When my wife & I were dating she used to ride side-saddle on my 1967 Triumph TR6C (650cc with high side exhaust pipes). She would put one arm around me and one arm around the sissy bar I had added for her. She would carry our college books on her lap. I just had to avoid violent maneuvers. Worked out well for us. Going around corners, the centripetal force was balanced by the inward lean. Riding astride behind me she stayed so balanced it was hard to tell she was behind me.

That miniscule front brake frightens me.

As any motorcyclist will confirm, a motorcycle is always in balance while it's in motion. Whether traveling upright in a straight line, or leaned hard over in a turn, the motorcycle and its passengers are always in balance.

No matter which way the motorcycle turns, the position of the riders in relation to the motorcycle does not change and there is no sensation of 'leaning'. So, Miss Sidesaddle is perfectly safe where she sits. And, considering the clothing she is wearing, sitting sidesaddle was her only lady-like choice this time.

They used this inline four engine for aeroplanes also. I first thought that poor lady was in for a spine compressing ride until I saw that spring under her. The back side of these early bikes usually had no suspension.

The modern Excelsior plant was just outside of my home area of the twin cities of Minnesota and after a good run is now home to an Italian marble supplier.

All he has to do is lean in to a sharp right turn and Miss Sidesaddle will be face-down in the dirt.

Who can tell us about the cord going from the handlebar to the guy's knee.

Looks like a 1928 Henderson Deluxe.

But appears to be a DeLuxe. There were four different versions made during the '20s. All shared the four cylinder engine and were prized by police departments of the age over Harleys and Indians for their speed.

Sadly the company was closed in 1931 by the parent company, Schwinn, (yes, the bicycle company) despite having a full order book. Ignatz Schwinn was concerned that the Depression would last another eight years and chose to focus on his core business.

Did women actually passenger a motorcycle sitting sidesaddle back in those days?

She should put the cellphone down and hang on with both hands.

It's a Henderson, built from 1912 to 1931. Ask any real motorcycle fanatic and they will claim it was (is) the best motorcycle ever made, far ahead of others at the time. The company was revived in 1993, made 2,000 cycles and dissolved in 2000. Truly an American classic.