This unique, restored 1930 KJ Henderson bike brings back all the flavor of the 1930s. Restored by Frank Westfall of Syracuse NY, the bike was built in 1936 by by O Ray Courtney.
The restored bike has a flair all its own that would easily appeal to Steampunk fans, motorcycle enthusiasts and anyone going for a cruise in Gotham City.
This bike is, in my opinion, way cooler than the Jaguar concept bike or the RedBull concept. The engine is an inline four cylinder similar to some scooters. The bike is operational, and Westfall actually rides the thing, rather than hiding it away in a display case. Although the bike could easily pass for a museum restoration, Westfall takes the bike out to a variety of locations. Not that this piece would ever really be a road bike made for leather wearing Sons of Anarchy fans, but it can easily be appreciated by motorcycle enthusiasts and art lovers. The sweeping lines of the bike and elegant curves mark this unique bike as a true work of art. The black finish, chrome accents and leather make this bike a truly amazing piece of restoration, and no doubt Westfall spent countless hours restoring this. There’s a lot of love that went into this bike, no doubt.
Although Frank Westfall rides the bike, it may not be the most maneuverable or comfortable bike in the world, and it’s not necessarily going to break the land-speed record any time soon. There’s an aspect of “The World’s Fastest Indian” to the bike – that makes it unique and attractive. There are some serious punk-rock points to be had here, as Henderson only produced motorcycles for about 19 years, from 1912-1931. At the time Henderson bikes were the fastest and most powerful available. There’s little doubt that Henderson helped kick off the “Golden Age” of motorcycles. In the early 1990s there had been an attempt to bring back the Henderson brand, but the new company quickly went bankrupt.
Frank Westfall’s bike is one of the most beautiful custom motorcycles we’ve ever seen. It was built in 1936, based on a 1930 K.J. Henderson. It’s probably more fun to look at than to ride though.
