When Did the World's First Motorcycle Appear?
3 Answers
In 1876, German engineer Otto invented the four-stroke engine fueled by gasoline. Here is some relevant information about motorcycles: Types of motorcycle licenses: Currently, there are three types of motorcycle licenses in China—F, E, and D. The F license only permits riding mopeds with engine displacements below 50CC, but this type of license is rarely pursued. The E license allows riding any two-wheeled motorcycle without displacement restrictions, while the D license permits riding all two-wheeled and three-wheeled motorcycles. Therefore, holding an E license enables riding all two-wheeled motorcycles, as there is no separate license for large-displacement motorcycles. Concept of motorcycles: A motorcycle is a two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle powered by a gasoline engine, steered by handlebars to control the front wheel. It is lightweight, flexible, and fast, widely used for patrols, passenger and cargo transport, and also serves as sports equipment.
I've looked up some information, and the world's first motorcycle appeared in 1885, created by German engineers Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach while they were experimenting with a new internal combustion engine. This vehicle was called the 'Reitwagen,' meaning 'riding carriage.' Essentially, it was a modified wooden bicycle frame fitted with their single-cylinder engine, and it ran incredibly slowly—only about 12 kilometers per hour. But it was historically significant because it started the trend of internal combustion engine vehicles. During the Industrial Revolution, people were passionate about various inventions, and this project was initially designed to test engine performance. During testing, accidents like tipping over were common. Interestingly, this paved the way for the later motorcycle industry, with brands like Harley and Ducati benefiting from it. Thinking about it now, without this beginning, the cool high-speed motorcycles we ride today might not even exist.
As a mechanical enthusiast, let me talk about the first motorcycle, created in 1885 by Daimler and Maybach, which was truly based on the principle of internal combustion. This Reitwagen used wooden wheels and a simple chain drive, with an engine power of about 0.5 horsepower. It had no complex gears or braking system, relying solely on direct rear-wheel drive. At that time, there were no gas stations, so they had to burn kerosene or gasoline themselves, making the testing process quite crude. From a technical perspective, it was far superior to bicycles, as it incorporated a power source. Modern motorcycles have seen tremendous advancements, such as efficient engines and safety designs, but the core concept originated from this. I believe exploring these old inventions can teach us how innovation iterates step by step, like the evolution from single-cylinder to multi-cylinder engines.
