| Good question, but I have to ask you one; gas or | | | | Sylvester Howard Roper invented a two-cylinder |
| steam? No, that's not what my Dental Hygienist asks | | | | steam driven motorcycle. It had a forged-iron and |
| me before she sets to work cleaning my gnashers. | | | | hickory frame and iron shod wooden wheels which |
| You see Gottlieb Daimler invented the first gas | | | | must have provided a very uncomfortable ride. I |
| powered motorcycle in 1885, when an engine created | | | | don't know how practical this machine was, but |
| by Nicolaus August Otto was attached to a wooden | | | | suffice to say, it was powered by coal. The firebox |
| bicycle. Just to clarify things here; 'gas' is not a | | | | and boiler were suspended on springs from the |
| reference to gasoline, but fuel in a gaseous state | | | | frame between the wheels, so I suppose it was just |
| rather than liquefied. As two extra wheels were used | | | | the job for commuting work on those cold January |
| on this bike as stabilizers, the more pedantic amongst | | | | mornings. Some people consider this to be the first |
| you will disqualify this vehicle as being a four-wheeler, | | | | motorcycle. I'm going to leave you to argue amongst |
| but let's be fair; he didn't have a lot to go on did he? | | | | yourselves, but just imagine if the idea had caught |
| So that's it then. Germany takes the glory; Daimler | | | | on; today we be talking about MPS or miles per sack, |
| invented the motorbike........no,no,no. There's a dispute, | | | | and Barnsley would be awash with money. |
| for eighteen years earlier in 1867 an American, | | | | |