Oldest American Motorcycle Brands: Indian, Harley-Davidson, and the Pioneers That Shaped U.S. Motorcycling

The oldest American motorcycle brands still in production are Indian (founded 1901) and Harley-Davidson (founded 1903). Earlier American marques existed—such as Orient, Marsh/Marsh & Metz, Curtiss, Merkel/The Flying Merkel, Reading Standard, Thor, Excelsior, Henderson, Pierce, and Pope—but they did not survive into the modern era. Below is a clear look at who came first, who endured, and why the definition of “oldest” can vary depending on whether you mean earliest founding or continuous operation.

The Oldest Still-Operating American Motorcycle Brands

This list focuses on American brands with the earliest founding dates that are still manufacturing motorcycles today. It highlights their origins, continuity, and current status.

• Indian Motorcycle (1901) — Founded in Springfield, Massachusetts, as Hendee Manufacturing. First production bikes rolled out in 1902. The original company ceased in 1953; after various attempts to revive the marque, Polaris acquired Indian in 2011 and relaunched a modern lineup for the 2014 model year. Manufacturing is based in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Indian is the oldest American motorcycle brand by founding date that is currently in production.
• Harley-Davidson (1903) — Established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in continuous production since 1903. Harley-Davidson is the longest continuously operating American motorcycle manufacturer and one of the most recognizable motorcycle brands worldwide.

Taken together, Indian and Harley-Davidson anchor America’s motorcycle heritage—one the earliest by founding date, the other the most continuous by production—defining much of the country’s two-wheeled identity from the 1900s to today.

Pioneering Early American Marques (Now Defunct)

Many American brands helped establish motorcycling before World War I, but most did not survive economic cycles, consolidation, and shifting technologies. The entries below are historically significant and among the earliest U.S. motorcycle makers.

• Orient (c. 1899–c. 1903) — Waltham Manufacturing Co. (Waltham, Massachusetts) produced the Orient-Aster motor-bicycle around 1899–1900, often cited as the first American production motorcycle.
• Marsh / Marsh & Metz (M-M) (1899; M-M c. 1902–1913) — Marsh brothers in Brockton, Massachusetts, built motorcycles by 1899; later collaborated with Charles Metz as the American Motorcycle Co., selling Marsh-Metz machines in the early 1900s.
• G.H. Curtiss (1902–1912) — Glenn H. Curtiss made fast, innovative motorcycles in Hammondsport, New York; his 1907 V‑8 set a land-speed record (136.36 mph), a seminal achievement in early motorcycling.
• Reading Standard (1903–1914) — Based in Reading, Pennsylvania; notable for producing one of America’s first mass-produced side‑valve V‑twins (1908).
• Excelsior (1907–1931) — Chicago’s Excelsior Motor Mfg & Supply Co. entered motorcycles in 1907; acquired by bicycle giant Schwinn in 1911. Excelsior became part of the Excelsior‑Henderson group until Schwinn shuttered motorcycle operations in 1931.
• Thor (1908–1916) — Aurora Automatic Machine Co. (Illinois) built engines under license for Indian starting in 1901, then produced complete Thor motorcycles from 1908, influential in technology and racing.
• Pierce (1909–1914) — From Buffalo, New York, Pierce produced the advanced Pierce Four, America’s first four‑cylinder production motorcycle.
• The Flying Merkel / Merkel (1902; brand 1911–c. 1917) — Joseph Merkel built motorcycles by 1902; after acquisition by Miami Cycle & Mfg. Co. (Ohio), the “Flying Merkel” brand (from 1911) became renowned for performance and engineering until wartime contraction ended production.
• Henderson (1911–1931) — Founded in Detroit and later absorbed by Excelsior; famed for inline‑four touring machines. Production ended alongside Excelsior in 1931.
• Pope (1911–1918) — Pope Manufacturing (Hartford, Connecticut) built quick singles and twins; its overhead‑valve machines were among the fastest of their day.
• Cleveland (1915–1929) — Known for lightweight two‑strokes and later fours; one of the prominent midwestern producers of the teens and twenties.
• Ace (1919–1924) — Built high‑quality inline‑fours; Indian purchased the rights after Ace closed, and its engineering lineage continued as the Indian Four.

These early marques laid the engineering and racing foundations of U.S. motorcycling—introducing side‑valve and overhead‑valve designs, inline‑fours, and record‑setting speed—despite most disappearing amid economic downturns and industry consolidation by the early 1930s.

Key Early Milestones: A Brief Timeline

This timeline situates the earliest brands and developments in chronological order, showing how American motorcycling quickly evolved from motor‑bicycles to advanced multi‑cylinder machines.

1. c. 1899–1900 — Orient (Waltham Mfg. Co.) sells the Orient‑Aster, among the first American production motorcycles.
2. 1901 — Indian founded in Springfield, MA; first production bikes in 1902.
3. 1902 — G.H. Curtiss begins building motorcycles in Hammondsport, NY.
4. 1903 — Harley‑Davidson forms in Milwaukee, WI; Reading Standard starts in PA.
5. 1907 — Excelsior produces its first motorcycles in Chicago.
6. 1908 — Thor begins selling complete motorcycles after years as an engine supplier.
7. 1909 — Pierce introduces the Pierce Four, America’s first production four‑cylinder motorcycle.
8. 1911 — Henderson (inline‑four) launches in Detroit; Pope and The Flying Merkel brands reach prominence.
9. 1914–1918 — Several early marques falter or close; World War I reshapes the market.
10. 1931 — Schwinn closes Excelsior and Henderson; the Great Depression accelerates consolidation.
11. 1953 — Original Indian ceases; the brand later returns under new ownerships.
12. 2011–2014 — Polaris acquires Indian (2011) and relaunches a modern lineup for the 2014 model year.

Across three decades, American motorcycle manufacturing progressed from experimental motor‑bicycles to sophisticated touring machines—before economic shocks narrowed the field to the few brands resilient enough to endure.

Why “Oldest” Can Be Tricky

Measuring “oldest” depends on whether you prioritize earliest founding date, first production motorcycle, or continuous operation under the same brand name. For example, Orient and Marsh predate Indian in producing American motorized two‑wheelers, yet only Indian (1901) and Harley‑Davidson (1903) remain in production today. Corporate changes also complicate lineage: Indian’s original company ended in 1953, but the brand—revived and now under Polaris—ties modern models to a 1901 founding date, while Harley‑Davidson has operated continuously since 1903.

Summary

Indian (1901) and Harley‑Davidson (1903) are the oldest American motorcycle brands still making bikes today. Earlier U.S. marques—including Orient, Marsh/Marsh & Metz, Curtiss, Reading Standard, Excelsior, Thor, Pierce, The Flying Merkel, Henderson, and Pope—pioneered the industry in the 1900s–1910s before most faded by the 1930s. Together they established the engineering, racing, and cultural legacy that continues to define American motorcycling.

Was Indian or Harley first?

Indian was founded first, producing its first motorcycles in 1901, two years before Harley-Davidson, which followed in 1903. Indian Motorcycle Company is therefore America’s first motorcycle company. 
Here’s a breakdown:

• Indian Motorcycle: Opens in new tabFounded by George M. Hendee and Carl Oscar Hedstrom, the company produced its first motorcycle in 1901. 
• Harley-Davidson: Opens in new tabFounded by William Harley and Arthur Davidson, the company’s first motorcycle was sold to the public in 1903. 

What is the oldest MC still active?

The oldest active motorcycle club is the Yonkers Motorcycle Club, founded in 1903 in New York, which was officially recognized as the world’s oldest by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2019. The club was chartered by the AMA as its sixth member and continues to operate as a 501(c)(3) public charity, giving back to the Yonkers community.
 
Key Details: 

• Name: Yonkers Motorcycle Club (YMC)
• Founded: 1903
• Location: Yonkers, New York
• Status: Oldest active motorcycle club in the world
• Recognition: Officially recognized by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on June 11, 2019
• Activities: Operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity, contributing to the local community

What is the oldest motorcycle brand in America?

The oldest American motorcycle company is Indian Motorcycle, founded in 1901 by George M. Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom. They produced their first motorcycle in 1902, making them America’s first motorcycle company, even though Harley-Davidson began its work shortly after in 1903. 
Here’s a breakdown of the key points: 

• Name: Indian Motorcycle
• Founding: 1901
• Founders: George M. Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom
• First Motorcycle: 1902
• Significance: Holds the distinction of being America’s First Motorcycle Company.

What was the first American bike company?

Pope founded the Pope Manufacturing Company, the first company to manufacture bicycles on American soil. Pope had previously sold bicycles exported from England, but began building bicycles under the trade name “Columbia” in the Weed Sewing Machine Company’s factory in Hartford Connecticut in 1879.