Organized racing burgeoned in the 1900s. Europe had city-to-city road races, while US sport favoured closed dirt tracks and wooden board Motordromes. In Britain, roads were closed for the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT) races and the banked Brooklands circuit opened in 1907. At...
The early 20th century saw motorcycle development grow rapidly in the US, and while some bought in technology from Europe, most American makers chose to forge ahead with their own various solutions. Roads between cities were entirely unmetalled, so effective suspension was a vital development,...
Unveiled in 1905, the fabulous FN Four was one of the first genuinely efficient four-cylinder motorcycles on the market, sporting a shaft drive and a dedicated motorcycle frame. The original 362 cc engine was increased to the near-500 cc capacity of this 1911 model before...
Engineers saw multiple-cylinder engines as a way of increasing power output, especially for sidecar pulling, and achieving greater flexibility along with smoother running. The V-twin seemed the ideal solution, compact and a perfect fit in a normal frame, but others tried flat-twins in various layouts,...
The first Royal Enfield motorcycle was made in 1901, and production continues today. The story began in the Industrial Revolution in Britain and was later taken up on the Indian subcontinent. Along the way, the company has produced one of the most iconic models in...
Many manufacturers began making their own engines, rather than buying them in or producing them under licence. As the first decades of the 20th century progressed, design stabilized around the crossbar-mounted fuel tank with the engine mounted vertically below it, and an optional gearbox behind....
Hundreds of entrepreneurs jumped on the motorcycle-building bandwagon at the turn of the 20th century, seeing its huge growth potential. Some were motivated by cash, others by the chance to have a hand in the rapid development of new technology. All forms of suspension arrangements...
Pedal tricycles were as well developed as bicycles in the late 19th century, so these too attracted the attention of inventors; after all, it was easier to handle a tricycle with a heavy engine attached, than a bicycle. Driving twin back wheels was not so...
One of America's finest motorcycling pioneers, Indian rapidly built a reputation for quality and performance second to none. Although the company survived the Depression, strong competition in the postwar years led to production ceasing in 1953. However, a recent takeover promises to revitalize a marque...
Bicycles had reached an advanced stage of development by the 1880s, most of them closely resembling machines we still ride today. As soon as a small internal combustion engine had been invented, it was a logical step to attach it to a bicycle, creating the...