This striking orange and black 1934 Harley-Davidson CB marked the end of the line for Milwaukee’s long-standing production of stout and sporty single-cylinder motorcycles. Thirty-one years prior, in 1903, the Motor Company, rather its founders, William Harley and Walter Davidson, unveiled the world’s first Harley-Davidson, a sturdy single-cylinder that cast the mold for an American dynasty. However, as the machines and the industry matured, beefy American V-twins quickly became the favored format of the culture, and the single-cylinder motorcycle took its place as the economical option. In the mid-1920s, a resurgence of interest in affordable, lightweight motorcycles swept the industry, motivated by a growing European market. With the onset of the economic crisis in 1929, single-cylinder motorcycles like Harley’s Model A and B series helped customers acquire affordable, reliable transportation during the difficult financial times, which in turn helped Harley-Davidson stay afloat. Still, as the impact reverberated through Europe in the early 1930s, increased tariffs made Harley’s export business wither on the vine, and 1934 marked the last year of the mighty Milwaukee single. In America, V-twins reigned supreme, and with the arrival of Harley’s middleweight, 45 CI flathead lineup, singles fell even further from favor, making this final year model CB exceptionally rare. This handsome one-year-only 1934 Harley-Davidson CB is one of only 310 built in that final year of production. The amalgam of the two other singles in the lineup, the CB combined the 30.50 CI (500cc) sidevalve engine of the Model C with the lighter frame of the 21 CI (350cc) Model B. Originally priced at only $197.50, the grunty Model CB was only $10 more than its smaller sibling, the Model B, which made it one of the cheapest motorcycles that Motor Company ever offered. Despite its diminutive size compared to the more popular V-twins, the Model CB is still packed with the features and style of the 1930s Art Deco era. This beautiful example features rare, original glass lights and spotlight, the original leather saddle, saddlebags, a gear-driven Corbin speedometer, and a 1932 Goulding sidecar chassis. NO RESERVE F109 1934 HARLEY-DAVIDSON CB500 WITH SIDECAR
