Excelsior Motor Manufacturing & Supply Company was a U.S.
motorcycle manufacturer operating in Chicago from 1907 to 1931. It was purchased by Ignaz Schwinn, proprietor of bicycle manufacturer Arnold,
Schwinn & Co. in 1912. In 1912, an Excelsior was the first motorcycle to be officially timed at a speed of 100 mph. The
Henderson Motorcycle Company became a division of Excelsior when Schwinn purchased Henderson in 1917. By 1928, Excelsior was in third place in the U.S. motorcycle market behind
Indian and
Harley-Davidson. The
Great Depression convinced Schwinn to order Excelsior's operations to cease in September 1931.