
Pope Model L
Years: 1914 – 1920
Pope was a transportation empire—bicycles, cars, and motorcycles—during the brass era. Its bikes combined advanced frames, reliable magnetos, and tidy engineering that reflected the company’s scale and ambition. Pope machines raced and toured, helping establish American expectations for quality and service in the young industry. Financial overreach and market consolidation ended production, but the Pope name remains on museum placards as a marker of early excellence. Historically, Pope shows how industrial might and engineering curiosity built foundations that later brands stood on: standardized components, dealer support, and the idea that a motorcycle could be as respectable a purchase as a sewing machine or typewriter.