One of the most popular vehicles of the 20th century is the Motorcycle. Let’s take a look back at the very beginning of this hugely popular means of transport and racing.

Beginnings

The first motorcycle came out in the year 1885. It was a designed by German inventors Wilhelm Maybach and Gottlieb Daimler. Actually what they called their invention was Reitwagen meaning ‘riding carriage’. Basically, this model was a bicycle with a motor and it was the first of its kinds in that time. The motor was powered by petrol.

During the 1880’s, lots of new designs and innovations came out in the bicycle, wherein makers tried to affix a motor to it and make it a more powerful machine to ride. This was happening in England, France, Germany and also America. They were trying to make their bicycle designs conducive to using the then-newly invented internal-combustion engine.

Motorcycle Production

The first reported commercial use of a motorcycle in those days was the one manufactured by Hildebrand & Wolfmüller. With Rapid changes being made in engine technology during those times, manufactures of bicycle changes their designs quickly to accommodate these changes. Finally, instead of them being, just bicycle manufacturers, they turned into exclusive motorcycle manufacturers.

The first purchased motorcycle in America was by French circus performer, in the year 1895. However, strange as it may seem, these machines were still not called motorcycles in those times. The actual credit for coining the term motorcycle goes to American inventor E.J. Pennington. He designed a motorcycle which he claimed could travel at 58 mph and he called his invention a Motorcycle. This was how this term came into popular usage. One of the first companies to produce motorcycles in America in a big way was Harley Davidson.

Harley Davidson

Looking into the extra-ordinary beginnings of the first Harley Davidson motorcycle, it was in 1901, that William S. Harley drew up the prototype for the first pedal-bicycle with a small engine. This engine had a modest displacement of 116 cc and included a four-inch flywheel.

It took him two years of hard work to implement this design. With the help of his friend Arthur Davidson, he developed his invention. His friend’s brother Walter Davidson also helped him. Finally, their machine was ready in 1903. However, this power-cycle, as they called it, was not powerful enough to go through the modest hilly areas of their home town. So, they went back to work on it again.

The second power-cycle they built was the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle. This machine had a much bigger engine than its predecessor. This engine had a 405 cc displacement, 25 cm flywheels and it weighed 13 kg. The machine frame designed was modeled on the 1903 Milwaukee Merkel motorcycle.

Construction of this new loop-frame Harley-Davidson took place in backyard of the Davidson family. Most parts of this vehicle were made most likely in West Milwaukee rail shops, where William Davidson worked as a foreman and hence could give shape to Harley and his brother’s ideas through his tools and equipments. It took till September 1904 for the vehicle to become completely ready and operational. It entered in the Milwaukee motorcycle race and actually came in the fourth position.

The frame design and engine size of this vehicle took it out of the motorized bicycle category and turned it into a new invention – the motorcycle and these features also set the parameters for what motorcycle of the future should essentially contain.

Production of Harley Davidson Motorcycles

The very first factory for Harley Davidson motorcycles was built in 1906. It came up in Chestnut Street and to this day, this is the company’s corporate headquarters. In this year, the factory produced 50 motorcycles. In September of the following year, the Harley Davidson company was incorporated. Their factory expanded in this year and it came to include new facilities, as a result of which 150 motorcycles were produced. One of the key customers they captured then was the police department and till now, police departments still use their motorcycles.

Between the years 1907 to 1910, motorcycles with 45-degree V-Twin engine were produced. These vehicles had an 880 cc engine and ran at a top speed of 60mph. Between these years Harley Davidson produced from what was just 450 motorcycles to 1,149 motorcycles.

In 1911, Harley Davidson began producing V-Twin motorcycles with smaller engines. These were 810cc engines and they gave better performance than the earlier model. In 1913, they demolished their factory and instead built a better factory structure made out of red brick and reinforced concrete. Harley Davidson, around this time also dominated the motorcycle market and even took the lead in motorcycle racing. In 1914 their production count went up to a whopping 16,284.

Harley Davidson during the War Years

When World War I took place, the demand for motorcycles increased. Harley Davidson stood in the forefront delivering quality motorcycles to the military. During this time, they sold about 20,000 motorcycles to the military.

By the time the war ended, Harley Davidson had become the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. In 1920, their motorcycles were sold across the world and they were on an international platform. In 1920, a year after the war, production was 28,189 motorcycles.

1920’s, Depression and the Second World War

The 1920’s saw Harley Davidson take big strides in their motorcycle envelopment and production. Improvements took place in their models. For example, the V-Twin engine started having 1200cc engines from 1922. In 1928, the front brake was introduced.

Harley Davidson saw a slump in production in the years of the great depression. Sales plummeted drastically and to stay afloat, they went into manufacturing industrial power plants, modeled on their motorcycle engines. After the economy came out of the depression years, there was a slow pick and then the Second World War broke out. The War years, once again brought sales to the military, for Harley Davidson. They supplied a military model of their 45″ WL line and in all, they supplied about 90,000 motorcycles (WL), at this time. In addition to this model, the military also asked them to produce a model with features similar to what the BMW R71 included. Harley Davidson created the Harley-Davidson XA, which is a shaft-driven motorcycle, with BMW designs, but with a better engine quality, specifically according to military requirements.

Post Second World War

After the War ended, Harley Davidson did not come to full swing and they faced several problems. They did release some very good motorcycle models such as the Harley Davidson Hummer, Topper, Pacer and Scat. Their image was tarnished as a result of Hollywood. In 1969 they were taken over by a company named American Machinery and Foundry (AMF). AMF did not really resurrect the company and in 1981 they sold it to investors Vaughn Beals and Willie G. Davidson, who turned the company around in a course of time.

Today, Harley Davidson’s motorcycles are world famous and their five basic models are Touring, Softail, Dyna, Sportster and VRSC, each of which are preferred by bikers across the globe and distinguished by their style, engine capacity, suspension, frames and other characteristics.

Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company

Another motorcycle manufacturer that dominated the market, during the same time as Harley Davidson is the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company.

Beginnings

Looking into the history behind this great company, the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company, was established by George M. Hendee and Carl Oscar Hedström. Both these founders were excellent motorcycle racers.

Their first bike they developed was in 1901. It has a 1.75 bhp, single cylinder engine and was a successful model. The following years, saw them bring more innovation into their first model and they brought out new versions, which had better style and innovative belt-drives.

Production of Indian Motorcycle from 1904 till World War I Ended

The year 1904, saw the company release diamond framed Indian Single motorcycle in a red hue, which became the company’s trademark color since then. In 1907, the company designed a V-twin motorcycle, which was very popular. This particular model was used by Erwin Baker to set his motorcycle record of traveling across America and it was also used often in motorcycle racing events. From 1904 till 1913, their motorcycle production went higher and higher and it rose till a maximum of 32000 bikes in 1913. In 1916 they introduced their then-ground-breaking 42 degree V-twin engine model – the Powerplus, which was also used popularly in motorcycle events. It was a much preferred mode for traveling as well and it production continued till 1924.

The 1920’s and Important, Outstanding Indian Motorcycle Models

In the 1920, the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company brought out its most famous motorcycle models – Chief, Scout, and Fours.

The Chief has a 1200 cc engine and from the time they first came out till the 1940’s many improvements were included in them. This was a hugely successfully motorcycle model through the 1940’s. Its production stopped in 1953. However, recently the government commemorated its historical significance through a 39-cent stamp issued in 2006.

Rivaling the Chief was the Scout, which was first introduced in 1920. At that time, it had a 596 cc engine. It was very popular with bikers during the 20’s and it engine size changed too. The 1930’s saw the Scout take on the Chief’s engine, which did not prove to be popular. This decade also saw the introduction of small Scout motorcycles namely Scout Pony, Junior Scout and Thirty-Fifty. The Second World War saw the production of a number of Scouts.

The Four was introduced, after the company acquired Ace Motor Corporation. Many changes were introduced in the model in the 1930’s and it was quite popular. However, this model was discontinued in 1943.

The number of motorcycle models that the Indian sold in the 1940s, rivaled that of Harley Davidson. In fact, the only other manufacturer that people could opt for, next to Harley Davidson was Indian.

After the Second World War

Unfortunately, the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company never picked up after the War. When a group having controlling interest in the company, got hold over the company’s affairs, they did not produce quality motorcycles as before. Finally complete production stopped in 1953. In the 1960’s an entrepreneur named Floyd Clymer began selling motorcycle using the name Indian, but without purchasing the brand name. He attached the name to Italian imported motorcycles, which were successful. However, he passed away in 1970. The business he left behind did not flourish and bankruptcy was declared in 1977.

1970 and Beyond

This was not the end of the Indian motorcycle. In 1999 a new company, purchased the Indian brand name and began production of “Gilroy Indian” motorcycles. These vehicles were modeled on the company’s successful Chief, Scout and Spirit models. Gilroy Indian bikes were made from off-the-shelf S&S engines. This Indian brand continued till 2003, when the company declared bankruptcy.

In 2006, the company was resurrected again, under the name Indian Motorcycle Company. It is run by a London-based private equity firm and their aim is to bring back into focus the Indian Motorcycle Brand.

Currently, the motorcycles that are being produced include a Powerplus V-Twin engine that has been redesigned, with closed loop ad fuel injection. There are plans to open 50 dealerships in the United States by 2011.

Other Motorcycle Manufacturers

During the 1950’s other prominent motorcycle manufacturers in America were NSU and Moto-Guzzi.

Today, popular motorcycle brands include MV Agusta, Ducati, Aprilia, BMW ( their first motorcycles was the R32 which was created in 1923) , KTM ( began motorcycle production on 1953), and Triumph ( British company, formerly known as Bonneville Coventry Ltd, with a production history beginning in 1902). each of these have a popular following of bikers, till this day.

Japanese motorcycles manufactures have also become popular across the globe with names like Suzuki, Honda , Kawasaki, and Yamaha, gaining a huge market in not just their own country, but also on an international platform.