| A motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle powered | | | | |
| by an engine. Motorcycles are one of the | | | | In 1894, the Hildebrand & |
| cheapest and most widespread forms of | | | | Wolfmüller became the first |
| motorised transport in many parts of the | | | | motorcycle available for purchase. |
| world. | | | | |
| | | | In the early period of motorcycle history |
| On a typical motorcycle, the operator sits | | | | there were many manufacturers as producers of |
| astride the vehicle on a seat, with the hands | | | | bicycles adapted their designs for the new |
| on a set of handlebars and the feet supported | | | | internal combustion engine. As the engines |
| by footpegs. When the bike is at rest, the | | | | became more powerful and designs outgrew the |
| rider puts one or both feet on the ground. | | | | bicycle origins, the number of motorcycle |
| Engine speed is controlled by twisting the | | | | producers increased. |
| throttle on the right handlebar grip with | | | | |
| braking being controlled with a hand lever | | | | Until the First World War, the largest |
| and foot pedal. Shifting of gear ratios is | | | | motorcycle manufacturer was Indian. After |
| controlled by operating a foot lever with the | | | | that, this honour went to Harley-Davidson, |
| clutch being operated by a hand lever. | | | | until 1928 when DKW took over as the largest |
| Steering is accomplished by leaning the bike | | | | manufacturer. BMW motorcycles came on the |
| or moving the handlebars. | | | | scene in 1923 with shaft drive and an |
| | | | opposed-twin or "boxer" engine enclosed with |
| The inspiration for the earliest dirt bike, | | | | the transmission in a single aluminum housing |
| and arguably the first motorcycle, was | | | | (photo right). |
| designed and built by the German inventors | | | | |
| Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Bad | | | | After the Second World War, the BSA Group |
| Cannstatt (since 1905 a city district of | | | | purchased Triumph Motorcycles in 1951 to |
| Stuttgart) in 1885. The first | | | | become the largest producer of motorcycles in |
| petroleum-powered vehicle, it was essentially | | | | the world claiming "one in four". The German |
| a motorized bicycle, although the inventors | | | | NSU was the largest manufacturer from 1955 |
| called their invention the Reitwagen ("riding | | | | until the 1970s when Honda became the largest |
| car"). They had not set out to create a | | | | manufacturer -- a title it holds to this day. |
| vehicle form but to build a simple carriage | | | | British manufacturers (Triumph, BSA, Norton) |
| for the engine, which was the focus of their | | | | retained a dominant position in some markets |
| endeavours. | | | | until the rise of the Japanese manufacturers |
| | | | (led by Honda) in the late 1960s and early |
| However, if one counts two wheels with steam | | | | 1970s, who were able to produce designs more |
| propulsion as being a motorcycle, then the | | | | quickly, more cheaply, and of better quality |
| first one may have been American. One such | | | | than their competitors. The British |
| machine was demonstrated at fairs and | | | | manufacturers became defunct as mass-market |
| circuses in the eastern US in 1867, built by | | | | producers. |
| Sylvester Howard Roper of Roxbury, | | | | |
| Massachusetts. There is an existing example | | | | 1948/1949 German Imme R100Today the Japanese |
| of a Roper machine dated 1869. It's powered | | | | manufacturers, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and |
| by a charcoal-fired two-cylinder engine, | | | | Yamaha dominate the motorcycle industry, |
| whose connecting rods directly drive a crank | | | | although Harley-Davidson still maintains a |
| on the rear wheel. This machine predates the | | | | high degree of popularity in the United |
| invention of the safety bicycle by many | | | | States. Recent years have also seen a |
| years, so its chassis is also based on the | | | | resurgence in the popularity of many other |
| "boneshaker" bike. In 1868, the Frenchman | | | | brands including BMW, Triumph and Ducati, and |
| Louis-Guillaume Perreaux patented a similar | | | | the emergence of Victory as a second |
| steam-powered motorcycle, probably invented | | | | successful mass-builder of big-twin American |
| independent of Roper. | | | | cruisers. |