Bob
29th October 2011, 00:10
A historic 1894 Roper Steam Motorcycle is expected to establish a new world record for a motorcycle sold at auction.
The motorcycle is the second of just two steam-powered motorcycles built by Sylvester Roper, featuring a compact rectangular boiler, burner and grate, and a small steam engine on the right side. A water tank was located directly over the boiler, from which a smoke vent exited. It averaged a record speed of 40 miles per hour on the Dorchester Road in Boston for a measured mile in May 1896.
The Roper is up for auction at Auction America on 12th-14th January 2012 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas.
The motorcycle is the second of just two steam-powered motorcycles built by Sylvester Roper, featuring a compact rectangular boiler, burner and grate, and a small steam engine on the right side. A water tank was located directly over the boiler, from which a smoke vent exited. It averaged a record speed of 40 miles per hour on the Dorchester Road in Boston for a measured mile in May 1896.
The Roper is up for auction at Auction America on 12th-14th January 2012 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas.