“Built for the road by men who know.” That was the slogan of the De Luxe brand of motorcycles, makers of this rare and sturdy example from 1913. The De Luxe was geared towards experienced riders in the mid-teens, advertised for the discerning motorcyclist on his second or third machine who demanded mechanical precision and cutting-edge engineering without any gimmickry or unnecessary novelty. De Luxe was one among a myriad brands built around engines made by the F.W. Spacke Machine Company in Indianapolis, names like Crawford, Minneapolis, Eagle and Sears. With a displacement of nearly 71 CI and a power rating of a whopping 9 HP, the De Luxe’s Spacke V-twin made it among the most powerful machines on the market, including the 4-cylinder models offered by Pierce and Henderson, only matched by other Spacke-based marques and the beastly 77 CI Emblem Model 110. Still, the De Luxe remained affordable at only $285, offering a mechanically advanced, powerful and refined motorcycle for less than comparable machines from Merkel, Thor, Yale and Harley-Davidson, beaten only by the manufacturing giants Excelsior and Indian. Often a point of confusion, De Luxe motorcycles were built by the Excelsior Cycle Company in Chicago, the same headquarters for Ignaz Schwinn’s mighty Excelsior Motor Manufacturing and Supply Company. Yet another Chicago-based brand, Sears, also produced motorcycles in 1913, utilizing the Spacke Deluxe V-twin, which added to the overall muddled history of the De Luxe brand. Still, it was its engine that set the De Luxe apart in the marketplace. Intricately designed yet robust with enclosed rockers, high-end roller bearings, complex internal oiling and a unique single camshaft design that drove both the intake and exhaust pushrods as well as a bevel gear-driven magneto, the Spacke was a marvel. The rest of the De Luxe package centered around proven components of the day, including a Schebler carburetor, Bosch magneto, chain drive with Eclipse clutch, leaf spring fork, Musselman coaster brake, sprung leather Troxel saddle and 28-inch spoked wheels. Within the early teens’ motorcycling culture, the 1913 De Luxe 9 HP V-Twin held a respected position. It was fast and capable, a no-nonsense machine that delivered high-level engineering and industry-leading power at a reasonable price. Today, it remains one of the rarest early American motorcycles, an example of ingenuity at a time when the motorcycle was firmly establishing itself in everyday life. 1913 DE LUXE 9 HP TWIN
