Post-Sale Update: This Enterprise sold for $25,000…to a Bike-urious reader in France! It’s going to take a while but I’ll try to get more details about the story when possible.
Obviously, this is going to need a full restoration, but what a piece of motorcycling history! The Enterprise was the vision of Orley Raymond Courtney, an incredible designer who sadly did not yield a lasting impact on what motorcycles would become.
Jason at OddBike has already covered Courtney and the Enterprise in such detail that I’m going to insist that you click on that link and get cozy. The one sentence summary would be that the Enterprise was Orley’s dream, an attempt to create a cruiser for everyone. Problem was, it cost $2,500 (not including the engine that you had to supply!) at a time when a Vincent Black Lightning cost $1,800. Just 3 were built.
from http://www.indianchiefmotorcycles.com/IMAGES/1952%20Enterprse%20Cycle%20cover%20story.gif
This is one of those 3 kits, and while it includes the body, seat, front end, and plenty of extras, you’re going to need to build a new frame. Thankfully, there’s plenty of documentation which supposedly includes diagrams of the frame. This is not a project for the faint of heart, but this cruiser needs to be restored by someone.
Find this rarity for sale in Bethany, Oklahoma with bidding up to $595 and the reserve not yet met