The Evolution of the Motorcycle
The evolution of the motorcycle has had a long, colorful history. There are even disputes regarding the actual inventor of the first motorcycle. While the disputes over the true inventor may have gotten its start decades ago, there seems to still be some confusion over the issue even today when discussing the evolution of the motorcycle.
Sylvester Roper vs. Gottlieb Daimler
Although some sources name German Inventor Gottlieb Daimler as the inventor of the motorcycle in the year 1885, that information is not accurate. It was actually the American Inventor, Sylvester Roper, who is recognized as the inventor of the first motorcycle, several years earlier, in1869. Roper’s invention was a steam-powered bicycle, the first self-propelled two wheel vehicle.
According to theAMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, Sylvester Roper’s invention of the motorcycle delighted the public and he soon toured the circus and fair circuit demonstrating his steam-powered motorcycle invention. While popular with the curious spectator, his invention was not as popular with his neighbors. He made improvements to his motorcycle invention in 1895 and subsequently died during an exhibition of his improved motorcycle. The original Roper Motorcycle is on display at the Smithsonian.
In the latter part of the 19th century, Daimler invented a different style of motorcycle. Instead of steam, his invention was powered by a single cylinder engine. Daimler soon left the idea of the motorcycle to later creators, as the two additional smaller wheels, which were similar to training wheels on a child’s first bicycle, were not very popular. Daimler later became much more popular by building early cars.
Other early pioneers in the evolution of the motorcycle
It was Hildebrand & Wolfmueller who patented the first two-wheeled vehicle in Munich in 1894. German engineer Mauritz Schulte, an employee of the British-based New Triumph Company imported one of the motorcycles to study it. He considered manufacturing it for the Triumph Company. However, British laws related to any type of vehicle were so obnoxious that he abandoned the idea temporarily. Once the laws were repealed, Schulte set his idea to produce motorcycles in motion.
In 1901, Oscar Hedstrom designed the first motorcycle for Hendee Manufacturing Company of Springfield Massachusetts, which later became The Indian Motorcycle. According to theIndian Motorcyclewebsite, in 1904, Indian won a gold medal at the World’s Fair for “mechanical excellence.” By 1907, the popularity and functionality of the two-wheeled motorcycle was being realized, even by law enforcement. The New York City Police Department purchased two Indian motorcycles to “chase down runaway horses.”
Indian Motorcycle continued to evolve throughout the decades of the twentieth century, with new companies trying to catch up. Some antique Indian Motorcycles are highly prized among today's antique motorcycle enthusiasts and command substantial prices at auction or other sales.
While Hedstrom and Hendee were producing the first motorcycle for Hendee, William S. Harley was also busy in 1901, completing his blueprint drawing of an engine, which he designed to be fitted onto a bicycle. By 1903,Harley and Arthur Davidson offeredfor sale to the general public the first Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, which was designed to be a racer. The first Harley-Davidson "factory” was actually inside a wood shed. By 1904, the first Harley-Davidson dealership was opened in Chicago. In 1909, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company began manufacturing and supplying spare parts for motorcycles.
Other popular names are recognized for having contributed to the evolution of the motorcycle
Schulte was finally successful in manufacturing his motorcycle, and in 1902, the first Triumph Motorcycle, featuring a Belgium-made 2HP Minerva engine was made. In 1905, the first completely in-house Triumph Motorcycle was made available which featured a 3HP engine. Triumph Motorcycles remained in production until the 1980’s. It was later revived in the 1990’s according to “Triumph Motorcycle History.”
Other manufacturers of motorcycles soon followed the early trailblazers of motorcycle evolution, such as Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and BMW. Building upon and improving upon the originals, later motorcycles were built to be stronger and to last longer. The evolution of the motorcycle into the 21st century has brought motorcycle enthusiasts such thrillers as some of the biggest, baddest, most powerful motorcycles and choppers to ever hit the roads. The evolution of the motorcycle still continues.
