Flashes of Motorcycle's Beginning
In 1867, Sylvester Howard Roper invented a two-cylinder, steam-engine motorcycle that is powered by coal whose connecting rods directly drive a crank on the rear wheel. Roper was also the one who invented the steam engine car. If steam engine would suffice the standard for a motorcycle then this can be treated as the very first motorcycle.
In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler invented the very first gas-engined motorcycle. It was an engine attached to a wooden bike. In 1876, Daimler used the new-engine called “Otto Cycle Engine” the first “Four-Stroke Internal-Combustion Engine” which was invented by his employer Nicolaus August Otto. Daimler later teamed up with Karl Benz. The two created the Daimler-Benz Corporation, which is responsible for the first motorcycle mostly made up of wood.
In 1892, Millet, a 5-cylinder engine was built. The cylinders of Millet rotated with the wheel and its crankshaft constituted the rear axle.
Two years after, Hildebrand & Wolfmueller was patented. It had a step-through frame, with its fuel tank mounted on the downtube. The engine was a parallel twin, mounted low on the frame, with its cylinders going fore-and-aft. The connecting rods connected directly to a crank on the rear axle. It used a pair of stout elastic bands, one on each side outboard of the cylinders, to help out on the compression strokes. It was water-cooled, and had a water tank/radiator built into the top of the rear fender.
After a year, DeDion-Buton built an engine that was used for the mass production. This engine was a small, light, high reviving four-stroke single which used battery and coil ignition.
In 1898, Orient-Aster, the very first US produced motorcycle was built by the Metz Company in Waltham, Massachusetts. This motorcycle used an Aster engine which was a French-built copy of DeDion-Buton.
In 1907, Harley-Davidson made their first V-twin bike - the very first off-road bike.. This version can climb hills. This was the start of more progressive models of motorcycles that up to this instant is still growing….
About the Author
The motorcycle we are enjoying now has simple beginning. It has only developed into a powerful machine in time. Most of the riders are not even aware of its past so let us bring back the time and have a quick sojourn to rekindle motorcycle parts and motorcycle per se history.
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