| The history of the motorcycle goes back over 100 | | | | done on two stroke bike engines due to Walter |
| years, when an American gentleman made a steam | | | | Kaaden's work in the 50's in East Germany. |
| powered motor that would be small enough to fit | | | | Although Harley Davidson is still the leading bike |
| onto his bicycle. Howard Roper from Roxbury, | | | | manufacturer for the motorcycle market, Honda, |
| Massachusetts, got tired of pedaling his bicycle over | | | | Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki are also doing very |
| long distances. Taking months and months to draw | | | | well with their developments of a durable and elegant |
| diagrams and thinking just how he could make a | | | | looking street bike. |
| steam engine that would be small enough to relieve | | | | Motorcycles have even gone into dirt bike track |
| the pressure from his legs and feet as he traveled | | | | racing and cross-country racing. Several world records |
| from place to place on dirt roads and paths. Finally in | | | | have been made on dirt bikes and some bike names |
| 1867, Roper succeeded; it was powered by burning | | | | have ended up in the Guinness Book of World |
| coal to create the steam. This bike has been | | | | Records. Motorcycles have a place in some of the |
| displayed in many fairs and circuses over the years. | | | | Olympic Games as the advancements and the |
| In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach (later | | | | changes have been changed to the extent of taking |
| to be the founders of the Mercedes, the forerunner | | | | parts off the original bike to make it lighter. |
| of the Mercedes Benz), produced the first petroleum | | | | Motorcycles have jumped many cars, trucks, and |
| powered motor bicycle. However, not until 1894 was | | | | even the Grand Canyon. Today riders are doing back |
| a motorized two wheeled vehicle (Hildebrand & | | | | flips, hand stands, and various other daredevil stunts. |
| Wolfmuller) made available for the transportation | | | | Looking through EBay, you will be able to find many |
| market. | | | | different antique motorcycles from the old Indian |
| As engines became too powerful for just a bicycle, | | | | Frames to the Harley Davidson 1983 Wide Glide, a |
| and the designs changed very quickly, the leading | | | | TR6 Triumph Trophy, and Suzuki DRZ 2003 and DRZ |
| manufacturer of motorcycles, (the Indian brand), had | | | | 250. Some of these bikes have been Chromed Out |
| already produced well over 20,000 motorcycles a | | | | and restored to a very beautiful luster. |
| year until World War I. | | | | There is no better feeling than to be riding down the |
| By the 1920's, Harley Davidson took this lead away | | | | road and being able to feel the wind in your face and |
| from the Indian Company as the Harley Davidson | | | | the freedom you feel when you are riding a |
| Company had acquired many dealers in as many as | | | | motorcycle. Motorcycles are today becoming more |
| 67 countries throughout the world. By the end of | | | | and more popular due to the fuel crises all around the |
| World War II, BSA bikes took the title away from | | | | world. With the smaller size engine and the less fuel |
| Harley Davidson, and until the 1950's had produced | | | | consumption, motorcycles may be the next thing we |
| 75,000 bikes a year. | | | | see for commuters. |
| Through the 1990's, there had been extensive work | | | | |