Travis Lipscom offers the following royalty-free article for you to publish online or in print. Feel free to use this article in your newsletter, website, ezine, blog, or forum. ----------- PUBLICATION GUIDELINES - You have permission to publish this article for free providing the "About the Author" box is included in its entirety. - Do not post/reprint this article in any site or publication that contains hate, violence, porn, warez, or supports illegal activity. - Do not use this article in violation of the US CAN-SPAM Act. If sent by email, this article must be delivered to opt-in subscribers only. - If you publish this article in a format that supports linking, please ensure that all URLs and email addresses are active links. - Please send a copy of the publication, or an email indicating the URL to [email protected] - Article Marketer (www.ArticleMarketer.com) has distributed this article on behalf of the author. Article Marketer does not own this article, please respect the author's copyright and publication guidelines. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use this article. ----------- Article Title: A Look at the History of Motorcycles - The Early Years Author: Travis Lipscom Category: Motorcycles, Outdoors Word Count: 738 Keywords: motorcycle, history, two wheeled, two cycle, two stroke, four stroke, internal combustion engine Author's Email Address: [email protected] Article Source: http://www.articlemarketer.com ------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------
In researching this article, I found some conflicting information. I tried to incorporate all of the information I found, indicating where the information didn't match. The first motorcycle was a bicycle with a two-cylinder steam engine attached, which was powered by coal or charcoal, and the connecting rods directly drove a crank on the rear wheels. It was built in 1867 by an American, Sylvester Howard Roper, who also invented a steam car. Roper took his steam-powered bike and demonstrated it at fairs and circuses in the eastern United States in 1867, but it did not catch on. However it did use many features that are still being used today, most notably the twisting hand grip throttle control. This machine predates the invention of the safety bicycle by many years, so its chassis is also based on the "bone-crusher" bike. Bone-Crushers appeared around 1800, used iron-banded wagon wheels, and were called bone-crushers because they had a very jarring ride, and they also had a tendency to throw off their riders. It is thought that the first true gas engine motorcycle forerunner was built by Gottlieb Daimler (yes, that Daimler, of Daimler-Chrysler fame). The engine may have been invented by an engineer named Nicolaus August Otto, who also invented the first four-stroke internal combustion engine. Otto called it the Otto Cycle Engine. There is some confusion as to whether Daimler used Otto's engine or built one of his own. Whichever, Daimler powered his "bicycle" by attaching an engine to a wooden bicycle about 1885. The reason this may not be considered the first true motorcycle is because it had two small wheels, used to stabilize the bike, similar to training wheels on a child's bicycle today. Therefore, it was actually a four-wheeled vehicle. However, today there are three-wheeled vehicles and bikes for the disabled with two stabilizing wheels and these are all considered motorcycles, so who is to say whether Daimler's four-wheeled vehicle was a "motorcycle" or not? Daimler quit building powered bikes and went on to establish himself in automobiles and left the development of two-wheeled motorcycles to others. There were many engineering difficulties to overcome, and early motorcycle builders worked hard to solve these problems. Should the engine be on the rear of the bicycle, the front, or off to the side? After many trials and errors, it soon was understood that in order for the bicycle to be stable, the engine had to be centered between the wheels and close to the ground. How many cylinders would be the best? Should the designers incorporate a two-stroke, or a four-stoke cycle? Some early bikes were started by peddling, then after it was started and balance was achieved, the engine took over. What about the pedals: could they be dispensed with? What about the chain, should it be kept, or some other method, such as a belt, be used? In the decade from the late 1880s, dozens of designs and various machines emerged, particularly in France, Germany and England, and soon spread to America. During this early period of motorcycle history, there were many manufacturers, since many bicycle makers were adapting their designs for the new internal combustion engine. In 1894, the Hildebrand & Wolfmuller became the first motorcycle for sale to the public. However, only a few hundred of this motorcycle were ever built. I couldn't find any information about whether production was halted due to lack of sales, lack of interest, financial reasons, or some other reason. Engines became more powerful, and designs were starting to veer away from bicycle origins, and the number of motorcycle-oriented makers increased. It is said that the first motorcycle (other than Roper's) in the United States was taken to New York in 1895 by a French circus performer. It weighed about 200 lbs and was capable of doing 40 mph on a level surface. I don't know if he used it as part of his act, or for personal transportation. In the same year, E. J. Pennington demonstrated a motorcycle which he designed in Milwaukee. He said it would do 58 mph. Pennington is credited with coining the term "motor cycle" when describing his invention. Motorcycles have come a long way since the days of a wooden bicycle powered by coal, but I bet those guys had just as much fun on theirs as we do today. I have been riding, rebuilding, and adding accessories to motorcycles for the past 45 years, and have owned over 20, and ridden just about every kind of bike. Be sure to read my other motorcycle articles at http://motorcycleaccessoriesandmore.blogspot.com ------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
