Some time ago we discussed the 1930 Excelsior KJ Henderson, a unique custom motorcycle built by Orley Ray Courtney in 1936. As quoted from Hemmings it was the first custom motorcycle that he made by using Henderson 4-cylinder engined motorcycle as its base. Apparently, it was not the first and last motorcycle built by him.
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| 1952 'Enterprise' streamline sport custom motorcycle built by Orley Ray Courtney based on the 1940 Indian Scout motorcycle. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2C5NjAH) |
It turns out that in 1950, he made motorbike again in his spare time in his suburban garage on Harper Street in Pontiac, Michigan, just a few blocks from where Pontiac Silverdome is now located. The entire process of working to form all the fenders and side skirts and make saddlebags and surfboards took approximately two years and was done by himself together with his son.
The motorcycle frame which later known as 1952 Enterprise was made of 1 1/8 inch chromed steel tubing and designed to be able to carry an Indian Scout V-twin 45-cu.in. or 750cc engine. But other machines that also existed at that time such as the Harley K engine could also be installed on the frame by making a few modifications. To start the engine, it can use an electric starter or kick-start. The Indian engine is capable of producing power of 40hp at 5,000hp coupled with a 3-speed transmission system.
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| 1952 'Enterprise' streamline sport custom motorcycle displayed at the Northeast Classic Car Museum in 2016. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/302vvP8) |
The handlebars are mounted to the second forward steering wheel, 10 inches in front of the original, and connected to the front fork by pulling the link. The front wheels have a single coil spring, with suspension limited by "snubber" ride dampener Indian motorcycle style. The spark movement is on the left handlebar, with throttle control on the right. The front fender has a 3-gallon gas tank, which allows the two-passenger seat to be mounted 10 inches more forward on the frame than other bikes of the era.
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| 1952 'Enterprise' is 112 inches long and weighs 580 pounds and has long footboards add to the comfort, and prevent splashing. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/38OIdou) |
Then for the rear suspension mounted one coil-over-shock-mounted from the frame to the rear fender. Even though the ground clearance is high at 7 1/8 inch, the front seat position allows the bike to sit 3-inch lower than the current production bike and significantly lowers the center of gravity of the motorcycle. This makes the motor much easier to set in tight turns.
The dimension of the Enterprise motorcycle is about 112-inch long with a 58-inch wheelbase and weighs about 580 lbs. It is 28-inch tall, the front fenders are 26-inch wide and the passenger seating area is only 14-inch wide.
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| The motorcycle's frame is 1 1/8 inch chrome-steel tubing and the handlebars, 10 1/2 inches forward on an extension tube, are mounted on a second head. They connect through drag links to the fork. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2C5Q30X) |
The crafted rear saddlebags attached to the rear fender skirt makes the back of the bike 24-inch wide and gives the bike a ride-on-rocket-ship look. This motorbike uses conventional drum motor brakes, and fuel savings are advertised as 50 MPG on the highway.
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| 1952 'Enterprise' streamlining continues to tail. The machine is 26 inches wide. Bulges flanking sides of the rear wheel are metal-covered saddlebags. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gU4Nis) |
The motorcycle was finished in time to be presented at the Detroit Motorama Show in 1952, and the company brochure was distributed under the company name Courtney Enterprise. The design caught the attention of many writers and design engineers in the early 1950s and was featured in the September 1952 Cycle Magazine and the March 1953 edition of Popular Science. But it is not known how many motorcycles like this have ever been made by Courtney Enterprise (while some said around three Enterprise motorcycles are known to have actually been built).
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| 1952 'Enterprise' streamline sport custom mega-scooter displayed for the first time at the Detroit Motorama Show in 1952 shortly after finished to be built. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gU4Nis) |
Now one of the 1952 Enterprise motorcycles is owned by Frank Westfall as well as the 1930 Excelsior KJ Henderson motorcycle. Actually, there are still other Enterprise motorbikes built-in 1956 using a 650cc BSA engine and transmission, but only one example is known to be built and used by Ray Courtney's son. But unfortunately, its whereabouts are unknown.😢
And if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to this marque, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article.
Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HEMMINGS.COM | FINKBUILT.COM | ODDBIKE.COM | COACHBUILT.COM | TUGSTER]
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