
Marks Motor Bike
Years: 1896 – 1896
Under the Marks name, small American shops produced limited customs and performance parts—particularly exhaust systems—valued for clean welds, smart routing, and power delivery that favored midrange over noise. Builders often paired classic American V-twins with thoughtfully proportioned frames, good brakes, and stance that read purposeful rather than theatrical. Customers appreciated documentation and the willingness to tune for real riding: heat management, ground clearance in corners, and hardware that survives daily use. Historically, Marks represents the quiet craftspeople who keep motorcycling interesting between factory showrooms and television spectacle. Their parts and occasional full builds remind riders that the best modifications make a bike easier to live with and more expressive to ride—exhaust notes with shape, throttles that feel connected, and silhouettes that age well.