Motorcycles Essay, Research Paper

In 1868 Ernest and Pierre Michaux of France, experimented with a steam-powered

bicycle. This engine was to big and heavy to really do much other than be a good

idea. In 1868, steam powered motors was all that they had. The idea of a

motor-powered bicycle had not come around again until 1884 when the gas powered

combustion engine was a fairly common thing. In 1884 a man from England named

Edward Butler attached a motor to his son?s tricycle. Then four months later

he attached a larger motor to his own custom tricycle. Every one thought that

this idea was the best. Well the news got out to a German named Gottlieb

Daimler. Daimler thought that he had to make one of the machines. But

Daimler?s machine was different. Daimler?s machine had an ordinary bicycle

for a frame instead of a tricycle. Daimler finally got his motor bicycle

completed in1886. Soon after Daimler had finished his bike he lost interest in

two wheels and went on to pioneer the automobile. These three machines were the

birth of motorcycle. The first really successful motorcycle was built in 1901.

The people who built it were Michael and Eugene Werner. They adopted the classic

style of motorcycle that is used today with the motor between your legs and

underneath the gas tank. The word ?motorcycle? wasn?t really even used

until the end of the twentieth century. Motorcycle meant and bicycle or tricycle

with an engine. Some of the kinds of motorcycles were two-wheeled bikes,

three-wheeled bikes, mini-bikes, mopeds, and motor scooters. The scooter was

extremely popular in Italy. Motorcycle racing began in 1897. The first official

race was in Richmond, Surrey, England. Most of the racing back then was either

city-to-city or informal road races. Starting at about 1905 closed-circuit

racing was big among racers. First of all it was easier. All you had to do was

turn one way, and go around a track for a certain number of times. Pretty much

all of these bikes were twin cylinder bikes with about a 35 cubic inch motor, or

433 cubic centimeters. This changed in 1904 when Harley-Davidson made their

first bike. It had a 45 cubic inch (750 cubic centimeters) V-twin motor. Other

people then soon adapted their bikes to have bigger engines. The exception to

closed circuit racing is the Tourist Trophy race that originated on the Isle of

Man in 1907. The Tourist Trophy was first set at 37⅓ miles but was later

changed to 38? miles. This race was the first sponsored race. It was sponsored

by Triumph Bikes for a promotion. This marked a major mile stone for motorcycle

racing. In the early 1900?s if you wanted a motor cycle you either had to make

one your self or have someone with a good mechanic background make one. If you

wanted to buy one, it was really expensive. If you wanted to make one, it would

take you a lot of time. This problem was solved in 1904. Two manufacturers,

Harley-Davidson and Triumph, started to manufacture their bikes. These bikes

were fairly expensive. There was a lot of labor to these bikes. They had to make

each fit just right. Because of this reason they could only manufacture about 10

bikes a year. But the industry wanted, and needed these bikes. It was a cheaper

way of traveling from place to place. Even when the automobile many people still

had scooters or motorcycles because they were cheaper and easier to operate.

Many people who wanted to deliver things from town to town, that didn?t like

the speed of a horse and buggy, bought these bikes. The bike became a major part

in our lives. In 1913, the Chicago police department started to experiment with

motorcycles. There were now half-a-dozen different companies in the U.S. and

about a dozen internationally, including Norton, BSA, and Vincent. Motorcycles

were becoming huge everywhere. Then the Great Depression came along and

motorcycles were scarcer. Gas was hard to come by. The motorcycle was more

commonly used than automobiles because they had way better gas mileage. Once the

Great Depression only three American brands remained, Harley-Davidson, Indian,

and Triumph. Motorcycles were now commonly used for racing or for pleasure. Cars

became more popular because they had a longer season to be used. Bikes gradually

evolved until 1958 when the first four-cylinder motorcycle was made. Many people

were going away from the classic look and buying Asian bike like Kawasaki,

Honda, Suzuki, and then later Yamaha. These bikes had a noticeably higher sound

because they ran at higher rpm?s. These bikes also generally went faster.

Another very noticeable feature about these bikes was that they were shaft

driven rather than belt or chain driven like they have been. They soon took over

the racing market. Today there are many different kinds of motorcycle racing.

One of the most popular forms of motorcycle racing is motocross. In motocross

you use dirtbikes. The two classes of motocross are 125cc and 250cc. Usually the

250cc races are more exciting to watch because of the faster speeds and larger

jumps. Motocross is done on a dirt track. This track is usually indoors during

colder seasons and outside during hotter seasons. The dirt track has many

different challenges. There are many jumps and bumps to watch out for. Usually

if you can get further on a jump than a competitor you will have a faster run.

There is usually about ten to twelve laps in these races. Another aspect of the

course is the hairpin turn. The hair pin turn is a very sharp turn that if you

go to fast you will wipe out and if you go to slow people will pass you. The

hairpin turn can make or break a race. Today motocross racing is probably the

most watched form of motorcycle racing. Another way of racing is stock racing.

In stock racing the racers have highly modified bikes that barley resemble bikes

at all. The bike is much wider than most bikes. The rear tire is about one and a

half feet wide. There is also a wheelie-bar to stop the bike from going on just

one wheel. The bike is about ten feet long. The track they use is a straight

track. The key to winning this type of racing is reaction time. This type of

racing is the fastest type of racing also. Bikes can reach speeds of up to two

hundred fifty. Because of these high speeds, in order to stop in a reasonable

distance a parachute is released out the back.

Compton?s Encyclopedia ?1998 A-Z of Motorcycles by Roland Brown ? 1989

Harley Davidson: The Ultimate Machine by Todd Rafferty ?1992