About when he appeared first motorcycle, there is a lot of debate, but we will resolve this issue extremely simply - we will take as the starting point exactly the year when an internal combustion engine was first installed on two wheels. The first motorcycle photo is a Daimler motorcycle.
At the end of the 19th century, two German designers invent the very first motorcycle in the world - a two-wheeled carriage with an internal combustion engine. This is where the history of motorcycles began. Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach did not set themselves the goal of creating the first motorcycle of this kind; their device was just a test bench for the engine that the two Germans were going to subsequently equip their cars with. The first motorcycle was a rather original-looking wooden bicycle by today's standards with a semicircular saddle and a gasoline carburetor engine with a capacity of one and a half horsepower.
Unfortunately, the car burned down in a fire in the barn that served as a garage for the two pioneers, and at this point the story of the first motorcycle ends and an era begins. What innovations did engineers introduce to their first motorcycles? What was the first motorcycle that went into mass production and how has this type of transport, popular for many decades, changed? What difficulties did manufacturers have to face at the dawn of this epoch-making phenomenon, filled with legends and becoming a cult for many generations? We have all this to learn. The history of the motorcycle is a fascinating journey to the beginning of the 20th century, full of legends and brilliant ideas. Photo of the first motorcycle - Daimler motorcycle.
First production sample
In 1894, the German company Hildebrand and Wolfmüller began mass production of a two thousand batch of mopeds, which lasted 3 years. These were the first motorcycles in the world to “go on production line”; weighing 50 kilograms, they accelerated to 45 km/h. The motor was located inside the frame and had ignition from a glow tube. Some design details were borrowed from steam-powered prototypes made by the Hildebrand brothers five years earlier.
For example, a water reservoir in the shape of the rear wing, the new purpose of which was to supply water to the cooling cavities that surrounded the cylinders, as well as the connecting rods that directly drove the rear wheel. This model had neither a clutch nor pedals - the very first motorcycles were launched “from a pusher”. For this reason, and also due to its high cost, this model was not a huge commercial success, and was not intended for such purposes. The Hildebrand and Wollmuller factory closed after the First World War in 1919, but the history of motorcycles continued and several copies of that same moped are today in museums around the world.
Hildebrand and Wolfmüller motorcycle 
Hildebrand and Wolfmüller motorcycle Motorcycle history outline. 1910-1940
Until about the 20s of the twentieth century, engineers experimented a lot with various types of designs and solutions, little by little moving away from the original structures and turning this outlandish and unreliable machine into a durable and fast form of transport for everyday use, fundamentally not very different from its modern analogues . The evolution of motorcycles has been slow but steady.
In 1922, the first DKW motorcycle appeared in the same Germany. This model has earned an excellent reputation and has gained enormous popularity due to its mileage around the country and its very low cost, so we can say that these are the very first motorcycles in the world to become popular among the people. It reached a speed of 65 km/h and consumed 2 liters of gasoline per hundred kilometers, was started by a foot pedal, weighed little and had outstanding driving characteristics.
Motorcycle DKW km200 – 1935. Around the same time, motorsports began to take shape, which was an excellent help for improving reliability and power, directly influencing the development of production motorcycles. Racing from multi-day marathons on ordinary roads is migrating to road and wooden ring tracks, and hippodromes. Engines are beginning to be equipped with superchargers, a “dry” sump appears, efficiency increases, weight decreases, and aerodynamics improves.
BMW has become one of the most successful companies in the sports field. Having started its activities in the motorcycle industry back in 1924 with the successful R32 model, the company progressed incredibly quickly and increased the power of its devices, which allowed BMW to repeatedly set world speed records. For example, in 1937, one of the five hundred cc models driven by Ernst Henne developed 279 and a half km/h. This record will last 14 years. Motorcycle history for children.
Motorcycle BMW R32 1924. The history of which includes many copies, they were produced in Leningrad, Izhevsk, Podolsk, Taganrog and Serpukhov. At the beginning of the 30s, the first Soviet motorcycles went into mass production, which, due to the lack of experience of engineers in this new path, were often copies of German and English analogues. However, after a few years, Soviet designers began to see original ideas and ideas here and there. As a result, the motorcycle industry of the country of the Soviets comes up with entirely its own developments, such as the L-8 and ML-3.
Soviet motorcycle L-8 The ML-3, perhaps the first Soviet motorcycle developed from scratch, began production in 1939 at the plant in Serpukhov; it was equipped with a lightweight engine with a volume of 123.7 cubic centimeters and a power of 3.5 l/s. and a three-speed gearbox. It was a simple motorcycle in design, which was intended as a mass popular model. The war that soon began prevented its spread, but the history of Soviet motorcycles did not end there yet.
Soviet motorcycle Motorcycle ML-3 1939. The history of the first motorcycles during the war period
The history of the development of motorcycles during the Second World War takes on a special character, because motorcycles at that time were an independent combat unit. Their production in wartime is mostly utilitarian in nature.
Of the most famous military motorcycles, the BMW R75 immediately stands out, serving mainly from 1940 to 1942. It had increased cross-country ability, a 26 l/s engine, a nine-speed gearbox and a hydraulic rear brake. This model cost as much as two cars and therefore was not used in Germany, but was sent to the African Sahara Desert.
Motorcycle BMW R75 1940. Later, Germany began to switch to light motorcycles, for example, the DKW RT125 and DKW NZ350. The latest model was produced exclusively for military purposes, accelerated to 105 km/h and was very passable due to low gear ratios. directly related to the RT125 model, the latter was a prototype for the Soviet device, and the NZ350 was taken as the basis for the IZH-350.
Motorcycle RT125 1942. Developing the theme of Soviet military motorcycles, it is worth noting the legendary “M-72”, copied from the R71 BMW. The production of the car was carried out at the Moscow plant, and then moved to the cities of Tyumen, Gorky, Irbit. Equipped with an opposed lower-valve engine, the M-72 developed a speed of 85 km/h and weighed 380 kg with a sidecar. A total of 8,500 copies were produced and later in the mid-50s the motorcycle went on sale until 1960. The motorcycle was later modified several times and had several sports modifications, including cross-country ones. In 1947, the 750 cc modification of the M-80 set an all-Union speed record of 172 km/h.
Soviet military motorcycle Ural M-72 The war could not have happened without Lend-Lease cars, such as Indian, Velocette, Matchless. However, ahead of everyone, thanks to its reliability and “omnivorousness,” was the American Harley Davidson WLA 42, popularly nicknamed “Valuy” for its capriciousness and reliability.
History of motorcycles in the post-war period
In the destroyed and impoverished post-war Europe there was no place for expensive equipment. The average person could hardly afford a bicycle. The motorcycle industry was forced to adapt to these conditions and produce very cheap cars. Two-stroke engines entered the arena - fuel was still relatively cheap back then. The war period brought many new non-standard solutions to industry, including the motorcycle industry.
The result of one of these decisions was the emergence of a new class - motor scooters. In 1946, based on a project by aeronautical engineer Corradino De Ascanio, the Italian company Piaggio launched the extremely successful Vespa series. Not at all like a classic, it was the first motorcycle in the world of its type and was the embodiment of simplicity and functionality, was easy to manufacture and quickly spread throughout the globe. It had a frameless design, a small low-power motor and only three speeds. The vertical seating position provided special comfort for the rider; Vespas were easily used by women and the elderly. Having become a trendsetter of a new fashion, Vespa often appears in the cinema of the 20th and 21st centuries, and along with another Lambretta scooter, it was an integral part of the British youth subculture of the 50s.
The first Vespa scooter, 1946. The history of motorcycles in Japan begins in 1946, when Soichiro Honda builds his very first motorcycle, which is a bicycle with a 50 cc electric motor, and four years later such well-known brands as Suzuki and Kawasaki enter the domestic Japanese market. It is noteworthy that almost all the famous companies involved in the production of motorcycles previously had a slightly different type of activity; this does not mean at all that such companies retrained to create only motorcycles. This was the case with Yamaha, whose creator began his business in 1897 with the production of musical instruments, and already in 1950 the first two-stroke Yamaha YA-1 was created. And if at the beginning of their journey the Japanese, like us, were mostly engaged in copying German devices, then by the end of the 60s Japanese devices filled the international market.
Two-stroke Japanese motorcycle Yamaha YA-1 1950. Modern era of motorcycle creation
By the 1970s, cars began to replace motorcycles as a means of transportation. In Europe, the production of cheap cars is expanding and simplifying, and the motorcycle is becoming more of a hobby, a lifestyle. There is a fashion for heavy and high-speed road models. Japanese motorcycles with four-cylinder engines do well here. At the same time, the fashion for reckless driving and aggressive driving is growing, which is reaching the USSR. The very image of a motorcyclist has suffered greatly due to the predominant use of this means of transportation by robbers and vandals. However, it was possible to return to its noble appearance literally ten years later.
Motorcycle Honda CB350 1970. Motorsport was actively developing and was divided into various specializations, which led to the emergence of “street” class motorcycles, as well as off-road “enduro” and “trial” motorcycles, which is how they appeared. The history of the appearance of motorcycles with three and four wheels, called trikes and ATVs, respectively, begins around the same time period with the advent of low-pressure arch tires.
In the early 1980s, the use of electronic elements, as well as parts made of plastic, was actively increasing. Two-stroke engines are fading into the background, largely due to the increase in engine capacity. The speed of high-speed production cars is also increasing. Motorcycles are beginning to be equipped with air suspension and disc brakes. From a design point of view, a modern style is beginning to emerge, not much different from today's models. Films history of motorcycles.
Motorcycle Honda CB250 1980. Modern motorcycles in Russia have an extremely sad history, because they simply don’t exist. This happened due to a drop in demand, due to the fact that the majority of the population acquired cars in the 90s. Any attempts to restore production failed - the equipment was outdated and the build quality was extremely low.
Motorcycle Honda CBR250 1990. Conclusion
The history of the motorcycle does not end here - the exponential development of technology and science, in any case, will very soon lead inventors to the use of new materials, the abandonment of petroleum fuel, an increase in the efficiency of motors and much more that we cannot even suspect yet.
A motorcycle is a two-wheeled, self-propelled vehicle that is distinguished from other vehicles by its convenience and accessibility. The motorcycle is used not only as a means of transport these days, but also as a sports car, and it has many fans around the world. There are hundreds of motorcycle manufacturers, you can find out about each of them on the website http://onlymotorbikes.com/ When and by whom was the first motorcycle created?
When and who invented the first motorcycle
The “father” of the first motorcycle was the German engineer Gottlieb Daimler; the appearance of his brainchild dates back to 1885. The car resembled a pedalless bicycle. Daimler installed the single-cylinder gasoline engine on a frame made of wood, and the wheels were also made of wood. Torque was transmitted to the wheels from the motor using a belt. During testing, a machine weighing 70 kg showed the ability to reach a speed of 12 km per hour.
Engineer E. Butler creates a motorcycle in England in 1887, followed by the development of the first motorcycle by the French engineer F. Millet, and then in Italy by E. Bernardi. With the advent of this two-wheeled car, its fans began to passionately strive to set world speed records. Almost everything is known about the history of the invention of the motorcycle.
Starting from the mid-19th century, they began to work on creating a power plant in the form of a steam engine, which they wanted to later install on a two-wheeled carriage. But such engines were imperfect.
Daimler's contribution to motorcycle manufacturing
It was Daimler who managed to design an internal combustion engine running on kerosene. In the last days of August 1885, he tested his brainchild, driving a self-propelled invention. Daimler did not even think at that moment that he had become the creator of such an iconic transport vehicle as a motorcycle. He simply wanted to show the operation of a new engine designed for four-wheeled carriages.
Thus, a motorcycle with an internal combustion engine appeared before a car, although recognition and fame did not come to the motorcycle immediately. Now in that bicycle-like motorcycle you cannot recognize the progenitor of modern “iron horses”. At that time, this miracle was in the form of an original bicycle with four wooden wheels on a wooden frame, moving with the help of a motor.
The wheels were covered with iron. There was a motor under the motorcyclist’s seat, which was difficult to start. The first step was to ignite the flammable mixture by heating a glow tube made of copper using a gasoline heater, and then starting the engine with the crank.
Thus, the genie was released from the bottle - from the beginning of the 20th century, motor vehicles began their rapid movement across the continents.
Modern motorcycles show impressive speed and power. Next we will talk about the fastest motorcycles that have left a significant mark on history.
Fifth place: Bimota YB6 EXUP
This model was created by specialists from two leading companies - the Japanese Yamaha and the Italian Bimota. If the Japanese took over the work on the power component, the design was thought out by a European company.
As a result, the YB6 EXUP motorcycle was presented to the public at the end of 1989. It won the favor of people all over the world, and in Italy this motorcycle became a cult motorcycle - it was produced at a factory in Rimini. The motorcycle has a power of 145 hp. and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 270 km/h.
Fourth place: Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11
This “Japanese” was produced in Japan from 1990 to 2001. Also known under the brand name “Ninja ZZ-R1100”. It was an incredible success in the North American market and was sold there under the “Ninja ZX-11” brand.
It is notable for being the fastest motorcycle in the world for at least six years. At that time, the record speed of motorcycles was 272 km/h, which, in fact, was achieved by the 145-horsepower Ninja ZX-11.
Third place: Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird
This Japanese sports motorcycle was released in 1996. The Honda company has done a great job, producing an extremely reliable, extremely comfortable and truly powerful two-wheeled car.
In 1999, the Japanese introduced a 153 hp engine into the model, which allowed it to become the fastest motorcycle in the world at that time - a speed of 290 km/h. To this day, the worldwide popularity of the “CBR1100XX Super Blackbird” has not faded.
Second place: Suzuki Hayabusa
The model has a unique aerodynamic design, which has a positive effect on the handling of the car - the 176-horsepower motorcycle is incredibly stable even at such an exorbitant speed as 305 km/h.
First place: MV Agusta F4 R 312
And finally, the fastest motorcycle is the MV Agusta F4 R 312. Only this beast from Italy was able to interrupt the hegemony of Japanese designers. The model was released at the end of 2007.
The lightweight and maneuverable motorcycle has a power unit of 183 horsepower, which allows it to accelerate to 320 km/h. The record has been repeatedly confirmed by leading motorcycle publications, and remains untouched to this day.
These are the fastest motorcycles in the world. Every fan of two-wheeled cars should know that only professionals can reach such high speeds on specially equipped tracks, but in urban conditions, safety measures should be observed and not breaking the speed limit.
The most popular type of transport - the motorcycle - appeared at approximately the same time as the car. However, there are researchers who argue that the car is a later invention.
Back in 1885, Gottlieb Daimler presented to the public a unit that was very reminiscent of a modern motorcycle, but very unique: it was similar to a bicycle to which a motor was attached. Moreover: the frame itself and even the wheels of the new technological miracle were made of... wood. There were not two, but four wheels, and instead of the usual rubber they were trimmed with iron. The new vehicle was not powerful - only 0.5 horsepower, the fuel was gasoline or kerosene. To start a motorcycle, you had to work hard: a special tube had to be heated with a gasoline heater, the purpose of which was to ignite the fuel, after which the engine was started with the crank - the whole operation lasted a minute. To start moving, the motorcyclist had to change the tension of two flat leather belts, which were designed to transfer engine power to the wheel at the rear. Braking was carried out like this: the belts were loosened, and a wooden block was pressed against the rear wheel. The vehicle weighed about 70 kilograms and its speed was only 12 kilometers per hour. No matter how primitive and even funny this first copy may have seemed to us, its contemporaries were delighted! Two additional wheels raised questions about their purpose, but it turned out to be simple: Daimler did not know how to control a bicycle, so two side wheels protected him from falling.
Since the world saw the miracle unit described above, motorcycles have come very far in their technical and design characteristics. Hildebrand and Wolfmüller continued to modernize Daimler's vehicle, and in 1894 a motorcycle was designed according to the original design, which later began to be sold in European countries. However, in 1989 they were forced to stop production because the model turned out to be unsuccessful. Failure did not stop the developers: they began to invent a new design. At the same time, the Werner brothers' motorcycle appeared in Paris. The development of motorcycle transport began and continued successfully: Laurin and Clement from the Czech Republic created their own development, which was much more “advanced” compared to previous models. An important point was the location of the engine in the center of the frame, as well as magneto ignition. After the First World War, motorcycles began to appear everywhere: in urban and rural areas they were purchased by people who could not afford a car. In subsequent decades, models appeared - one more interesting and more advanced than the other. In 1930, a well-known American company presented a new, rather heavy motorcycle, the Harley-Davidson 750 (two-cylinder engine and three-speed gearbox, manual gear shift, headlights on the handlebars).
This marked the end of a vast and informative period in motorcycle history - from approximately 1880 to 1930 - in which the basic technical principles of motorcycles were developed. In subsequent years, motorcycle technology was improved more and more, and fierce competition began, as a result of which each model differed in some way from its “brothers.” A modern motorcycle is a stylish design, highest speed and complete comfort.
Video. The evolution of the motorcycle - the history of invention
All over the world it is considered to be the date of birth of the motorcycle. August 29, 1885. It was on this day that the German inventor engineer Gottlieb Daimler drove out of the gates of his workshop in a specially designed two-wheeled carriage with a gasoline engine installed on it.
Actually, Daimler did not think about creating a motorcycle at that time - he just wanted to test the engine. But it so happened that the layout scheme he used turned out to be very successful and has survived to this day almost unchanged.
It will be interesting to know that Gottlieb Daimler’s assistant in this enterprise was also Wilhelm Maybach, who has glorified his name for centuries.Historians claim (which is difficult to verify) that after the first motorcycle ride in history, daredevil Wilhelm Maybach exclaimed: “I congratulate you, Gottlieb! This is not a car, but a bone crusher!”
The first “bone crusher” had a wooden frame with a total weight of 50 kilograms and a single-cylinder, belt-driven gasoline engine with a cylinder capacity of 254 cubic centimeters. The first motorcycle developed power of about half a horsepower and a speed of as much as 12 kilometers per hour (the speed of an untrained runner). Quite modest by today's standards.
A funny fact is that this “two-wheeled cart” was conventionally two-wheeled: on both sides there was an additional pair of auxiliary sprung wheels. About the same as modern children's bicycles. The wheels themselves bore little resemblance to the wheels of today’s “two-wheeled friends,” but were taken from an ordinary antediluvian cart: on metal rims and wooden “spokes.”
New times gave rise to new needs. The motorcycle turned out to be extremely popular at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. And during the World War it was adopted by many warring countries. After all, a motorcycle was much cheaper to produce than a car, while maintaining important speed qualities.
Unfortunately, the shift towards global motorization in the mid-20th century led to a drop in demand for motorcycles. The focus on producing cheap “people’s” cars has pulled the rug out from under the wheels of the motorcycle. The fashion for motorcycles, not as a means of transportation, but as an item of luxury and cult, began to revive first in America in the 60s of the last century. Then this wave swept over the rest of the world.
At that time, Soviet Russia stood apart. While in the West the wave of the automobile boom was rolling in with renewed vigor, and the fashion for motorcycles either disappeared or was revived again, the motorcycle in the Russian outback was in constant demand until the beginning of “modern times” - until the mid-90s of the last century.
The world's first motorcycle, or rather a bicycle with a motor, was created in 1885 by Gottlieb Daimler. The German inventor did not know how to ride a two-wheeled bicycle, and therefore his motorcycle had two more side wheels to maintain balance. It was capable of accelerating to 12 km/h, which was quite a speed for that time. A frame made of wood and four wooden wheels covered with iron - this “jalopy” looked completely different from the modern motorcycle we are used to. But it was he who served as the basis for the further development of motorcycle technology. The heyday of motorcycle production in the USSR came somewhat later than in other European countries, namely in the 1950s.
The first Soviet motorcycle was the Soyuz motorcycle, which was produced by the Aviakhim plant and designed by engineer P. N. Lvov, known for his participation in the creation of the sculpture “Worker and Collective Farm Woman.” In 1924, on August 22, together with other Soviet and foreign motorcycles, the Soyuz traveled from Moscow to Kharkov and returned back to the capital, covering 1,476 kilometers. This was a successful test in which Soyuz proved its ability to compete with foreign brands. The first motorcycle had a single-cylinder four-stroke engine, a dry multi-plate clutch and only three gears. The weight of the motorcycle was 112 kilograms, and the maximum speed was 70 kilometers per hour. It consumed 3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. The disadvantage was that with a rather large volume - 500 cubic centimeters, the engine did not have high enough power. Unfortunately, Soyuz was never allowed into serial production because Aviakhim, aimed at building aircraft, was not focused on motorcycles.
Unlike a motorcycle, a moped has a less powerful engine and is designed for low speeds - up to 50 kilometers per hour, and the moped's engine capacity does not exceed 50 cubic meters. In 1958, the first moped in the USSR - Riga-18 - was produced at the Riga Motor Plant "Red Star". The model did not turn out to be of the best quality, and, after practice at the Czech JAWA plant, serial production of already improved models began in 1961 - Riga-1. This model was quite light, only 45 kilograms, and reached a speed of 40 kilometers per hour. The moped had a single-cylinder two-stroke engine, which was started using pedals, a two-speed gearbox and a double-disc oil clutch. Mopeds were constantly modernized, releasing new models. There was no requirement to obtain a license to drive a moped, so this type of transport was especially popular among teenagers. And in general, the moped was considered a fashionable means of transportation in Soviet times, for example, “The Adventures of Electronics”, one of the main characters - Syroezhkin - rides a Riga moped. After the collapse of the USSR, a crisis began in Latvia, and in 1998 the production of mopeds was stopped, and the Red Star was sold in parts.
A scooter and a scooter are the names of the same vehicle - a hooded light motorcycle with an upright driver's seat. The engine of the “younger brother” of the motorcycle is located at the rear under the seat. The very first motor scooter of the USSR is the Vyatka VP-150, produced in 1957 at the Vyatsko-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant. The Soviet model is a copy of the iconic Italian scooter “Vespa GS150”, which means “wasp”. Indeed, the Italian model, created in 1946 by Piaggio, is graceful, sophisticated and. In 1953, "The Wasp" completely captured the hearts of young people thanks to the film "Roman Holiday", in which the famous actress Audrey Hepburn appears on a Vespa scooter. "Vyatka VP-150", weighing 118 kilograms, can accelerate to 70 kilometers per hour. The Soviet scooter has a single-cylinder two-stroke engine with a capacity of 148 cubic meters. However, the Soviet model has its differences from the Italian one. The Italian scooter has four gears, while the Soviet scooter has three. The ignition switch on the Vyatka is a separate device located on the steering wheel, while on the Osa it is placed in the headlight housing. There are also differences in the shape of the speedometer, inscriptions and other external details. In particular, on the front wheel fender of the Soviet model there is a flag with a red star. “Vyatka VP-150” was the most stylish scooter in the USSR, but in 1966 it was discontinued.
We live in the modern world and are watching the creation of new motorcycles, mopeds and scooters. Every year they become better, more convenient, more powerful. But there are also fans of the so-called retro models who consider them more attractive. And there are many such lovers. There are entire clubs in which people exchange experiences, engage in buying, selling and restoration, extending the life of old domestic models.
