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On rough terrain, dirt tracks, race tracks and roads across the world, you are likely to find motorbikes. It says a lot about how such a ubiquitous invention has progressed down the years that it originates from the humble safety bike. Bikes were once charcoal powered and also went through a period of steam propulsion, like cars, but did you know what else led to the motorcycle becoming what it is today?

Motorised bicycles The first motorised bicycle was invented by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Stuttgart, Germany in 1885. There had been many attempts to get the motorised bicycle on the road previously, but it was shortly after this that the motorcycle industry saw a boom.

Steam propulsion Sylvester Howard Roper of Roxbury in Massachusetts was responsible for designing a two wheeled vehicle that was powered by steam propulsion as early as 1867 . A steam powered bike was also designed, just a year later, by the French engineer, Louis Gulliaume Perreaux. There is no proof that he could get the vehicle to work until 1871, although he did at least possess a patent for it .

Sale to the public By the late 1880s, a range of companies and machines dedicated to the still-fledgling motorcycle appeared in Germany, England and France, followed a little later by North America. The bikes of such firms were designed around the new internal combustion engines that had become available for motorcycles. However, a motorcycle did not actually go on sale to the public until Hildebrand & Wolfmller finally offered one in 1894, and even then, the firm only ever built a few hundred of them .

The origin of the name It is thought that the actual name ‘motorcycle’ dates from 1895, when Milwaukee’s E.J. Pennington used the name ‘motor cycle’ for his own design, which he said was capable of reaching 58mph. The industry saw considerable growth from this point. Royal Enfield introduced its first motorcycle in 1901, which was a 239cc model and had a front fitted engine . Another English firm was Triumph, which sold over 500 motorcycles in the year after producing its first motorcycle in 1902 .

Sustained legacy Harley Davidson is another established name, having produced bikes continuously since 1903. Each year, motorcycles continue to be tweaked and developed, often in preparation for races and rallies . The classics are the favourites of some people, while more modern and sleek models are preferred by others.

Hannah Warder writes a number of articles for MediaVest (Manchester) on car insurance and bike insurance

Apr172011

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