In 1915, the Cleveland Motorcycle Manufacturing Company, makers of this meticulously restored 1927 model 4-45, entered the crowded American motorcycle market with a niche offering. The big brands at the time, Harley-Davidson, Indian and Excelsior, had already established a firm grip on the market with their sturdy big twin machines. Cleverly, the founders at Cleveland sought to capture an underserved corner by building lightweight, economical two-stroke singles, a popular format in Europe but one that was scarce in America. As one of the few manufacturers in the country to build affordable and approachable entry-level motorcycles, Cleveland built a business that outlasted the majority of its competition. World War I accelerated the industry’s manufacturer atrophy, but as the “Big Three” emerged the victors in the early 1920s, niche brands like Ace, makers of luxurious 4-cylinder motorcycles, and Cleveland, with its dependable lightweights, held strong. Still, Harley and Indian were exposed to new opportunities to expand their business model through the war in Europe and by 1925 began developing their own smaller displacement motorcycles. Initially, Cleveland developed a 21 CI (350cc) four-stroke single in 1925, but with Indian’s Prince and rumors of Harley- Davidson’s Model B, it abandoned the project. In a radical departure from its traditional lightweights, Cleveland announced its newest machine, a T-head inline-4, in November 1925. Aside from its T-head design, Cleveland’s 37 CI (600cc) Four catered to enthusiasts interested in the smooth, luxurious ride of a 4-cylinder motorcycle but in a smaller, more affordable size. Though Cleveland’s middleweight Four offered an appealing alternative to the large and expensive Excelsior-Henderson and Ace, its T-head design lacked power, and an F-head redesign rolled out midway through 1926. In 1927, Cleveland bumped displacement to 45 CI (750cc) with the sport model 4-45, like this exceptional and rare example. The 4-45 featured an all-new frame and fork design, streamlined styling, magneto ignition and a 3-speed transmission that proved far more straightforward to service than the other Fours at the time. Later that same year, a 61 CI (1000cc) version was offered, and production continued through the redesigned and performance-tuned Tornado Four in 1929 before Cleveland halted operations following the market crash that October. A rare and unique motorcycle from one of history’s lesser-known brands, this gorgeous 1927 is a standout motorcycle deserving of the reverence it receives among collectors and enthusiasts alike. F100 1927 CLEVELAND FOUR
