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