MOTO D'EPOCA: PIERCE Four 1910
the Pierce Four del 1910 represents the result of the first efforts made in America in the construction of motorcycles four-cylinder.
Its design was influenced by the four-cylinder made of Belgium From UN although, compared to overseas competitors, Pierce was the technically much more advanced well built with quality and care more.
The engine was a four cylinder in-line mounted longitudinally in the frame and was part of the latter stressed.
The displacement was about 700cc. while the distribution consisted of two valves per cylinder, arranged parallel to the sides of the combustion chamber (distribution defined T-head).
The final drive shaft drive was closed in the crankcase and was the first time that this solution appeared on a typical American.
Initially, the rear wheel was connected directly to the crankshaft but in the second year of production was used a two-speed gearbox and a clutch.
The chassis was a big tubular units which served as a reservoir for fuel and oil. The rear suspension was rigid and there was a front girder forks.
The motion was elegant and very accurate (like most of the U.S. motorcycle production in that period) but this was reflected on the sales price was very high and that went very limited sales.
In an attempt to revive the fortunes of the company was also produced a version monocilindrica having a much lower price than that of its sister, But even that decision failed to prevent the closure in 1913.
