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During this early period of motorcycle history there were many manufacturers, since bicycle makers were adapting their designs for the new internal combustion engine. Diagram of 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller. In 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller became the first series production motorcycle, and the first to be called a "motorcycle" (German: Motorrad).
Sylvester Howard Roper (November 24, 1823 – June 1, 1896) [1] [2] was an American inventor and a pioneering builder of early automobiles and motorcycles from Boston, Massachusetts. In 1863 he built a steam carriage, one of the earliest automobiles .
Motorcycle rider on his Rudge-Whitworth motorbike, Australia, c. 1935. By 1920, Harley-Davidson was the largest manufacturer, [31] with their motorcycles being sold by dealers in 67 countries. [32] [33] Amongst many British motorcycle manufacturers, Chater-Lea with its twin-cylinder models followed by its large singles in the 1920s stood out.
The Springfield History Museum's latest exhibit highlights the people and history of early motorcycle culture in the early 1900s.
The Roper steam velocipede was a steam-powered velocipede built by inventor Sylvester H. Roper of Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, United States sometime from 1867 to 1869.It is one of three machines which have been called the first motorcycle, [1] along with the Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede, also dated 1867–1869, and the 1885 Daimler Reitwagen.
"The first motorcycle looks like an instrument of torture", wrote Melissa Holbrook Pierson, describing a vehicle that was created along the way to Daimler's real goal, a four-wheeled car, and earning him credit as the inventor of the motorcycle "malgré lui," in spite of himself. [27]
McComb, F. Wilson, Behind the wheel: the magic and manners of early motoring, Paddington Press, 1977; Sturmey, Henry, The Autocar: a journal published in the interests of the mechanically propelled road carriage, Volume 1, Iliffe, sons & Sturmey ltd., 1896; World Book Inc., The World Book Dictionary, Volume 2, World Book 2006, ISBN 0-7166-0299-7
The earliest year suggested for the Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede is 1867, [2] [3] which could be either the same year, or earlier than the Roper velocipede, which some authorities also date as early as 1867, [14] [15] while others such as motorcycling historians Charles M. Falco and David Burgess-Wise, and Motorcycle Consumer News design ...