When Were Motorcycles Invented - The History of Motorcycles

Our dearest American bike makers, including Harley-Davidson, Indian, and even Royal Enfield, are more than 120 years old. They are among the oldest bike brands on earth. One can expect the first-ever motorcycle to have been produced in the 19th century.

Without a doubt, motorbikesare great inventions. They changed the concept of traveling and made 1-2 person transport very easy. However, they were not as plush, perfect, and safe initially as they are today. It took them decades to improve and become one of the mainstream transport methods as they are now.

The history of bikes is quite diversified and engaging. There were many attempts that were being made in different parts of the world. Let’s learn about the history of motorcycles in depth, when were motorcycles invented, and who invented the first bike?

It must be noted that the first-ever or initial bike designs were not purely motorbikes. Instead, they were bicycles with small engines, also termed as ‘Mopeds’. Rather than designing and engineering a full-fledged bike design, engineers at that time worked on engines (small ones) to power the bicycle, to make moving to another place comfortable and easy.

These mopeds also had a pedal system to move the bicycle forward. Mopeds had both the pedal system and the engine-powered system to make traveling easier.

Different engine variations to power the bike were also tested and made. However, the first ever bike is considered the one that had a petroleum-powered engine.

Officially, whenever you type in to look for “When was the first bike invented and who was the inventor of the first bike?”, on the internet, it will always come up with ‘1885’, ‘Gottlieb Daimler’, and ‘Wilhelm Maybach’.

Yes, the first ever bike was invented in 1885 by German inventors, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. They named the bike ‘Petroleum Reitwagen’. The bike was built in Bad Cannstatt, Germany. Daimler is considered to be the father of the bike, as he made notable contributions to the invention of the first-ever bike.

The Petroleum Reitwagen was totally different from what we know a bike to be. The first-ever bike was not primarily designed as a final prototype. Instead, it was only considered as a testbed for the engine they made.

The Petroleum Reitwagen, the first bike, had two small extra wheels on either side of the bike, which we know as ‘Bike Training Wheels’ in today’s world. These extra wheels were attached to keep the bike upright while riding and turning. This is the reason why this bike was named ‘Reitwagen’, which means ‘Riding Car’ in German.

The Petroleum Reitwagen is believed to be the first bike invention because it set the base for future motorbikes. It featured the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), which is still being used in bikes in the 21st century.

The Daimler and Maybach’s Reitwagen had many distinctive features and elements. Let’s talk about the different features of the first-ever bike invented:

The first-ever bike was made out of wood. It had a wooden frame and structure. Being the first motorcycle, it had a very conventional wooden design. Despite being made of wood, the Reitwagen ensured adequate structural integrity.

The reason why the Reitwagen earned the title of the first bike produced is the installation of the internal combustion engine. It was a groundbreaking invention at that time. Though it was not extra puncy and fiery, the engine provided adequate power to push the Reitwagen bike forward.

The Petroleum Reitwagen featured two main iron tread wheels, as you will find in most bikes. However, for stability and balance, it came with two extra supporting wheels, also known as dual outrigger wheels, to keep the bike upright.

If you go back to the 1860s, there were countless efforts being made to develop a motorbike, or you can say bicycles with engines. Some sources say that the first-ever steam-powered bike was developed in 1867 by Ernest Michaux, who was the son of Pierre Michaux, the founder of ‘Michaux et Cie’. This company used to make bicycles with pedals, known as velocipedes.

The history of bikes in this period is quite blurred, so you may not clearly identify who actually made the first steam-powered bike.

Another claim was made by a Michaux employee that he had developed the steam-powered prototype in 1863. He filed for the patent in the U.S. office in 1866.

Louis-Guillaume Perreaux, a French engineer, also developed a similar single-cylinder steam engine prototype. He filed for the patent in 1868. He made the bike with the alcohol burner, along with dual belt drives.

The Roper Steam Velocipede is not officially known to be the first bike invention, even though it was made in 1868. This steam-powered bike was made by an American, Sylvester H. Roper, in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

The Steam Velocipede was a twin-cylinder steam-engine-powered bike. This bike featured a coal-fired boiler installed on the frame of the bike. However, Roger’s invention went suddenly out of the scene shortly after his death in 1896.

Unlike the Petroleum Reitwagen, the bike invented by Daimler and Maybach, the Roger Steam Velocipede had two wheels. This bike came without the supporting wheels, which helped the bike lean while taking a turn. Meanwhile, the supporting or extra wheels installed on the Petroleum Reitwagen restrict the leaning of the bike while taking turns.

For those who understand motorcycling better, the Roper Steam Velocipede was closer to a true bike’s design due to having two wheels. The purpose of Daimler and Maybach’s Petroleum Reitwagen was to test the ICE engine they installed in the bike. They wanted to carry on with their ICE engine and to improve it for further use in other vehicles.

Though the first motorcycle invention, according to official records, is Daimler and Maybach’s Reitwagen, the first series production bike is known to be the Hilderbrand & Wolfmüller. It was designed and made in Germany in 1894. It was a proper bike. In Germany, it used to be called a ‘Motorrad’, meaning ‘motorbike’ in German.

In 1896, a British bike company, based in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, produced its first bike. The company initially used to produce bicycles.

This is how the cycle continued, and then the major companies that had a keen interest in producing bikes continued producing gas-powered bikes.

All of the above initially produced bikes have played a huge role in laying the foundation of the modern bikes that we ride today. These bikes may not be the safest or the most plush. However, the invention of the first bike helped bring continued improvements in motorbikes.

Starting from a simple small-capacity clipper engine installed on bicycles, we have reached a point where we have V-Twins, inline-twin, inline-triple, V-four, and L-Twin engines that are shaping the bike industry.

Bikes, today, are quite safer, thanks to the latest safety rider aids and tech features. Modern-day bikes are also very plush, smooth, and engaging. As a rider, you are not only safe, but you will love to ride these bikes. They have become more adventurous and engaging.