History of Motorcycles

A detailed Summary of History of Motorcycles

In 1868 Ernest and Pierre Michaux of France, experimented with a steam-powered bicycle. This engine was to big and heavy to really do much other than be a good idea. In 1868, steam powered motors was all that they had. The idea of a motor-powered bicycle had not come around again until 1884 when the gas powered combustion engine was a fairly common thing. In 1884 a man from England named Edward Butler attached a motor to his son's tricycle. Then four months later he attached a larger motor to his own custom tricycle. Every one thought that this idea was the best. Well the news got out to a German named Gottlieb Daimler. Daimler thought that he had to make one of the machines. But Daimler's machine was different. Daimler's machine had an ordinary bicycle for a frame instead of a tricycle. Daimler finally got his motor bicycle completed in1886. Soon after Daimler had finished his bike he lost interest in two wheels and went on to pioneer the automobile. These three machines were the birth of motorcycle.

The first really successful motorcycle was built in 1901. The people who built it were Michael and Eugene Werner. They adopted the classic style of motorcycle that is used today with the motor between your legs a

Another way of racing is stock racing. In stock racing the racers have highly modified bikes that barley resemble bikes at all. The bike is much wider than most bikes. The rear tire is about one and a half feet wide. There is also a wheelie-bar to stop the bike from going on just one wheel. The bike is about ten feet long. The track they use is a straight track. The key to winning this type of racing is reaction time. This type of racing is the fastest type of racing also. Bikes can reach speeds of up to two hundred fifty. Because of these high speeds, in order to stop in a reasonable distance a parachute is released out the back.

Then the Great Depression came along and motorcycles were scarcer. Gas was hard to come by. The motorcycle was more commonly used than automobiles because they had way better gas mileage.

Harley Davidson: The Ultimate Machine by Todd Rafferty c1992

The word "motorcycle" wasn't really even used until the end of the twentieth century. Motorcycle meant and bicycle or tricycle with an engine. Some of the kinds of motorcycles were two-wheeled bikes, three-wheeled bikes, mini-bikes, mopeds, and motor scooters. The scooter was extremely popular in Italy.

But the industry wanted, and needed these bikes. It was a cheaper way of traveling from place to place. Even when the automobile many people still had scooters or motorcycles because they were cheaper and easier to operate. Many people who wanted to deliver things from town to town, that didn't like the speed of a horse and buggy, bought these bikes.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Suzuki Yamaha, Harley-Davidson Triumph, Surrey England, Eugene Werner, Michaux France, Triumph Bikes, Triumph Motorcycles, Tourist Trophy, Daimler Daimler, Soon Daimler, motorcycle racing, type racing, racing stock racing, daimler's machine, race sponsored, racing racers, bikes bike, dirt track, tourist trophy, stock racing, cubic inch,

Approximate Word count = 1114
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Sports