This beautiful example of early American motorcycle history is a 1918/9 4 cylinder Henderson motorcycle of 1165cc, will be showcased at Concours d'Elegance Australia. Henderson motorcycles were built between 1911 and 1931 commencing manufacture in Detroit, Michigan by brothers and partners, William G and Tom W Henderson.

The marque set many endurance and speed records and was the first motorcycle to circumnavigate the globe in 1912.  The Henderson was the favoured patrol bike of US Police Departments, and was often described as the Rolls Royce of motorcycles.

A new record for the Los Angeles to New York City was set in 1917 by Alan Bedell when he covered the 3296 miles in seven days, sixteen and a quarter hours.  One should bear in mind that surfaced roads only went as far as the city outskirts – the balance being an off road experience difficult to master even in today’s four wheel drive vehicles. In late 1917 Ignaz Schwinn, of Schwinn Bicycles who had previously acquired the Excelsior Motor and Manufacturing Company in 1911 bought Henderson motorcycles and moved production to Chicago, Illinois.

Production of Henderson motorcycles continued until 1931 when the Depression brought the end of the marque.The owner of this model Henderson model Z-2 first acquired the motorcycle in South Africa in 1996. In late 1996 the motorcycle was shipped to the USA for a full restoration. Sadly the motorcycle was stolen in transit and finally surfaced again in Holland in 2006. It is regularly ridden on Club runs and performs perfectly for “an Old Blue Lady” approaching 91 years of age. This is a truly beautiful example of motorcycling history