| History of Motorcycles | | | | Walter Kaaden's work in the 50's in East |
| The history of the motorcycle goes back over | | | | Germany. |
| 100 years, when an American gentleman made a | | | | Although Harley Davidson is still the leading bike |
| steam powered motor that would be small | | | | manufacturer for the motorcycle market, Honda, |
| enough to fit onto his bicycle. Howard Roper from | | | | Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki are also doing |
| Roxbury, Massachusetts, got tired of pedaling his | | | | very well with their developments of a durable |
| bicycle over long distances. Taking months and | | | | and elegant looking street bike. |
| months to draw diagrams and thinking just how | | | | Motorcycles have even gone into dirt bike track |
| he could make a steam engine that would be | | | | racing and cross-country racing. Several world |
| small enough to relieve the pressure from his legs | | | | records have been made on dirt bikes and some |
| and feet as he traveled from place to place on | | | | bike names have ended up in the Guinness Book |
| dirt roads and paths. Finally in 1867, Roper | | | | of World Records. Motorcycles have a place in |
| succeeded; it was powered by burning coal to | | | | some of the Olympic Games as the |
| create the steam. This bike has been displayed in | | | | advancements and the changes have been |
| many fairs and circuses over the years. | | | | changed to the extent of taking parts off the |
| In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach | | | | original bike to make it lighter. |
| (later to be the founders of the Mercedes, the | | | | Motorcycles have jumped many cars, trucks, and |
| forerunner of the Mercedes Benz), produced the | | | | even the Grand Canyon. Today riders are doing |
| first petroleum powered motor bicycle. However, | | | | back flips, hand stands, and various other |
| not until 1894 was a motorized two wheeled | | | | daredevil stunts. |
| vehicle (Hildebrand & Wolfmuller) made available | | | | Looking through EBay, you will be able to find |
| for the transportation market. | | | | many different antique motorcycles from the old |
| As engines became too powerful for just a | | | | Indian Frames to the Harley Davidson 1983 Wide |
| bicycle, and the designs changed very quickly, the | | | | Glide, a TR6 Triumph Trophy, and Suzuki DRZ |
| leading manufacturer of motorcycles, (the Indian | | | | 2003 and DRZ 250. Some of these bikes have |
| brand), had already produced well over 20,000 | | | | been Chromed Out and restored to a very |
| motorcycles a year until World War I. | | | | beautiful luster. |
| By the 1920's, Harley Davidson took this lead | | | | There is no better feeling than to be riding down |
| away from the Indian Company as the Harley | | | | the road and being able to feel the wind in your |
| Davidson Company had acquired many dealers in | | | | face and the freedom you feel when you are |
| as many as 67 countries throughout the world. By | | | | riding a motorcycle. Motorcycles are today |
| the end of World War II, BSA bikes took the title | | | | becoming more and more popular due to the fuel |
| away from Harley Davidson, and until the 1950's | | | | crises all around the world. With the smaller size |
| had produced 75,000 bikes a year. | | | | engine and the less fuel consumption, motorcycles |
| Through the 1990's, there had been extensive | | | | may be the next thing we see for commuters. |
| work done on two stroke bike engines due to | | | | |