This motorcycle is intended to be a very close copy of the famous 1913 Indian IOE Board Track Racer. This is a custom build with modern machines, materials, and ingenuity. The only significant differences from the original are those made to improve performance and reliability, and to improve safety and rideability. Specifically, these include electric start (with a portable 12-volt battery, included in the sale), hydraulic rear disc brake, and the engine improvements below.

The engine is built with custom castings with slight modifications from the original to accommodate modern, off-the-shelf internals and important design improvements like higher compression ratio, pressurized dry sump lubrication, larger and better bearings, and timed crankcase breathing. The engine displacement is 900cc, and uses Harley Davidson® lower end, rods, pistons, and valves. For the sake of authenticity, it includes a Linkert M45A carburetor, which is the only part of the entire motorcycle that is not brand new.

Like the original, this is a direct drive motorcycle with a clutch but no transmission. Since it is always in ‘high gear‘, it must be pedaled, pushed, or rolled downhill to get it moving. Once it is moving, it is extremely fast. I haven’t timed it on a track, but it is almost certainly capable of speeds in excess of 70MPH. It is not intended to be a driven on the street for obvious reasons – there are no lights, no transmission and none of the other excess equipment needed to satisfy most DMVs. However, for anyone wanting to experience the thrill of an original board track racer without laying out $40 thousand plus $ — this is the bike for you.

Since this is an entirely made-from-scratch, purpose-built bike there is no title. I will include a bill of sale, as well as an operation and parts manual for the engine. I will also be available for technical support if needed.

Builders addendum: I started building small scale engines years ago. I gradually moved on to building replicas of motorcycle engines. I have sold several engines to builders & collectors. Replica bikes built around my engines are in the Barber Motorsports Museum in Birmingham and in the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa.

MILEAGE: Approximately 10 (only ridden for trial purposes)

PAINT: Red

SHEET METAL: All sheet metal is custom fabricated, quality and thickness.

CHROME: None

MECHANICAL: Starts easily and runs well. It does leak oil if left sitting with oil in the tank.

WHEELS & TIRES:
Rims are 21”. Front is V-Twin Mfg. 52-0235. Rear is Harley® Sportster.
Front tire is Shenko E270, 3-21
Rear tire is Shenko E270, 3-21

TITLE: None Sold on a bill of sale
Engine # 19F101
Frame # N/A
Belly # N/A

VALUE GUIDE VALUATIONS: Not rated.

ACCESSORIES: Engine manual and construction notes.

Test ride:  “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rTwl2COJ8o”

Bench Test:  “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnqwEyti4bc%2C”

Builder’s Bio:

I started building small scale engines years ago. I gradually moved on to building replicas of motorcycle engines. I have sold several engines to builders & collectors. Replica bikes built around my engines are in the Barber Motorsports Museum in Birmingham and in the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa. I built scale replicas of the Indian F-head (at 70% scale and full scale), the Indian 8-valve racer and the famous Cyclone V-twin.

I make all my own patterns and castings, except for iron castings which I have a foundry in Tijuana do for me. I have an old Johnson Gas Appliance furnace in my garage that I use to melt the aluminum, and I make all my castings using green sand. I have a machine shop in my garage consisting of a nice Bridgeport mill, a new Jet bench lathe, and a couple of older machines. I do all my own machining and heat treating. I designed all of my parts on AutoCAD, and make some of my patterns using a 3D printer, although most of my patterns are still made out of wood by hand.

I learned long ago that the key to making a successful V-twin engine is the lower end. After several less than satisfactory attempts, I ended up using Harley Sportster lower ends in my full-scale engines, and I had custom bearings & crankpins made by a Chinese company for my smaller engines. Although I try to make my engines as close to the originals as possible, I do incorporate some modern updates for the sake of good design, mainly recirculating oil systems and good crankcase breathing. I also use newer carburetors because the old Scheblers simply aren’t available anymore.

My original plan was to just build and sell engines when I retired. I set up a website (www.boardtrackmotors.com) and advertised in the Antique Motorcycle magazine, with exactly zero response. I contacted a few builders I know & tried to interest them in a partnership where I would build the engines & they would do the frames & sheet metal. Again, zero interest. That’s when I decided to just do the whole thing myself. I bought a tube bender from Harbor Freight & bent the frame, tubes, and had a buddy weld everything up. I used a Sportster clutch, front wheel, and starter motor and bought the gas tank from a guy in Denmark. I bought the front forks on eBay. Everything else was done by me. It took exactly a year. I made the first castings over the Thanksgiving holiday last year.