| The history of the motorcycle goes back over | | | | Walter Kaaden's work in the 50's in East |
| 100 years, when an American gentleman made a | | | | Germany. Although Harley Davidson is still the |
| steam powered motor that would be small | | | | leading bike manufacturer for the motorcycle |
| enough to fit onto his bicycle. Howard Roper from | | | | market, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki |
| Roxbury, Massachusetts, got tired of pedaling his | | | | are also doing very well with their developments |
| bicycle over long distances. Taking months and | | | | of a durable and elegant looking street bike. |
| months to draw diagrams and thinking just how | | | | Motorcycles have even gone into dirt bike track |
| he could make a steam engine that would be | | | | racing and cross-country racing. Several world |
| small enough to relieve the pressure from his legs | | | | records have been made on dirt bikes and some |
| and feet as he traveled from place to place on | | | | bike names have ended up in the Guinness Book |
| dirt roads and paths. Finally in 1867, Roper | | | | of World Records. Motorcycles have a place in |
| succeeded; it was powered by burning coal to | | | | some of the Olympic Games as the |
| create the steam. This bike has been displayed in | | | | advancements and the changes have been |
| many fairs and circuses over the years. In 1885, | | | | changed to the extent of taking parts off the |
| Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach (later to be | | | | original bike to make it lighter. Motorcycles have |
| the founders of the Mercedes, the forerunner of | | | | jumped many cars, trucks, and even the Grand |
| the Mercedes Benz), produced the first petroleum | | | | Canyon. Today riders are doing back flips, hand |
| powered motor bicycle. However, not until 1894 | | | | stands, and various other daredevil stunts. Looking |
| was a motorized two wheeled vehicle (Hildebrand | | | | through EBay, you will be able to find many |
| & Wolfmuller) made available for the | | | | different antique motorcycles from the old Indian |
| transportation market. As engines became too | | | | Frames to the Harley Davidson 1983 Wide Glide, a |
| powerful for just a bicycle, and the designs | | | | TR6 Triumph Trophy, and Suzuki DRZ 2003 and |
| changed very quickly, the leading manufacturer of | | | | DRZ 250. Some of these bikes have been |
| motorcycles, (the Indian brand), had already | | | | Chromed Out and restored to a very beautiful |
| produced well over 20,000 motorcycles a year | | | | luster. There is no better feeling than to be riding |
| until World War I. By the 1920's, Harley Davidson | | | | down the road and being able to feel the wind in |
| took this lead away from the Indian Company as | | | | your face and the freedom you feel when you |
| the Harley Davidson Company had acquired many | | | | are riding a motorcycle. Motorcycles are today |
| dealers in as many as 67 countries throughout the | | | | becoming more and more popular due to the fuel |
| world. By the end of World War II, BSA bikes | | | | crises all around the world. With the smaller size |
| took the title away from Harley Davidson, and | | | | engine and the less fuel consumption, motorcycles |
| until the 1950's had produced 75,000 bikes a year. | | | | may be the next thing we see for commuters. |
| Through the 1990's, there had been extensive | | | | For more information about motorcyles and |
| work done on two stroke bike engines due to | | | | motorbikes including motorcycle auctions, pls. |