The History of Motorcycles

Motorcycles are an excellent way to get around town and save on gas costs. They also have less of an impact on the environment, and they are much easier to park than cars. You can fit in tight parking spaces and parallel park a lot more easily. The drawback is that you must be alert and focused at all times, since you have a narrow field of view and cannot see everything around you. You must also wear proper safety gear to protect yourself against road debris, other vehicles, and pedestrians. Alcohol and drugs are dangerous on a motorcycle, because they impair judgment, coordination, balance, throttle control, and reaction time.

People started putting engines on bicycles in the 1800s, with some of the first motorcycles being steam powered (Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede in Europe and Sylvester Roper’s steam velocipede in Boston, MA). In 1884 an inventor named Butler put a petrol engine on a three-wheeled cycle, creating the motorcycle. This was the beginning of mass production for motor cycles.

After WWII, GI’s who were returning home from battle began purchasing civilian motorcycles that looked like the ones they used in the war. These soldiers often formed motorcycle clubs, which gave them the same sense of community they had shared with their comrades overseas and helped them to find purpose in their lives again.

Today there are many different types of motorcycles. Some are designed for urban riding and tarmac roads, others for mountain or dirt bike riding. There are also cruisers for leisurely rides, and adventure bikes that are capable of both on-road and off-road riding. The smallest motorcycles are called mopeds, and they are usually low-cc bikes designed to nimbly navigate traffic and save on fuel costs.