The sub, sub-compact built by Cincinnati industrialist, Powel Crosley Jr., at his factories in Marion and Richmond, Indiana, was a fountainhead of wild ideas. Oh you know little things his first CoBra engine (no, not that one), a water-cooled 724cc single-overhead cam inline four-cylinder that had an aluminum crankcase/cradle with a Copper Brazed stamped steel block back in 1946-1949. Or his later “I’m sorry about the CoBra engine” the CIBA, which was basically the same engine with a cast iron block. Or the first production car with standard four wheel disc brakes (the 1950 Crosley Hot Shot sports car although these were later changed to drums because of salt/rust problems in northern climes). These engines were installed in a wide variety of body styles ranging from tiny station wagons, coupes, convertibles, sports cars and even a panel wagon. But, hey, you get the picture, Mr. Crosley did a lot of innovations that later would become the norm

including the first credited SUV. Although I’m not sure that time hasn’t proven what a bad idea the SUV later became for motorcyclists.

 

  So how did a guy like NYC Freddie ever decide to pick a 1949 Crosley CIBA engine to build his dream bike around? Unfortunately we’ll never know, but we do know that he did and he’s a man of the unusual taste in every way I can think of. No Dart V8 power like a Chopper V8 or Chevy small or big blocks like Boss Hoss for this guy, just the most unusual little engine other than the Crosley CoBra he could’ve picked if he really wanted to go out on a branch on the limb of the different tree he was already on. I’m just glad NYC Freddie did.

 

Having to build his own frame was a no-brainer for NYC Freddie as I haven’t seen any aftermarket frame kits for this massive 26.5hp Powerplant. Grafting the front half of a Kawasaki KZ1000 including the dual-disc front end to a back half that is wild enough to probably make Powel Crosley Jr. want to come back to life was all in a day’s work. Actually, it was a lot more than a day as you can clearly see if you’ve checked out lucky boy Jack Cofano’s photos.

 

   The back half consists of a mono-spring flat steel swingarm with adjustable position dual motorcycle shocks mounted outboard. The drop set frame half with frame tubing running hither and dither, sometimes dual tubes, has a lot of work to do. Oh you know stuff like provide mounting points for the wrench/hand-shifted five-speed transmission of unknown origins leading to a Honda ATC differential that turns the dual-chain/dual sprocket rear wheel. Yeah, just everyday stuff ─ not. Man there was some serious time and brainpower put into the back half alone. I do know one thing and that is I would never willingly volunteer to be a passenger on that radically-raked passenger portion of the seat. Maybe it’s just a backrest . . .

 

   Come to think of it, I’d feel the same way in the driver’s seat as those bars NYC Freddie built have to be the widest (and possibly longest) ones I’ve ever seen involving the most tubing for a handlebar I’ve ever seen. Not that I think NYC Freddie would ever let me get near his bike, never mind ride it as a rider or a passenger. This looks to be one of the most personally designed for just one person bikes I’ve ever some across.

 

  Apparently NYC Freddie basically kept the CIBA SOHC engine pretty stock with a lone Tillotson carb bravely trying to do its best filling up the 724cc powerhouse. The open pipe header might add some power as well as noise, but I think the noise side wins out pretty strongly on this one. Hey, who cares as where are you going to find another Crosley-powered motorcycle? Frankly, I’m still surprised we found ‘one’ and as we all know, one is the loneliest number and with that I take my leave.