It’s easy to take modern motorcycle technology for granted. Today, you and I can walk into a showroom and buy a bike with 200 horsepower, advanced electronics, and aerodynamic fairings developed in a wind tunnel—provided you’ve got the dough. Suffice it to say that performance that was once the domain of professional racers is now available to everyday enthusiasts.
But over a century ago, motorcycles were a different breed. They were raw, experimental, and often dangerously fast for their time.
Among them, one machine stood above the rest: the 1915 Cyclone V-Twin, a technological marvel that was lightyears ahead of its competitors. And now, more than 100 years later, it’s still making waves—selling for a staggering $1.32 million at a recent Mecum auction.
The Cyclone was built by the Joerns Motor Manufacturing Company in St. Paul, Minnesota, and it was unlike anything else in the early 20th century. While most motorcycles of the era relied on simple side-valve or pushrod engines, the Cyclone featured a 61 cubic inch (996cc) overhead camshaft (OHC) V-twin engine—a groundbreaking design that wouldn’t become commonplace until decades later. Producing 45 horsepower, it was an absolute monster in its time, capable of speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.
Despite its performance and engineering prowess, the Cyclone’s production was short-lived. Joerns only built the Cyclone between 1913 and 1916, struggling with financial issues and an inability to mass-produce the complex engine design.
Today, it’s believed that only 14 Cyclones exist worldwide, with just five in racing trim. This particular example is even more special.
It was expertly restored by Stephen Wright, one of the most respected names in early American motorcycle restoration. His work ensured that every nut and bolt remained as true to the original as possible—nothing short of a sight to behold for purists and enthusiasts alike.
But this thing is so much more than just a rare bike. The Cyclone represents a lost chapter of motorcycle innovation, a bike that was just too advanced for its time. Collectors see it as the holy grail of early American motorcycles, a machine that not only shattered speed records but also introduced engineering concepts that wouldn’t be fully appreciated until decades later.
This particular 1915 Cyclone Roadster features quite a few impressive details. It sports a yellow steel tank with matching fenders, true to its original factory spec, along with a leaf spring front fork and rigid rear frame. Believe it or not, this was already considered advanced for its era.
The single-speed gearbox with a foot-operated clutch was typical of early motorcycles, while the Schebler carburetor and Bosch magneto ignition ensured simple yet effective power delivery. A 2-into-1 black canister exhaust gave the Cyclone its distinct look, and the chain drive system set it apart from the more common belt-driven motorcycles of the time.
With so few left in existence, let alone in pristine condition, it’s no surprise that this Cyclone commanded a seven-figure price tag at auction. To collectors, owning a Cyclone is akin to owning a piece of motorcycle history itself.
The 1915 Cyclone was the pinnacle of motorcycle technology in its day, just as modern superbikes like the Ducati Panigale V4R or Kawasaki Ninja H2 R push the boundaries of performance today. It’s pretty crazy when you think about how much motorcycles have evolved in the last century—where once 45 horsepower was groundbreaking, now 200+ horsepower is readily available. Where will the next century of innovation take us? Indeed, this is a question only time itself can answer.
Source: Mecum Auctions
