| Is history important? At times, we have the notion | | | | After completing his gas-powered motorcycle, |
| that we should leave history in the past. Perhaps we | | | | Daimler would then focus on constructing some of |
| argue that all we have is the present. Maybe we feel | | | | the world's first automobiles. Thus, other inventors |
| disconnected from events that happened years, | | | | would focus on improving Daimler's invention, to |
| decades, or even centuries ago. Possibly, we believe | | | | create a motorcycle with only two wheels. Some |
| that today's innovations have made yesteryear | | | | issues they addressed included:o Where they should |
| obsolete. However, a product's history provides us | | | | place the motoro The quantity of cylinders that the |
| with a better understanding of, and appreciation for, | | | | engine should containo Whether the engine should |
| today's versions of the product. So before you strap | | | | feature a two-stroke or a four-stroke constructiono |
| on your Harley Davidson motorcycle boots, | | | | Whether the motorcycle should keep a bicycle's chain |
| remember that without the motorcycle, no need for | | | | and pedals |
| motorcycle boots would exist! | | | | During this time, those inventors developing |
| The "first" motorcycle | | | | motorcycles and automobiles took two different |
| When did someone invent the first motorcycle? One | | | | approaches. Because many of those working on |
| could argue that the American Howard Roper | | | | automobiles had backgrounds in the railroad industry, |
| achieved that success, in 1867. The reason why his | | | | they often focused on creating cars that steam |
| invention was arguably the first motorcycle is that a | | | | powered. |
| steam engine powered it, unlike today's machines. | | | | On the other hand, the developers of motorcycles |
| Roughly two decades later, in 1885, a German named | | | | based their work on the aviation industry. This is not |
| Gottlieb Daimler created the first motorcycle that | | | | surprising, as riding in motorcycles and airplanes was |
| contained a gas engine. In actuality, Daimler's | | | | much less insular than riding in trains or automobiles. |
| invention was technically a wooden bicycle that a gas | | | | In 1907, Harley-Davidson invented its first "V-twin" |
| engine powered. Thus, the motorcycle was actually a | | | | motorcycle. As an airplane gradually makes an upward |
| four-wheeler! | | | | ascent during takeoff, the V-twin motorcycles were |
| Training wheels, an engine, and Otto | | | | renowned for their ability to ascend hills. To show |
| Besides the first gas-powered motorcycle resembling | | | | how intertwined the developments of motorcycles |
| a bicycle, it also contained two tiny stabilizing wheels. | | | | and airplanes actually were, until World War I, the |
| We could compare these wheels to the "training | | | | speed records of the two were virtually identical! |
| wheels" on today's children's bicycles. | | | | Before strapping on your motorcycle boots and |
| Daimler's invention included an engine that a man | | | | other safety gear, it is important to remember the |
| named Nicolaus August Otto had created. Otto had | | | | past innovations of motorcycles, which have made |
| named his creation the "Otto Cycle Engine." Both | | | | today's riding possible. Without the breakthroughs of |
| Daimler and Otto had once worked together as | | | | the past, today's motorcycle innovations would be |
| inventors. In fact, Gottlieb had served as Otto's | | | | impossible. Ride safely and create your own |
| assistant. | | | | motorcycling history! |
| Motorcycle problems and solutions | | | | |