The Pope Manufacturing Company had been building bicycles with small "clip-on" single cylinder engines and then in 1912 introduced their first V-twin, and by 1918, Pope's reputation was well-known for quality construction and innovative engineering and they were suddenly giving Indian and Harley a reason to look over their shoulders.
The V-twin in the 1918 Pope L-18, with it's 3 21/64" bore and 3 1/2" stroke give it a displacement of 61 cubic inches (1000cc) and it's 7.5 horsepower gave it a max speed of between 60 and 65 miles an hour. Considering a large percentage of the roads at that time were still unpaved that was some dirt-eatin', bug-chewin' speed.
It featured overhead valves, an Armored Magneto ignition, heads containing nickel-steel interchangeable intake and exhaust valves, an oil tank with a capacity of two quarts that was compartmented with a toolbox beneath the seat, but perhaps the most intriguing feature was the presence of a rear suspension (say what?!), a comfort virtually unheard of at that time.
The rear-suspension design of the L-18 was uniquely Pope's. Pope mounted the rear axle in a carrier that moved up and down between two posts, compressing a pair of springs on impact. Wheel travel was minimal, but, what the hell, something was better than nothing.
Unfortunately, their motorcycle innovations wouldn't last long and the 1918 Pope L-18 represents the last of the line.
With World War I raging in Europe, Pope suspended motorcycle production late in 1918 to concentrate on building machine guns. After the war, only the bicycle portion of its business was revived.
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