Summary

• Features an eight-cylinder engine sourced from Ford, however with notable updates.
• Has a hand-made customized chassis, telescopic forks, and 16-inch spoke wheels with twin entrance disc brakes.
• The design is muscular and retro, with retro touches like spherical lights and a definite split-fuel tank.

Cruiser motorcycles have a prolonged historical past and are deeply embedded in American culture. These bikes characteristic a low seat top and laid-back driving stance. Often, bikemakers additionally throw in ape hangers, making cruisers extraordinarily snug to do precisely what’s supposed: cruise on the freeway.

If there’s something as iconic as cruisers themselves, it’s maybe the V8 engine made common by none aside from Ford. And as poles aside because the bikes and V8 engines appear, sure, V8 bikes exist. Albeit in small numbers, within the type of extremely restricted manufacturing fashions. Out of them, just a few of those numbered V8 bikes are cruisers. Today, we’re speaking about one such extraordinary providing that blends two iconic entities of the American automotive tradition collectively. It’s made completely in America by an American and options an eight-cylinder engine sourced from Ford. Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles followers, put together to be jealous!

UPDATE: 2024/04/18 13:58 EST BY UTKARSH SOOD

It’s not on daily basis you see a mammoth V8 engine mounted on two wheels. So as a way to maintain our readers up to date, we’ve got refreshed this text with new data together with the closest rivals.

In order to provide the latest and correct data potential, the information used to compile this text was sourced from the producer’s web site and different authoritative sources.

The Olson V8 Flathead Motorcycle Has A 2,228cc, Eight Cylinder Powerhouse

An Engine Built By Ford Between 1937-1940

From an inline-four and inline-triple to V4 and V-twin, we’ve seen bikemakers plonk all types of engines into cruisers. Heck, Honda even produced the six-cylinder Valkyrie in the early 2000s. But the cruiser in context right here charts a completely completely different path. It employs a liquid-cooled, eight-cylinder (V8) engine that displaces 2,228 cubic centimeters (136ci).

As talked about above, the engine comes straight from Ford. Then, it went below a correct rebuild to fulfill bike dimensions and fitments, amongst different adjustments. For occasion, you may spot 4 cylinders on either side, which converge into two customized four-into-one side-mounted exhausts. Olson additionally throws in an electrical gasoline pump, plus a Holley 94 carburetor for feeding the gasoline. The output lies at a humble 60 horsepower, together with a torque determine of over 100 pound-feet.

Interestingly, there’s no one-down-five-up transmission, because it has a single-speed chain system. So simply let the clutch out, and also you’ll immediately have all the facility at your helm. The top speed is alleged to be over 100 miles per hour. Yes, we all know the output is loads decrease than your standard assortment of H-D choices, however hey, this isn’t a ‘usual’ product.

Aside from the exclusivity, the flathead V8 is likely one of the most vital engines within the historical past of American cars. It was the primary mass-produced mill of its variety and powered the primary ‘reasonably priced’ V8 automobile in America: the 1932 Ford. Such engines nonetheless take pleasure in a cult following these days (even the 2024 Ford Mustang has a five-liter V8 engine, to your reference).

There Are Plenty Of Custom Parts On The Olsen V8 Flathead

Making It A One-Off Two-Wheeler

Like the engine, the cruiser has loads of standout tidbits elsewhere. It’s constructed round a hand-made, absolutely customized hardtail chassis, carved from tubular metal. This is topped by telescopic forks up prime, together with a set of 16-inch spoke wheels. The latter comes shod with chunky tires and wears twin disc brakes up prime.

To take pleasure in these, you sit aboard a single saddle. It’s suspended on twin springs, with no area for a 3rd between you and your cruiser. Once aboard, your ft go on front-set floorboards, whereas the palms relaxation on an uber-wide tubular handlebar. A four-pod instrument cluster – with readouts equivalent to oil stress, pace, tachometer, and odometer – is the centerpiece of the cockpit. The gauges are all sourced from AutoMeter, whereas the switchgear all comes straight from Harley-Davidson cruisers.

The Olson Flathead V8 Motorcycle Has A Simple Yet Charming Design

Refinished In Red With Black Stripes And Gold Accents

In typical American cruiser fashion, the Flathead seems muscular, lengthy, low, and old-school. The latter is because of loads of retro touches, such because the spherical lights (tail lamp, headlight, flip alerts), spoke wheels, chrome springs, and chrome cylinder heads. An in depth look reveals a definite split-fuel tank (in all probability a primary for an American cruiser). The cause for the setup is to create space for the consumption manifold, carburetor, and air cleaner. It might sound bizarre once you’re driving, however we predict it offers the bike additional character when standing. Oh, and Olson also can make it easier to personalize the bike. The brass end on the headlight and radiator proven listed here are each non-standard inclusions.

The Origin Of The Olson’s V8 Flathead Motorcycle Company

Headed By A Flathead Cruiser Expert

Next, enable us to offer you a lowdown concerning the firm. It’s spearheaded by Dave Olson, a resident of Maple Park, Illinois. He’s a customization knowledgeable who’s constructed all types of bikes for the reason that Sixties and Ford-powered flathead cruisers for over 20 years. Sadly, there’s no information about whether or not the corporate continues to be working. However, we do know there are solely a handful of those worldwide. Whoever has one, retains it as a prized possession – a cause you’ll not often discover one with a ‘for sale’ tag. And in the event you do, put together to shell out a minimum of $15,000 for a clear used instance. That’s how a lot the 2014 mannequin you see right here bought for simply days in the past.

The Olson Flathead V8 Isn’t The Only V8 Cruiser

It Competes With An Eight-Cylinder American-Made Cruiser

Lastly, we take a look at different, comparable bikes powered by a V8 engine. Kicking issues off is the primary V8 bike ever constructed by Glenn Curtiss, who introduced the Curtiss V8 to life at first of the twentieth century. It had a V8 engine that he designed himself, though it resembled a bicycle body greater than a bike. There have been just a few notable names since, such because the Norton Nemesis, Aurora Hellfire OZ26, and Larazeth LM 847, however none of them are based mostly on a cruiser platform… besides one.

The Boss Hoss Classic Cruiser is one such V8 bike that’s nonetheless up for grabs even right now. And guess what, it comes from an American firm! It has a Chevy eight-cylinder engine and there are three variants out there: the GM LS 3, the 383 Stroker, and the 454 Small Block, which include three distinct engine capacities (6,200cc, 6,300cc, and seven,439cc). Every trim generates staggering energy from 445 horsepower and 445 pounds-feet of torque within the smallest engine to 563 horsepower and 545 pounds-feet of torque within the largest.

This output is freakishly greater than what the Olson Flathead V8 is able to. But it’s unfair to check the 2 engines, contemplating the Ford V8 in Olson was solely produced from 1937 to 1940. Nevertheless, it simply goes to point out in case you are in search of a V8 cruiser in 2024, you will not be disillusioned. As for the looks, the Boss Hoss includes a conventional long-flowing cruiser look with loads of chrome touches all through. Oh, and there is point out of a prime pace of 221 MPH on paper!

Comparing Olson Flathead V8 With Boss Hoss Classic Cruiser

Source – Bring A Trailer, Silodrome, Boss Hoss