History of the motorcycle
The history of the motorcycle begins in the second half of the 19th century. Motorcycles are descended from the "safety bicycle," a bicycle with front and rear wheels of the same size and a pedal crank mechanism to drive the rear wheel.[1] Despite some early landmarks in its development, the motorcycle lacks a rigid pedigree that can be traced back to a single idea or machine. Instead, the idea seems to have occurred to numerous engineers and inventors around Europe at around the same time.
Early steam-powered cycles
In the 1860s Pierre Michaux, a blacksmith in Paris, founded 'Michaux et Cie' ("Michaux and company"), the first company to construct bicycles with pedals called a velocipede at the time, or "Michauline".[2] The first steam powered motorcycle, the Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede, can be traced to 1867, when Pierre's son Ernest Michaux fitted a small steam engine to one of the 'velocipedes'.[3]
The design went to the United States when
Also in 1868, a French engineer Louis-Guillaume Perreaux patented a similar steam powered single cylinder machine, the Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede, with an alcohol burner and twin belt drives, which was possibly invented independently of Roper's. Although the patent is dated 1868, nothing indicates the invention had been operable before 1871.[3]
In 1881, Lucius Copeland of Phoenix, Arizona designed a much smaller steam boiler which could drive the large rear wheel of an American Star high-wheeler at 12 mph. In 1887 Copeland formed the Northrop Manufacturing Co. to produce the first successful 'Moto-Cycle' (actually a three-wheeler).[3]
Experimentation and invention
The very first commercial design for a self-propelled
The vehicle was built by the
Another early
First commercial products
In the decade from the late 1880s, dozens of designs and machines emerged, particularly in Germany and in England, and soon spread to America.[12] During this early period of motorcycle history there were many manufacturers, since bicycle makers were adapting their designs for the new internal combustion engine.
In 1894
Excelsior Motor Company, originally a bicycle-manufacturing company based in Coventry in Warwickshire (England), began production of their first motorcycle model in 1896, available for purchase by the public. The first production motorcycle in the US was the Orient-Aster, built by Charles Metz in 1898 at his factory in Waltham, Massachusetts.
In 1898, Peugeot Motocycles presents at the Paris Motorshow the first motorcycle equipped with a Dion-Bouton motor. Peugeot Motocycles remains the oldest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.
In the early period of motorcycle history, many producers of bicycles adapted their designs to accommodate the new internal-combustion engine. As the engines became more powerful and designs outgrew the bicycle origins, the number of motorcycle producers increased. Many of the nineteenth-century inventors who worked on early motorcycles often moved on to other inventions. Daimler and Roper, for example, both went on to develop automobiles.
At the turn of the 20th century the first major mass-production firms emerged.
In 1901 English quadricycle- and bicycle-maker
In 1901 the
During this period, experimentation and innovation were driven by the popular new sport of motorcycle racing, with its powerful incentive to produce tough, fast, reliable machines. These enhancements quickly found their way to the public's machines.[12]
Chief
The First World War
During the
The Model H in particular, is regarded by many as having been the first "modern motorcycle".[24] Introduced in 1915 it had a 550cc side-valve four-stroke engine with a three-speed gearbox and belt transmission. It was so popular with its users that it was nicknamed the "Trusty Triumph."[25]
Postwar
Postwar
By 1920, Harley-Davidson became the largest manufacturer,[26] with their motorcycles being sold by dealers in 67 countries.[27][28]
Amongst many British motorcycle manufacturers Chater-Lea with its twin-cylinder models followed by its large singles in the 1920s stood out. Initially, using converted a Woodmann-designed OHV Blackburne engine it became the first 350 cc to exceed 100 mph (160 km/h), recording 100.81 mph (162.24 km/h) over the flying kilometre during April 1924.[7] Later, Chater-Lea set a world record for the flying kilometre for 350 cc and 500 cc motorcycles at 102.9 mph (165.6 km/h) for the firm. Chater-Lea produced variants of these world beating sports models and became popular among racers at the Isle of Man TT. Today, the firm is probably best remembered for its long-term contract to manufacture and supply AA Patrol motorcycles and sidecars.[citation needed]
By the late 1920s or early 1930s, DKW in Germany took over as the largest manufacturer.[29][30][31] BMW motorcycles came on the scene in 1923 with a shaft drive and an opposed-twin or "boxer" engine enclosed with the transmission in a single aluminum housing.
By 1931, Indian and Harley-Davidson were the only two American manufacturers producing commercial motorcycles.[32] This two-company rivalry in the United States remained until 1953, when the Indian Motorcycle factory in Springfield, Massachusetts closed and Royal Enfield took over the Indian name.[33]
There were over 80 different makes of motorcycle available in Britain in the 1930s, from the familiar marques like
In 1937, Joe Petrali set a new land speed record of 136.183 mph (219.165 km/h) on a modified Harley-Davidson 61 cubic inch (1,000 cc) overhead valve-driven motorcycle.[32] The same day, Petrali also broke the speed record for 45 cubic inch (737 cc) engine motorcycles.
In Europe, production demands, driven by the buildup to World War II, included motorcycles for military use, and BSA supplied 126,000 BSA M20 motorcycles to the British armed forces, starting in 1937 and continuing until 1950. Royal Enfield also produced motorcycles for the military, including a 125 cc lightweight motorcycle that could be dropped (in a parachute-fitted tube cage) from an aircraft.
After World War II
After the World War II, some American veterans found a replacement for the camaraderie, excitement, danger and speed of life at war in motorcycles. Grouped into loosely organized clubs, motorcycle riders in the US created a new social institution—the
In Europe, on the other hand, post-war motorcycle producers were more concerned with designing practical, economical transportation than the social aspects, or "biker" image.[35] Italian designer Piaggio introduced the Vespa in 1946, which experienced immediate and widespread popularity. Imports from the UK, Italy and Germany, thus found a niche in US markets that American bikes did not fill.
The
British manufacturers Triumph, BSA, and
The motorcycle also became a recreational machine for sport and leisure, a vehicle for carefree youth, not essential transportation for the mature family man or woman, and the Japanese were able to produce modern designs more quickly, more cheaply, and of better quality than their competitors. Their motorbikes were more stylish and more reliable, so the British manufacturers fell behind as mass-market producers.
Honda, which was officially founded in Japan on September 24, 1948, introduced their
Suzuki, Kawasaki and the Yamaha each started producing motorcycles in the 1950s. Meanwhile, the sun was setting on British dominion over the big-displacement motorbike market.
Japanese dominance
The excellence of Japanese motorcycles caused similar effects in all Western markets: many Italian bike firms either went bust or only just managed to survive. As a result, BMW's worldwide sales sagged in the 1960s, but came back strongly with the introduction of a completely redesigned
From the 1960s through the 1990s, small two-stroke motorcycles were popular worldwide, partly as a result of the pioneering work of the
A factory full fairing was introduced by BMW motorcycle in the R100RS of 1977, the first factory fairing produced in quantity.[38] In 1980, BMW stimulated the "adventure touring" category of motorcycling with its dual-sport model, the R80G/S. In 1988, BMW was the first motorcycle manufacturer to introduce anti-lock-brakes (ABS) on its sporting K100RS-SE and K1 models.[citation needed]
The present
Today the Japanese manufacturers, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha dominate the large motorcycle industry, although Harley-Davidson still maintains a high degree of popularity, particularly in the United States.[citation needed]
Recent years have seen a resurgence in the popularity around the world of many other motorcycle brands, including BMW, Triumph and
In November 2006, the Dutch company E.V.A. Products BV Holland announced that the first commercially available diesel-powered motorcycle, its Track T-800CDI, achieved production status.[39]
The Track T-800CDI uses an 800 cc three-cylinder Daimler Chrysler diesel engine. However, other manufacturers, including Royal Enfield, had been producing diesel-powered bikes since at least 1965.[40]
In the developing world
There is a large demand for small, cheap motorcycles in the developing world, and many of the firms meeting that demand now also compete in mature markets, such as China's Hongdou which makes a version of Honda's venerable CG125.[41]
Motorcycle taxis are commonplace in the developing world. Scooters, mopeds and motorcycles offer a fast, cheap and risky way around snarled traffic and scarce mass transit, as they can easily squeeze through jams.[42]
The first
See also
- List of motorcycle manufacturers
- Motorcycle land-speed record
- List of fastest production motorcycles
- Electric motorcycles and scooters
- Outline of motorcycles and motorcycling
Further reading
Early history and use in the United Kingdom
- Pennell, Joseph (February 8, 1901). "Some Experiences Of Motor Bicycles". Journal of the Society of Arts. XLIX (2, 516). Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- Hiscox, Gardner Dexter (1902). The Automobile: A Practical Treatise On The Construction Of Modern Motor Cars Steam, Petrol, Electric And Petrol-Electric: Chapter XXI. Motor Bicycles (1903 ed.). London: Cassell And Company, Limited. pp. 751–763. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- Lavergne, Gerard (1902). The Automobile: Its Construction And Management (Various Chapters). London: Cassell And Company, Limited. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- Wilson, A. J. (1903). Motor Cycles And How To Manage Them, 6th ed. London: Iliffe & Sons Limited. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
Early history and use in the United States
- Lockert, Louis (1899). Petroleum Motor-Cars: Chapter VIII "Motor Bicycles". New York: D. Van Nostrand Company. pp. 64–75. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- "The Automobile Bicycle". The Literary Digest. XIX (16): 463–464. October 14, 1899. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- Hiscox, Gardner Dexter (1900). Horseless Vehicles, Automobiles, Motor Cycles Operated By Steam, Petrol, Electric And Petrol-Electric: Chapter XI. Automobile Bicycles And Tricycles. New York: Munn & Company. pp. 175–215. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- "Interesting Notes. Single Motor Bicycles". The School Journal. LX (22): 632. June 2, 1900. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- Krarup, M.C. (November 1900). "The Field For Motorcycles: Motorcycling Vs. Motoring". XXXVII (2): 207–212. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - Bill, L. H. (August 1902). "The Poor Man's Automobile". Overland Monthly, and Out West Magazine. XL (2): 197–198. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- Burr, H. Walter (December 1902). "Up Mount Hamilton On A Motor Cycle". XL (6): 556–561.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - "Possibilities of the Motorcycle". The Automobile. XIII (4): 123. July 27, 1903. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- Hiscox, Gardner Dexter (1904). Mechanical Appliances, Mechanical Movements And Novelties Of Construction: Road And Vehicle Devices, Types Of Motor Bicycles. New York: The Norman W. Henley Publishing Company. pp. 215–216. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- "Motor Bicycles for Medical Men". The Medical World. XXIII (10). October 1905. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- Cummings, C. E. (February 1906). "An Idyl Of The Tireless Bike". Recreation. XXIV (2): 127–130. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- Bashore, S. D. (July 1906). "The Motor Cycle For Physicians". The Texas State Journal of Medicine. II (3): 92–93. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- "Mail Collection By Motor Van". The Commercial Vehicle. III (7). July 1908. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
An experiment is being conducted by the Post-office ... with the use of a motorcycle van ... of the "Indian" type
- "Development Of The Motor Cycle Van: Increasing Use Of This Type Of Light Package Delivery Motor Vehicle Noted Both Here And Abroad". The Commercial Vehicle. III (10): 227–228. October 1908. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
References
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- ^ Michauline
- ^ ISBN 0-600-34407-X.
- ^ Fiedler, David. "The Boneshaker - Invented by Michaux and Lallement". About.com. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ^ "motorcycle (vehicle)". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica.
- ^ G.N. Georgano (2002). Early and Vintage Years, 1885-1930: The Golden Era of Coachbuilding. Mason Crest Publishers. p. 22.
- G.N. Georgano, p.20 cap.
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- ISBN 0-19-518951-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-85112-200-7.
- ^ ISBN 0-89207-207-5.
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- ^ "Brief History of the Marque: Hildebrand & Wolfmuller". Hildebrand & Wolfmuller Motorad, European Motorcycle Universe. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ "Wagner,Herbert "The World's First Motorcycle Origin of the Word and Device"". Archived from the original on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
- ^ Chadwick, Ian. "Pennington" (in list of) British motorcycle manufacturers P:, June 6, 2003, retrieved March 18, 2014.
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Kelly, Maurice A. (2009). "2: The manufacturers". Russian Motor Vehicles: The Czarist Period 1784 to 1917. Veloce Publishing Ltd. p. 56. ISBN 9781845842130. Retrieved 2017-10-31.
[...] a Rossiya Motorcycle of 1902 [...] is the oldest Russian self-propelled road vehicle in existence today.
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- ^ "Triumph Motorcycles timeline".
- ^ "History of Harley-Davidson Motor Company".
- ^ Prashad, Sharda (16 April 2006). "HOG WILD; U of T professor Brendan Calder is one of the legions of baby boomers who have helped to ensure the success of the Harley-Davidson brand name, not to mention its bottom line". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ont. p. A.16.
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