Motorcycle

Lore & Background

The first internal combustion, petroleum-fueled motorcycle, the Daimler Reitwagen, was built in Germany in 1885. Unlike safety bicycles or earlier boneshaker bicycles, it had zero degrees of steering axis angle and no fork offset, relying on two outrigger wheels to remain upright while turning. The inventors called it the Reitwagen, intended as a testbed for their new engine. An earlier three-wheel design, the Butler Petrol Cycle, was exhibited in London in 1884 and built in 1888, featuring a flat-twin four-stroke engine with rotary valves and a float-fed carburettor, but it lacked a braking system and was not a commercial success. The first series production motorcycle was the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller in 1894. Motorcycles are two or three-wheeled motor vehicles steered by a handlebar from a saddle-style seat. Designs vary greatly for purposes such as long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport, and off-road riding. The three major types are street, off-road, and dual purpose. Street bikes include cruisers, sportbikes, scooters, and mopeds. Off-road motorcycles are designed for dirt-oriented racing like motocross and are often not street legal. Dual purpose machines combine off-road capability with features for street legality and comfort. Each configuration offers specialized advantages or broad capability and creates a different riding posture.

Reader's Guide

Motorcycles are ridden for a wide array of purposes, including long-distance travel, daily commuting, leisurely cruising, sport and racing, and off-road riding. The activity of motorcycling extends beyond simply operating the vehicle to encompass social engagement, such as joining motorcycle clubs and attending rallies. Globally, motorcycles are a major form of transport, with sales figures in 2021 approaching those of cars: approximately 58.6 million new motorcycles were sold worldwide that year, compared to 66.7 million cars. In the United States, however, riding carries significantly higher risks; according to 2024 data from the US Department of Transportation, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled for motorcyclists was 28.00, nearly 27 times that of passenger car occupants (1.05) and over 44 times that of light-truck occupants (0.63). The injury rate for motorcyclists (391) was nearly five times that of passenger car occupants (86) and over seven times that of light-truck occupants (54). The first internal combustion, petroleum-fueled motorcycle was the 1885 Daimler Reitwagen, built by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Germany, though earlier steam-powered two-wheelers were demonstrated in the 1860s. The first series production motorcycle was the 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller. Major contemporary producers include Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki. Motorcycles are legally defined differently across jurisdictions, but are broadly categorized into street, off-road, and dual-purpose types, each with numerous sub-types designed for specific uses and riding postures.

Did You Know?

• In 2021, approximately 58.6 million new motorcycles were sold globally, compared to 66.7 million cars.