American, Sylvester
Howard Roper (1823-1896) invented a two-cylinder, steam-engine motorcycle
(powered by coal) in 1867. This can be considered the first motorcycle, if
you allow your description of a motorcycle to include a steam engine. Howard Roper also invented a steam engine car.
German,
Gottlieb Daimler invented the first gas-engined motorcycle in 1885, which was an
engine attached to a wooden bike. That marked the moment in history when the
dual development of a viable gas-powered engine and the modern bicycle collided.
Gottlieb Daimler used a new engine invented by engineer,
Nicolaus August Otto. Otto invented the first "Four-Stroke Internal-Combustion Engine" in 1876. He
called it the "Otto Cycle Engine" As soon as he completed his engine, Daimler (a
former Otto employee) built it into a motorcycle.
History of the Harley Davidson Motorcycle 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. However, inventors Harley and the Davidsons developed motorcycles
and their business competitors were other new start-up companies such as
Excelsior, Indian, Pierce, Merkel, Schickel and Thor.
In
1903, William Harley and his friends Arthur and Walter Davidson launched the
Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The bike had a quality engine, so it could prove
itself in races, however, the company planned to manufacture it as a transport
vehicle. Merchant, C. H. Lange, sold the first officially distributed
Harley-Davidson in Chicago.
Hog Heaven
Celebrating 100 years of the Harley Davidson motorcycle. The
First Motorcycle? A few early attempts at two-wheeled
locomotion - Gottlieb Daimler is thought to
have invented the real gas-powered motorcycle in 1885. The
History of the Motorcycle Nicholaus August Otto, who invented
the Otto Cycle, had an assistant, Gottlieb Daimler. Daimler left Otto to
develop his own engine. In 1885 he made a wooden bike. He drove it with
his engine instead of with a pedal arrangement. Motorcycle
Online Features on motorcycle history:
Adventures of the Wild Turkeys - The Rise and Fall of the NSU Empire -
The Sammy Miller Museum - A Brief History of Indian Motocycles. Motorcycles
@ About Find out about motorcycles today
with guide Walter Kern, also read his section on the history
behind different models of motorcycles and the motorcycle gangs.
Right:
Gottllieb
Daimler's 1885 Motorcycle
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. However, inventors Harley and the Davidsons developed motorcycles
and their business competitors were other new start-up companies such as
Excelsior, Indian, Pierce, Merkel, Schickel and Thor.
