Timeline of motorized bicycle history
Encyclopedia
This timeline of motorized bicycle history is a summary of the major events in the development and use of motorized bicycle
s and tricycle
s, which are defined as pedal cycles with motor assistance but which can be powered by pedals alone.
Motorized bicycle
A motorized bicycle, motorbike, cyclemotor, or vélomoteur is a bicycle with an attached motor and transmission used either to power the vehicle unassisted, or to assist with pedaling. Since it always retains both pedals and a discrete connected drive for rider-powered propulsion, the motorized...
s and tricycle
Tricycle
A tricycle is a three-wheeled vehicle. While tricycles are often associated with the small three-wheeled vehicles used by pre-school-age children, they are also used by adults for a variety of purposes. In the United States and Canada, adult-sized tricycles are used primarily by older persons for...
s, which are defined as pedal cycles with motor assistance but which can be powered by pedals alone.
Events
- 1868 – The first steam driven two wheeled vehicle is the Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipedeMichaux-Perreaux steam velocipedeThe Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede was a steam powered velocipede made in France sometime from 1867 to 1871, when a small Louis-Guillaume Perreaux commercial steam engine was attached to a Pierre Michaux manufactured iron framed pedal bicycle...
created in France. - 1869 – Sylvester H. RoperSylvester H. RoperSylvester H. Roper was an inventor from Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, and a pioneering builder of early automobiles and motorcycles. In 1863 he built a steam carriage, one of the earliest automobiles...
of Massachusetts, USA creates a steam velocipedeRoper steam velocipedeThe Roper steam velocipede was a steam-powered velocipede built by inventor Sylvester H. Roper of Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, United States sometime from 1867–1869. It is one of three machines which have been called the first motorcycle, along with the Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede,...
which he shows at fairs and circuses. - 1885 – Gottlieb Daimler and Wolfgang Maybach of Cannstatt, Germany put their newly developed "grandfather clock" engine in a two wheeled frame to demonstrate their automobile engine. The Daimler ReitwagenDaimler ReitwagenThe Daimler Reitwagen or Einspur was a motor vehicle made by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in 1885, and is widely recognized as the first motorcycle. Daimler is often called "the father of the motorcycle" for this invention...
is the first internal combustion motorcycle. - 1896 – Roy C. Marks of San Francisco produces the first motorcycle made in the USA. It becomes the California MotorcycleCalifornia Motor CompanyThe California Motor Company was founded in San Francisco to produce the motorcycle created by Roy C. Marks formerly of Toledo, Ohio. The 1896 Marks Motorcycle was the first motorcycle made in the United States.-History:...
. - 1897 – The Werner Brothers of France developed a motorized bicycle with a De Dion-Bouton engine mounted above the front wheel.
- 1898 – Laurin and Klement produce the Slavia model A moto cycle. It is a purpose built motorcycle.
- 1900 – Due to poor handling Werner move the engine to the bottom of the frame and patent the design. The 1900 Werner is the first motorcycle layout.
- 1900 – The Singer Motor Wheel was a wheel attached to a small internal combustion engine that would be substituted for the front wheel of a bicycle, motorizing it
- 1903 – A CaliforniaCalifornia Motor CompanyThe California Motor Company was founded in San Francisco to produce the motorcycle created by Roy C. Marks formerly of Toledo, Ohio. The 1896 Marks Motorcycle was the first motorcycle made in the United States.-History:...
motorized bicycle ridden by George Wyman became the first motor vehicle to cross the North American continent. - 1903 –1962 The "Shaw Manufacturing Co." of GalesburgGalesburgGalesburg is the name of some places in the United States of America:*Galesburg, Illinois, the largest city in the US named Galesburg*Galesburg, Kansas*Galesburg, Michigan*Galesburg, North Dakota...
, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
advertises an 241cc chain-drive engine kit (1903 –1915) for motorizing a bicycle in "Popular Mechanics" magazine for $90. - 1914 – The Smith Motor Wheel was introduced, similar in concept to the Singer, but was designed to be fixed to the rear of the bicycle, rather than to replace the front wheel. The design was later picked up by Briggs & StrattonBriggs & StrattonBriggs & Stratton is the world's largest manufacturer of air-cooled gasoline engines primarily for outdoor power equipment. Current production averages 11 million engines per year.-History:...
. http://www.aosmith.com/about/aoshistweb/ - 1918 Evans Power Cycle
- 1919 Johnson Motor WheelJohnson Motor WheelJohnson Motor Wheel was a kit to convert a bicycle into a motorized bicycle. It was manufactured by an American firm, Johnson Brothers Motor Company in Terre Haute, Indiana.-History:The Johnson Motor Wheel was designed in 1914 by Louis Johnson...
- 1939 – The bolt-on WhizzerWhizzer (motorcycles)Whizzer bicycle engines are a line of bicycle engines that were produced in the United States from 1939 to 1965. They were commonly sold as kits to be assembled and attached to a consumer's bicycle thus creating a motorized bicycle. Whizzer U.S.A...
bike motor is introduced; production continues until 1962 http://www.moped2.org/whizzer-bike.htm. In Australia, the Autocycle Malvern StarMalvern StarMalvern Star is a manufacturer of bicycles, located in Melbourne, Australia. It began in 1902, and went on to become a household name in Australia.-History:Malvern Star opened in a small shop at 58 Glenferrie Rd, in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern in 1902...
was introduced, following the pattern of the British Autocycle http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0227.htm - 1946 – In Italy, Vincenti Piatti had designed a 50cc engine unit for driving portable lathes and also foresaw the possibilities of this engine power-assisting a bicycle – the Mini Motore. http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0119.htm
- 1946 – The initial iteration of the VéloSoleXVéloSoleXVéloSoleX is a moped, or motorised bicycle, which was originally produced by the French manufacturer Solex, based in Paris, France. The company manufactured centrifugal radiators, carburetors, and micrometers, before branching into assist motors and bicycles...
motorized bicycle is introduced to the French Public. http://cyclo60.myouebe.net/45cc/45ccen.asp - 1948 – The Trojan Minimotor begins production in Britain and becomes immediately popular. http://freespace.virgin.net/stones.ukp/trojan_minimotor.htm
- 1949 The Mobylette is introduced in France. Its concept was "a bicycle with a nice permanent back wind". This pattern gave its name to the French slang term for moped. 30 million copies were produced until 2002, evolving much through different models during half a century.
- 1950 – The British-made Cyclaid 31cc bolt on bicycle motor is introduced. http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0412.htm This same year also sees the introduction of the popular Cyclemaster motor wheel, also made in Britain from a design by the German DKWDKWDKW is a historic German car and motorcycle marque. The name derives from Dampf-Kraft-Wagen .In 1916, the Danish engineer Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen founded a factory in Zschopau, Saxony, Germany, to produce steam fittings. In the same year, he attempted to produce a steam-driven car, called the DKW...
company. . http://freespace.virgin.net/stones.ukp/cyclemaster.htm - 1952 – The 18cc German Lohmann is one of the few semi-diesel bike motors ever produced and is claimed to be the world's smallest bike motor. http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0282.htmhttp://www.industrimuseet.dk/site_engelsk/subpages/faste%20udstillinger/gaden/museum.htm
- 1966 – The Vélosolex 3800 is introduced and becomes the most popular version of the Vélosolex motorized bicycle, production continues until 1988. http://cyclo60.myouebe.net/3800/3800en.asp
- 1968 – The Honda P50Honda P50The Honda P50 was introduced in June 1966. It earns a place in history as being the last motor-wheel moped design by Honda ....
the last vehicle to incorporate a motor wheel as a power unit is discontinued. http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0080.htm - 1975 – SearsSears, Roebuck and CompanySears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
begins selling the TanakaTanaka Power EquipmentTanaka Power Equipment is a company manufacturing small internal combustion engines and associated light machinery. During the 1960s and 1970s they built the popular Bike Bug bolt-on motor for bicycles, which was also adapted for marine use as well as being sold through Sears rebadged the Sears...
Bike Bug motor under its own Free Spirit brand name; U.S. sales of the Bike Bug continue until 1985. http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0394.htm - 1982 – The "Bumble Bike" friction drive (now Golden Eagle belt drive) is chosen as "Official Transportation" at the Knoxville Worlds Fair.
- 1985 – The Tour de SolTour de SolThe Tour de Sol in Switzerland was the first rally for solar powered vehicles. It was carried out annually from 1985 to 1993. The first event started on June 25 in Romanshorn on the Lake of Constance, and finished on June 30 in Geneva. 72 vehicles started in two classes; over 50 finished...
leads to the development of modern electric bicycles in Switzerland. - 1986 – A group of students develops the TwikeTWIKEThe TWIKE is a human-electric hybrid vehicle /light electric vehicle designed to carry two passengers and cargo. It can be driven in electric-only mode or electric + pedal power mode .Constructed of lightweight materials such as aluminium and plastic, this...
sociable tandem delta tricycle. The prototype was a purely human-powered vehicle but all 850 production vehicles were motorized. Most of these retained an effective pedal drive. - 2003 – Sean Brown re-enacts George Wyman's 1903 San Francisco to New York run, on a custom-built Whizzer.
- 2006 – Motorized Bicycling enjoys a resurgence in popularity, both as hobby and serious alternative transportation.
- 2008 – The first "National" rally in the USA, specifically for Motor-Assisted-Bicycles, took place in Ocean Park WA. There were 29 bikes, of various styles, representing 4 states.
- 2008 – A motorized bicycle ridden by Augie Deabler is accepted as an official entrant at the Bonneville Salt Flats "World of Speed '08." He used a Golden Eagle/Tanaka 32cc, and recorded a top speed in the standing mile of 32.4MPH.