The History of Motorcycles

Do you love motorcycles? If yes, how familiar are you with their history? Well, you don’t have to worry about that now as we are going to show you the true origins of motorcycles. Even more, you will get to know the changes they have undergone throughout the years.

Although their existence is traced back about 150 years now, motorcycles still have a lasting impression. They have cultivated a brotherhood that the other social groups haven’t been able to. Read on to see how they came to be and how they have undergone a change to become what they are today. 

The History of Motorcycles

1867

The first ever steam-powered motorcycle was created by Ernest, Pierre Michaux’s son. He installed a small steam engine on one of his bicycle designs.

1868

In 1867, Sylvester Howard Roper, an American, created a twin-cylinder steam-powered velocipede with a coal burn furnace.

1871

Louis Guillaume Perreaux, a French engineer, created a one-cylinder steam-powered motorcycle with an alcohol burner.

1881

An American, Lucius Copeland, created something similar to Roper’s. But his creation came with some modifications which were a smaller steam boiler and a higher speed of 12 mph, a great achievement for its era.

1885

Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, both German, invented a gas-powered combustion engine in 1885, with the help of Nicolaus Otto. This then became an essential commodity in motorcycle history. It was then possible for one to use a gas-powered engine on a traditional bike.

1894

The first mass production of these vehicles started in 1894. This was done by Hildebrand & Wolfmuller, a German company. They named these vehicles “motorcycles.” Sadly, only some hundred units were produced.

1895

A Frenchman named Dedion-Buton introduced an innovative four-stroke engine. The innovation catapulted the production of motorcycles. An American, E. J. Pennington also demonstrated his motorcycle which had a speed of 58mph.

1899

The production of motorcycles began in America. Charles H. Metz was the person responsible.

1900

The first motorcycle patent was submitted by Werner Brothers.

1901

The year when Indian Motorcycle created their first motorcycle using DeDion-Buton’s design. During that time, India proved to develop fantastic motorcycles which became the world’s best-selling models until the First World War.

1903

This was the year when Harley- Davidson Motorcycle Company was launched by William Harley and his partners. The first Harley- Davidson motorcycle was distributed and sold in Chicago. Organized motorcycle races began, increasing demand for faster and high-performance engine designs.

1914

The year when the First World War began. European and American armies started integrating motorcycles into the army. They used motorcycles as a quick means of carrying messages to and from bases.

1916

The Traub motorcycle was created. It is the world’s rarest motorcycle and the only one of its kind. This masterpiece was created using technology that was more advanced for its time. It remained hidden until 1967.

1920s to 1930s

The motorcycle was embraced during this time, leading to a large influx of sales in the industry. It was when BMW and Moto Guzzi joined the motorcycle industry. The DKW, a German company managed to be the largest motorcycle producer in the world. The American Motorcyclist Association was also established during this period.

1937

The year when the first woman ever acquired her motorcycle license. Her name was Sally Robinson.

1940’s

The Second World War ended, leading to the skyrocketing of motorcycles in America and Europe. This was because many veterans were returning home. They had ridden these vehicles during the world war and were anxious to have their own. The ‘cruiser’ design also gained popularity during this time.

Also Read: The Most Common Motorcycle Superstitions

Mid-1940’s

The American soldiers (especially scouts and runners) who had fought in the Second World War, had become accustomed to motorcycles. They had a passion for the two wheels when they came back. Motorcycle clubs and Brotherhoods began to take off, and so did many common motorcycle superstitions (e.g., the green motorcycle curse). 

1947

 There were Hollister Riots during a motorcycle rally in Hollister, California. There were more riders than originally anticipated and some minor damage was caused. This tarnished the riders’ image.

1951

The prototype motorcycle was created by Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen, an Austrian company.

1952

Suzuki started producing motorcycles, becoming the first in Japan to deal in such vehicles. This led to an increase in the number of high-quality motorcycles being created in the country.

1955

Honda and Yamaha also joined the marketplace. Their motive was to be able to produce motorcycles that were as advanced as American brands such as Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles.

1960

Kawasaki also emerged in the marketplace and made their first bike.

1962

Honda worked with Grey Advertising to promote their brand through the “You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda” campaign. This helped in eliminating some of the misconceptions concerning motorcycle riders.

1965

Custom motorcycles gained exceeding popularity during this time. They had variations in style and custom paint.

1969

Honda created a four-cylinder motorcycle that became the first ‘superbike.’

1970

The industry experienced an all-time high in motorcycle registration as 5 million were registered in the United States.

1980’s

Honda and Kawasaki showcased motorcycles with electronic fuel injection systems. These systems later became the norm for many.

1990’s

The Baby Boomers dived back into riding causing a surge in motorcycle sales. This encouraged brands such as Triumph, Ducati, BMW, and Aprilia to make a comeback.

1998

Polaris introduces ‘Victory,’ thereby becoming involved in the competitive motorcycle market. The first electric motorcycle, Lectra, was also created during this time.

2009

The first hybrid motorcycle, Eko Vehicle’s ET-120, was created.

2013

Polaris announced the resurrection of the Indian motorcycle.

2018

Harley-Davidson announces a new electric bike, LiveWire, that was to debut in 2019.

2021

Harley-Davidson makes LiveWire a standalone brand with its own identity.

And there you have the whole history of motorcycles. It is great to understand how these beautiful vehicles came to be, with all the innovation.