What Was the Earliest Motorcycle?
2 Answers
China's earliest motorcycle was the Jinggangshan brand. In 1885, German inventor Gottlieb Daimler mounted an engine onto a framed machine, giving birth to the world's first motorcycle. Therefore, the motorcycle was invented by German Gottlieb Daimler in 1885. More details are as follows: Background: In August 1951, China officially began independently trial-producing and manufacturing motorcycles. At that time, the Beijing Automobile Manufacturing and Fitting Plant No. 6 of the People's Liberation Army completed the trial production of five heavy-duty military motorcycles, which were named Jinggangshan brand by the Central Military Commission. Performance of Jinggangshan Motorcycle: The vehicle could reach a maximum speed of 110 kilometers per hour. By 1953, the annual production of Jinggangshan brand two-wheel motorcycles exceeded 1,000 units. The advent of the Jinggangshan motorcycle marked the dawn of a new era in China's motorcycle industry.
I recall when studying motorcycle history, the Reitwagen invented by German engineer Gottlieb Daimler in 1885 is widely recognized as the earliest motorcycle. It was essentially a modified bicycle fitted with a small gasoline engine, producing only about 0.5 horsepower and reaching a top speed of just 11 km/h. During testing in Munich by Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, its wooden frame and belt-driven rear wheel proved unstable, yet it demonstrated the practicality of internal combustion engines. This invention was particularly significant during the Industrial Revolution as it bridged the bicycle era with modern transportation. The Reitwagen later influenced the 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller mass-produced motorcycle and prompted Daimler to shift toward automobile manufacturing, driving a global transportation revolution. As a mechanical enthusiast, I find this history fascinating—it helps us understand the evolutionary foundation of today's high-performance motorcycles.
