1896 Roper Steam Engine

This project got its start when P. Gagan showed up at my shop with his (freshly purchased) steam bike. It was built by Bob Jorgensen, of Memphis, who has since passed away. Bob had a very small shop, I’m told, but loved to tinker. His passion was steam, and this was the first of two steam bikes he built. It was the summer of ’05, and I had barely started the Excelsior project, but figured it was okay to have another project on the side. I didn’t really know what I was getting into. I had never had anything steam. Yes, there would be a lot of fabrication, but nothing too technical. I told myself Bob did a good job on the steam part, but you can clearly see the frame is a modified woman’s 10-speed, and a cheap one at that.
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Roper Steam Bike Original Article