American Eagle was an ambitious late 1960s company, lead by the late Jack McCormack who had previously worked for Triumph and Suzuki, on a mission to set up what we would call, today, a chain of 'powersports' stores across the country. Jack sourced four-season products – motorcycles, go-karts, and snowmobiles – from manufacturers such as Laverda, Kawasaki and Sprite. The English Sprite company was clever producer of dirt bike kits at that time - the 405 motor came from either Husqvarna or an Italian cloner – sold separately in the UK to save 'sales tax.' In the US the bikes came fully assembled. It was not long in the 1970s that the company flopped. This bike started life as an American Eagle Talon 405 two-stroke single. The engine was removed and replaced with a Triumph 500 twin – thought to be a 1959 5TA motor - and the bike raced by members of the Sacramento, California Polka Dots Motorcycle Club. Today's bike is in what is thought to be its original 1970s racing configuration with a rare oil/gas combination fiberglass tank, Ceriani forks, aluminum wheels. And topped-off with TT pipes. This one-off special was 're-constructed' at enormous expense by Frank del Monte of Arizona British Bikes, using as many of the original pieces as possible, but the rebuilt motor – full disclosure - still blows blue exhaust smoke. A timepiece. Conclusion: The bike offered is a time-warp, homemade Triumph 500 off-road play bike with a handmade, artisan frame albeit with known origins. 'Unique" is the best adjective.
American Eagle was an ambitious late 1960s company, lead by the late Jack McCormack who had previously worked for Triumph and Suzuki, on a mission to set up what we would call, today, a chain of 'powersports' stores across the country. Jack sourced four-season products – motorcycles, go-karts, and snowmobiles – from manufacturers such as Laverda, Kawasaki and Sprite. The English Sprite company was clever producer of dirt bike kits at that time - the 405 motor came from either Husqvarna or an Italian cloner – sold separately in the UK to save 'sales tax.' In the US the bikes came fully assembled. It was not long in the 1970s that the company flopped. This bike started life as an American Eagle Talon 405 two-stroke single. The engine was removed and replaced with a Triumph 500 twin – thought to be a 1959 5TA motor - and the bike raced by members of the Sacramento, California Polka Dots Motorcycle Club. Today's bike is in what is thought to be its original 1970s racing configuration with a rare oil/gas combination fiberglass tank, Ceriani forks, aluminum wheels. And topped-off with TT pipes. This one-off special was 're-constructed' at enormous expense by Frank del Monte of Arizona British Bikes, using as many of the original pieces as possible, but the rebuilt motor – full disclosure - still blows blue exhaust smoke. A timepiece. Conclusion: The bike offered is a time-warp, homemade Triumph 500 off-road play bike with a handmade, artisan frame albeit with known origins. 'Unique" is the best adjective.
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