Pope was a well-known name in the fledgling automotive industry, and Colonel Pope was behind the Pope-Hartford, and Pope Toledo.
The first Pope motorcycle appeared in 1908, and was a V-belt drive single with atmospheric intake, and no clutch or gearbox. It was a good little bike, but it was this model L that took the industry by storm when it appeared in 1913.
The Pope had an overhead valve, V-twin of 61cu.in. (1000cc) engine! Although the Pope Company didn’t support a factory race team, privateers on Popes occasionally managed to humble the pros on Indians, Excelsiors, Flying Merkels, Thors and Harleys that first year on the board-tracks.
They were soon eclipsed by the 8 valve Indians, Harleys, and ohc Cyclones, but these were specially constructed racers, and the Pope twin was never intended to be more than a roadster.