There are three people who are recognized as the inventor of the motorcycle, Ernest Michaux (France), Edward Butler (UK), and Gottlieb Daimler (Germany). Motorcycle was first designed in 1868 by Ernest Michaux French nationality. At that time, the planned propulsion is steam engine, but the project was not successful. Then in 1885 Edward Butler tried to improve it by making the other vehicle that uses three wheels and is moved by using the motor of the type of internal combustion engine.
In 1885 a German engineer Gottlieb Daimler and his partner, Wilhelm Maybach became the first motorcycle fabricators in the world. Daimler pair a small four-stroke engine on a wooden bicycle. Machine is placed in the middle (between the front and rear wheels) and connected by a chain to the rear wheel. Then bike engined wood was named Reitwagen (riding car).
At that time this type of vehicle has not been known to many people. Until in 1892, Henry Hilderband of Munich, West Germany introduced a new model of motorcycle. And was followed again by Werner Brothers in 1897. The first motorcycles were sold to the public was made by the motorcycle factories Hildebrand und Wolfmüller in Munich, Germany in 1893. Motorcycle rear wheel is driven directly by the crankshaft (crankshaft).
In 1895 motorcycle first entered the United States, specifically to the city of New York. In the same year, a U.S. inventor, EJ Pennington, in Milwaukee, demonstrating self-designed motorcycle. Pennington eventually regarded as the first to introduce the term motorcycle (motorbike).
In the same year, Triumph, a bicycle manufacturer in Britain decided to make motorcycles. Four years later, in 1902, the company produced the first motorcycle, but still using the machines from Belgium. Then in 1905, Triumph motorcycle produced its own intact.
In 1903, William S Harley and his friend, Arthur Davidson, producing motorcycles in Milwaukee, United States, and named the Harley Davidson motorcycle. In 1904, another U.S. company, Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, appeared with Single Indian motorcycle.
Then until World War I (1914-1918), the company became a motorcycle manufacturer with the largest production in the world. Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company closed in 1953 and the Indian brand was taken over by Royal Enfield.
After World War I until 1928, the company that manufactures the world's largest motorcycle is a Harley Davidson. In 1921, BMW motorcycle comes with a rear wheel driven using koppel (shaft drive). In the 1930s there were about 80 motorcycle brands in the UK, including Norton, Triumph, AJS, and other brands that are not so famous, like New Gerrard, NUT, SOS, Chell and Whitwood.
Development of motorcycles in Europe, also sparked by World War II (1939-1945), where motorcycles are made for military purposes. After World War II, in 1946, the Italian designers, Piaggio, Vespa scooters and introduced direct world attention.
In 1949, Honda manufactures motorcycles with two stroke engines. However, the sound of two stroke engines are noisy and smelling smoke coming out of the exhaust makes Honda developed the four-stroke engine.
In 1951, BSA Group (UK) bought Triumph Motorcycles and became the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. BSA position then taken over by NSU (Germany) in 1955. However, since the 1970s until now, Honda is recorded as the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.
In 1952, Honda produces motorcycle known as the cub. Duck type motorcycle popularity this makes Japanese motorcycle companies such as Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki motorcycles modeled this kind of duck.
Interesting figure, a powerful engine and easy to maintain, as well as competitive prices make Japanese motorcycles, the Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki, very popular and until now dominating the world motorcycle market. However, the names of the Harley Davidson motorcycle is still popular, especially in the United States. Likewise, BMW, Triumph and Ducati.
Motorcycles first entered Indonesia in 1893. The motorcycle was purchased by John C. Potter, a machinist first sugar mill Oemboel, Probolinggo, East Java. He ordered the motorbike directly to the factory in Munich.
Well, so now you know the history of motorcycles in the world. What about other types of transportation history? Come explore this website again yah ...
