Let's put an EXCELSIOR together! // Paul Brodie's Shop 

Despite being on youtube since a lot of years, this is the first comment i write. I'm also into old bike restoration, but I must admit you are on another level... Recreating a bike like the Excelsior from ZERO is a challenge few people can win. You did it in the best possibile way. Furthermore, seeing such a beautiful build with the history of board-racing in the background is a pleasure for both ears and eyes. Hats off to you Mr.Brodie, you are simply the best builder I ever seen. Hope one day our roads will cross, i really would like to steal you some of your knowledge and handcraft. Sincerely, from Italy!

The original designers would be just dumbfounded to see the idealized functional art that you've put together honoring their design. Happy New Year!

“He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.” ― Saint Francis of Assisi Paul, you are a great artist. Thank you and happy new year to you and Mitch.

Such poetry in machine work, finishing, narrating, and with a touch of Chopin to top it off. Thanks for sharing this adventure with us.

Absolutely beautiful….❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️ I have my grandfathers 1920’s Something Schwinn Excelsior bicycle…❤️ my brother-in-law now deceased restored it for me around 1989…! It has a pogo seat, a Horn tank, it looks a lot like a black phantom…! The frame looks a lot like this board track racer…! My grandfather before I was born had a bicycle and motorbike shop back home in Illinois…! I get a lot of joy watching you working on Excelsior‘s….🎶🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I saw a series of photos on the internet documenting your progress in building these bikes from the ground up. I was fascinated, and followed the subject for many weeks. The making of the molds for casting the cylinder heads was especially incredible.

Outstanding shipmate. Press on. USS Kitty Hawk CV-63. Jan 1980 to July 1983. Bike racer for life.

All I can say is WOW. Thanks for allowing us to come along. This is a great way to start the new year!

I never saw something so perfect being created driven by the sheer love for it ! I built myself an air cooled VW powered trike and was very happy with the result since all i heard was " you are gonna die on that thing " My design of the front end and the rake angle was to nobody's liking . I kept going and finished it in 2015 , i am still alive and enjoying my handiwork every time i take it out ........may videos about bike building i saw but the best is your Exelsior because it is perfect !!!!!! And damn it is motivating . Thanks , i enjoyed every second of it .

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 what a job! That bike is amazing 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Thank you for the history lesson on the schwinn excelsior . And the bike is a jewel !

What a tragic story. Uh oh what a beautiful motor bike. Top level machining and fabulous build. You are a master.

When Paul smiles at something it looks as if he's played a practical joke on you which you havent worked out yet

Mr Paul,,,,,,love your work , patience to detail, patience to teach….. you are a gift from the creator…..

what a beautiful bike, I have loved these old bikes from afar. owning such a bike would be a dream come true. a miracle really.

"WOW" All I can say is STUNNING.

Thanks for the great story, the amazing motorcycle you created...and your wonderful piano playing... What a well rounded man you are...👍👍👍

I dread to think what that is worth, the skill and time make it effectively priceless.

My hats off to you mate, you are one very clever man. People of the USA are very lucky that you came along and with your cleverness could reconstruct these motorcycles so people of today could enjoy them to. 👏👏👏

Is that you playing piano at the end Paul? Lovely playing, dynamics and rubato, hidden talents!

Fantastic! I hope you sell many of those to reward you for the heroic efforts. .

Hello. I am building my 1st motorcycle from scratch. Based on a 1920s AJS powered by a 600cc J.A.P. industrial engine. I have Cancer so now is the time to get it done! Great work here sir.

That history lesson was a nice fit. I hope the bike goes to a place I can view it.

I want one 😎 Thanks.... And Thanks for sharing the little Diddy on the Piano.... I know I may never have one. But I can live through your marvellous Rolling Art..😎

Superb craftsmanship, it was an honor to see it assembled.

I knew how the story ended but didn't know the story itself. Thanks for the history lesson plus the Davenport tie in. I've been going there for over 40 years, looking for parts but mostly viewing the antique motorcycles. It's amazing how many American motorcycle manufacturers didn't make it. Always liked the Big X.

The machine interfaces with the computer at the left hand grip - the computer being the rider.

I found your forum posts on this build a decade back. Glad to see it in film.

What a great story. Thanks Paul.

I use to dream about these board tracker bikes when I was a kid. The designs absolutely captivate me.

Marvelous piano finale Paul. You're a man of many talents, no doubt. I bet you cook a fine meal as well :) All the best to you friend.

Really appreciate a longer video of you after the shorter ones:)

Thanks! Brodie

Wow, every now and then, a craftsman pops up, that grabs people attention, i think you are it for me, thanks for all the fantastic manufacturing videos.

Many apologies for my overly-long comment about your last post about the Excelsior. Basically, if anybody owned an Excelsior motorcycle, it would've been Steve McQueen - who was a serious collector - or Bud Ekins, who was his stunt double in many of his movies. Ekins kept a huge collection of bikes at his place in LA and even let me ride one of them, which was crazy. That said, after they both passed, their collections were auctioned off. So, if Steve or Bud owned Excelsiors, those things are long gone and are part of somebody's private collection and may never again see the light of day. Happy New Year, Paul & Mitch! :D

This is an amazing reproduction of an AMAZING BIKE!!!!!

Perfection, mate. Bob will be smiling, I'm sure.

Seriously, this is the best boardtrack racing bike video that I have ever had the privilege to watch. Many times in life I wish that I was not an educator so that I might be afforded the opportunity of having a greater budget. Alas this magnificent machine will go to someone else. To its future owner you have the envy of many a gear head. Please enjoy this classic, many individuals like myself live vicariously through your experiences. Paul thank you for this content. Your videos are truly a breathe of fresh air on RU-vid. The beauty of linkage alone, inspires and stuns those that are observant. I dream of coming to one of your frame building classes. Please continue to post content for those like myself.

I am so envious of your talents.

Wow, what a show you 2. Paul, beautiful frame.

Excellent just perfection, the back story tragic, the hardboard racers must have been supermen

Thank you,Thank you,Thank you!!!!! I've been waiting for you guy's to put up a video detailing your Excelsior, what an amazing project and great story too ;)

What a phenomenal bike. NYD treat to see it being built up. 👏🏻

What a beautiful work of art. I love the history of these early bikes...makes me wish I could turn back time. Thank you for taking the time to explain the intricacy and thought, that went into the design of this gorgeous bike. I very much enjoyed your video.

I'll be watching everything. Very much love and much respect...

If only I had the money...

This was hard to watch for one reason. As a young man I would pound parts into place with the palm blunt edge of my hand. My Grandfather took me aside and said do you enjoy mechanical work, if you do don’t abuse your hands using them in place of a rubber mallet or hammer. He has long since passed but ever time I think of using my hand as a mallet I hear those words against, very wise words for mechanical minded people.

That's an incredibly beautiful machine! You'd never get a sense from old photographs of all the wonderful details. Thank you, Paul Brodie for letting us watch the assembly....that was a real treat!

A veautiful bike, Paul, EXTRAORDINARY!!!!!!!!!!

Gorgeous bike. Wonderful story and narration. Happy New Year Paul & Mitch!

Jeeze Louize, Paul, Art and function! Thank you for this

I've been working on motorcycles for almost 54 years and that was fascinating. Oldest bike I ever worked on was my fathers 1928 BSA 'Sloper' although his 'daily driver' was a 1963 Panther model 120 he bought new. He always wanted to built a Panther V twin with the model 100 (600cc) cylinders but never had time, money or machinery (with 6 kids we were almost always broke-nothing changes-LOL) I've seen bicycle brake linkages but never on a motorcycle throttle and magneto advance- retard (although plenty of bikes with Bowden cable magneto advance) I hope you get to sell to someone who will at least demonstrate it running now and again, I know it's well outside my price range. The history was also great, very few people seem to know Harley Davidson had 8 valve motors in 1916 then went 'backwards' making side valve engines for 40(?) years Thank you for a great video

I rode a motorized bicycle across America this year. Hasn't been done since 1902 when George A Wyman rode his California motor bike .

Wow, right before you showed a closeup of the steering head I said to myself; "It looks like an very old Schwinn!"

I've just seen one of these for the first time in my life at a recent swap meet, just an incredible machine for it's time! And incredible restoration good sir!

What a story!

Stunning bike, wonderful machine work and frame work, and a moving story. Thank you. Oh, and the music was impressive too! Les in UK

wow. what a treat!

I enjoyed watching this video, I enjoyed listening to you talking about the bike as you built it.

Thank you Paul for the incredible effort, time and expense in recreating this machine, and for providing its story while assembling the machine.

What a great example of your talents and passion. Your craftsmanship is second to none. Thanks Paul and happy new year to you all

This is a beautiful piece of rolling art. Love your work on this.

Beautiful parts and assembly a museum piece.

Much like that fine piano. That Excelsior should be used with care. Would have loved to hear it run.

This format is really great. The overdubbed narrative about the history as you are assembling the bike really works well.

The comment about kids sticking there heads through a hole in the floor as they rode by was hilarious! Reminded me of getting a bit too close to the afterburner exhaust on the " blue flame " race car .

Wow this is a wonderful new year gift , i enjoy every bits of your video and the history behind the Excelsior , thank you so much for sharing these moments with us , i wish you and Mitch all the best for the new year ! 🍻

thank you for this Christmas gift this motorcycle is a work of art.... magnificent

Happy new year Paul and Mitch, what a treat for news years day. What a beautiful bike.

What a cool start to the year. Beautiful bit of kit & those linkages, Man!!! Thanks Paul & a happy new year from over the pond.

A beautiful bike & an interesting history lesson. Thanks Paul & happy new year.

Happy new year Paul and Mitch. Beautiful art in motion.

Amazing build! As always. Happy new year! Cheers!

Amazing video. Thank you for preserving this bit of history and for sharing it with us!

Hey Paul (and Mitch!)... so Paul, you're a first class designer, engineer and fabricator... and you play the piano...? Is there anything you can't do ? What a beautiful motorcycle. You stuck a note on it saying "For Sale". It's not just an modern antique motorcycle - it's a work of art! Very well done Sir! How much is it ? Greetings from Southport , UK (it's not in the South and it's not a Port... go figure!). Happy NY to you both - looking forward to seeing more educational vids this year! Cheers Dudes, Kevin.

Thank you Paul & Mitch for a great New Year's treat. I'll be watching this one over and over.

Truly fascinating and sad story Paul, told very well, thank you.

Thank you for documenting and sharing your incredible work. Happy New Year!

This is truly the best of best build video I've ever seen. You gaves me tons of inspiration. Thank you for the best beginning of the new year.

Happy New Year from Germany to both of you! What a wonderful Bike, I love it!

Fan-bloody-tastic!

Great work, great Bike, great history, thank you sir!

Happy new year!. What a joy to see this beautiful bike being build. Also interesting story about the board track races.

Fantastic, love the story, love the build and especially love how you developed the engine. Not exactly a clone of the original, but an improved version. Thanks for sharing.

Absolutely spotless. How much do we take simple things like control cables for granted! Your skill in restoration is painstaking, but the original engineering is awesome.

Always nice to get the story behind a motorcycle. Thank you sir! o7

Excellent!

Beautiful work and commitment to the task. Thanks for bringing us along!

I'm so glad you've finally started to put this content up.

Outstanding Paul, love watching.

Bravo Paul! Absolutely stunning and what a great story. This had to be one of the fastest half hours of my life. Thank you for taking the time to share this.

thank you for this! ive been looking forward to it for nearly a year! beautiful bike!

Live to see it run.. *Wheels thru time * would be impressed

Paul you truly are a renaissance man, your talent level is amazing beyond words!!! Ann and I wish you a happy new year!!

Of all the beautiful stuff I've seen built on the internet, this by far is the best!!

That was fascinating, the assembly and the voice over are almost hypnotic. Great video!

Hi and thanks for the great video showing us the reel deel. Looks great. Love from Sweden 🇸🇪❤️✨

Awesome watching all the parts come together to become such a beautiful bike Job well done Paul.

What a pleasure to watch you work and listen to the story!

Wow I enjoyed watching the full process of the build such a beautiful machine...I love it