American Motorcycles

Motorcycles are just about as American as apple pie is in our past and modern day culture. It is not surprising that the United States Postal Service celebrated American motorcycles with their very own stamps. Issued in 2006, there were 4 stamps sold in the set. Each stamp features digital illustrations.

The Cleveland (year 1918) depicts a single-cylinder motorcycle. It was built by the Cleveland Motorcycle Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The Cleveland was the most popular motorcycle in 1918. It could travel for 75 miles on one gallon of gas and was initially sold for $175.

The Indian (year 1940) was made by the Indian Motorcycle Company. The Indian is known as the “Four”, for the then new technology of having a four-cylinder engine. The design of its skirted fenders, which partially covered the wheels, became a trademark of Indian.

No motorcycle seems more American than the Harley-Davidson. Called the Electra-Glide, it was first manufactured in 1965. This It is considered to be the company’s most iconic motorcycle. It featured whitewall tires, tons of chrome, huge fenders, large saddlebags and a new electric starter.

The last stamp in the series represents the icon of 1970…the Chopper. The Chopper term came from the idea of chopping unnecessary parts from a motorcycle. Most choppers had a stretched frame and raised handlebars. Coppers of today are required to have safety features like turn signals and mirrors which did not occur on Choppers in 1970.