider to carry me into the sunset of my life.🤣
I never expected Angela's career to start such a long time ago
The smiles on those early bikers, say it all?.
Great video ☝️
Check out Timeless Motorcycle Co. They make a Flying Merkel clone part by part.
I think these merkel bikes should be put into production.
They were the best engineered and built motorcycles of the time!
Very informative, a very good video to watch.
They WERE ahead and then they STAYED there.
Today they are 30 years behind EVERYONE.
at 7:05 is advert for Salt Palace Saucer racing. Any info on that venue?
Wow
Wow
Thank you
I enjoyed this channel
Glenn Curtiss was ahead of Merkel. First V-Twin and Handlebar throttle in America- 1906
Sorry, Curtiss' handlebar throttle was 1904
That was sooo cool!!! Thanks for that history fact👍
Damnn how beautiful are those Flying Merkels 😍😍 speciali the one with rounded tube gastank 😍😍😍🤤🤤🤤🤤
DOT a British company. the name stood for Devoid Of Trouble.
Absolutely killer channel !!!!
Ah the good ole days when Americans were innovators and created top quality products.
Great video - very interesting. BTW V Strom are great bikes!!
Awesome vid. Awesome bike.
Merkel wasn't decades ahead of the competition. Several other early makes offered rear suspension (Indian, Jefferson, Pope, etc.) Harley-Davidson didn't need rear suspension because they had the Full-Floteing seatpost that worked so well they kept it until 1957! Merkel's biggest contribution wasn't even mentioned: It's 1903 loop frame chassis model that inspired the first production Harley-Davidson motorcycle introduced in 1905.
Bring back the Flying Merkel. Its an idea whose time has come ... again.
Why do you have an image of Blackpool Tower, realy very interested to know why this image was shown ie was there a connection with Mr william Llyons of Swallow cars, the founder of Jaguar cars located in Blackpool
Very cool. Thanks.
Am I the only one who sees that in 1901, everything was "decades ahead of its time?" lol If he'd built it in the 1870's, then yeah, it would have been ahead of its time.
No, not everthing.
Like the Amish for example...😉
great vid.
Maybe the Goldwing could fit into that advertisement
when i see flying merkel i think of mama angela on a broom...
Remarkable.
Dam good stuff.
The rear suspension is similar to the Vincent's two decades later...
My grandfather had an Indian it was a gift from am American soldier
My grandfather was a Russian soldier WW1 and WW2
Named after a windy up-skirt incident in the late 1800s.
How about the Hendersons now?
Really cool
I sold my 15 with the mono shock back in y2k along with my 13 indian single merkel was superior unfortunatly both had no damping so bouncy ride ,indian went back to hardtail not long after. When a merkel went to the boards harly and indian had a run for their money
Hard to believe good suspension ideas were ignored.
Patents...20 years...forgotten about....until rediscovered 50 years later...
I am baffled by the cantilever like rear suspension....but in these days they had not yet the need for brakes.
I think HONESTLY, a Foreblad SP or a MEW Goldwing CAN be put on that Merkel Sentence... But since a Fireblade SP is NOT a bike competing in COMFORT than technically No, but if it had the same views as a Goldwing, then yes... A goldwing is the best of the best and it IS EXTREMELY RELIABLE...
Lovely story ! Tnx!
Q: with a name like that , was he of german descent !?
So cool
I want one.
Very different from a flying mirkin.
Definitely different from a flying merkin....
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkin
Actually the American motorcycle scene is very much like it was 100 years ago a bit like American bikes
It's a shame reliability and quality won't sell well to consumers. People want big numbers for performance and specs, loads of gadgets and gimmicks all of that at the lowest price. Anything different will be hopelessly niche and ultimately fail in the marketplace
That's crazy talk. Quality and reliability sell incredibly well. Honda sells tons of bikes and every one of them will go 100x the distance a Merkel will without an adjustment or maintenance. The industry now vs then is apples and oranges.
@@rustyshackleford4728 You're comparing a modern mass-produced bike to a hand made thing from a million years ago. All modern bikes are more reliable! If you paid attention to this channel you'd know best of the best typed stuff is niche, like Bimota for example even Honda's best of the best forays ended up being commercial failures
... i always thought that Merkel favoured a broomstick ! .....
There's a flying pig joke hidden somewhere.
What about the British Brough Superior in this time.........only when it could do 100mph was it allowed to be sold
Still F&N were the first v twin.
Cool
Isn't the mutistrada v4 the epitome of flying murkles brochure?
That's exactly what I was thinking yes
To Provide Shuch A Statement Much Appereciation! (YOUNGSTER!)
Brakes?
No
are there any modern machines
Angela Merkel was from the same period… 😂😂😂🤣
She had done bad politics already, can't imagine how much worse would be a flying one!
Maldwyn Jones . Sounds Welsh
Somebody sell me a “Maldwyn Jones - 6” jacket please.