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First Motorcycle
Sylvester Howard Roper invents the first motorcycle. It was a 2 cylinder, steam engine powered by coal. -
First 4 Stroke
Nicolaus Otto creates the first four-stroke piston cycle internal combustion engine which was put into the first motorcycle. -
First Gas Powered Motorcycle
Gottlieb Daimler creates the first gas engine powered motorycle attached to wooden bike -
Pneumatic Tires
Alew Millet incorporated the use of pneumatic tires instead of heavy. solid rubber tired. -
First Series Production
Hildebrand & Wolfmüller created the first series production motorcycle. Made Travel easier, just as the car did in later years. -
DeDion-Buton Engine
French firm DeDion-Buton created an engine that was easy to produce and allowed mass production of motorcycles. used by many companies including Harley-Davidson. -
Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company
First big motorcycle company originally known as Indian Hendee Manufacturing Company but renamed to Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company in 1928. -
Triumph
Initially Bonneville Coventry Ltd, Triumph Motorcycles was one of the forefathers of invention. Huge part of creation and still a big influence to this day, with advancements engineering they remain as a big game changer, -
Harley Davidson
William Harley and the Davidsons brothers launched the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, which is very popular today. Aided in creation of choppers the bigger street bikes, which are still popular today. -
Pneumatic Suspension Forks
The Scott Motorcycle Company started to produce motorcycles with telescopic pneumatic suspension systems. -
BMW Motorrad
BMW Motorrad gets into the game as an expansion of BMW and becomes very popular throughout history. they incorperated the Boxer Engine into motorcycles paving the way for diffrent configurations in later years. -
Boxer Engine
BMW created a motorcycle using a compact "boxer" engine that was enclosed with the transmission inside an aluminum housing. -
Ducati
Ducati started as an italian company for hoses, tubes, condesners, and radio components but created a motorcycle prototype in 1944. It was a hit with public and Ducati started producing motorcycles. They are a major influence in the racing industry, and with super/sport bikes today. -
KTM
KTM is knnown for its off-road motorbikes. They were one of the first companies to make a more versitile motorcycle allowing it to go anywhere, but also built street bikes. -
Hydrualic Suspension Forks
BMW started to mass produce motorcycles that were equipped with hydrualic teloscopic forks. -
Kawasaki
Originally known as Meguro Manufacturing Co, the oldest japanese motorcycle company. The Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Meguro Manufacturing Co merged in 1962 to form Kawasaki Motorcycle Co. -
Suzuki
Suziki introduced their first models of motorcylces in 1952, and became a big infuence in motorsports still to this day. -
Honda
Honda begins motorcycle production, and becomes one of the larger producers of today. -
Yamaha
Yamaha launches their first production of motorcycles in 1955. They helped create larger advances in CC's of engines. Also a big influnce in motorsports to this day. -
Disc brakes
Honda introduced the first motorcycle, the CB750, with disc brakes. -
Motorcycle Gear Shifter
Charles W. Lindquist patented an adjustable stirrup type motorcycle gear shifter allows the cyclist to slip his shoe into shifting position, either sidewardly or lengthwise, for safe retention during up and down gear shifting. -
Buell
Ex- Harley Davidson engineer Erik Buell founds Buell Motorcycles. in 1993 Harley aquires 49% of Buell. In October 2009 Harley dicontinues Buell, In November Buell Racing is launched. Created lightweight tube-frame bikes, important for racing industry. -
Anti-Lock Brakes
BMW was the first motorcylce company to introduce an anti-lock brake system to theie motorcycles. -
Motorcycle Airbag
Yasuhito Miyata patanted the first airbag designed for a motorcycle -
Yamaha Hybrid
Yamaha patents its hybrid system for better feul efficiency -
Honda Hybrid
Honda patents its hybrid motorcycle system for better fuel efficiency -
Water-cooled Electric Engine
Brammo Empulse Motorcycle is equipped with a water cooled electric elngine. never done before on electric bikes -
Frameless Motorcycle
Ducati designed a motorcycle with no skeletal frame to severely cut down weight and increase motorcycle performance
