While the invention of the Motorcycle is subject to great debate and contention even today, what is certain is that its evolution is both impressive and fun to look at. From the early steam models and gas powered predecessors, to today's high performance designs, the journey of the Motorcycle's development is a testament to man's ingenuity and skill.

The idea of a two wheeled motorized vehicle appears to have occurred to multiple people at around the same time. Hence, there is a multitude of different designs and forms in the earliest ye ..... Continue Reading. Click HERE .......

A J Stevens & Co (AJS), was founded by Harry, George, Jack and Joe Stevens on 14th November 1909.

Harry set about designing the first two machines called model A and Model B, which saw the company through until the war.

1912 saw the launch of the model D.  However, due to the War, petrol was scarce, so the company decided to try testing town gas instead.  They managed to set up a feed, and the speed was varied by turning the gas on or off.

On 3rd November 1916, the government prohibited the productio ..... Continue Reading. Click HERE .......

Harley-Davidson is an American manufacturer that is steeped in pop-culture lore. This motorcycle manufacturer also has one of the longest histories of any American company still in business today. Here is a brief overview of that very rich history.

Harley-Davidson actually began as childhood friendship between the founders of the company, William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson. This friendship continued when Arthur helped William build their first motor engine from plans that William had designed in 1901. Finished in 1903, this modest eng ..... Continue Reading. Click HERE .......

Designed by HITLER - Modified by STALIN - Manufactured by MAO

The BMW is one of the most influential enduring designs in world history. These sidecar motorcycles were original designed for the civilian market in Nazi Germany in 1938, but because of their exceptional reliability and off road maneuverability, they were quickly adopted by Hitler's military. The bikes proved themselves to be so good that soon other countries began making there own copies for their armed forces: the American government contracted Harley-Davidson to build the ..... Continue Reading. Click HERE .......

Todays motorcycles are everywhere and there are lots of different classes or kinds of motorcycles as well. But the motorcycle, like the automobile, is a relative newcomer to the world stage.

The first motorcycle ever assembled was built by the German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in 1885 in Bad Cannstatt in Germany. They were actually focusing more on the motor that was installed to power the two-wheeled contraption and not so much on creating a new kind of vehicle, but the resulting impact on motorized travel would be t ..... Continue Reading. Click HERE .......

It is said that the first scooter appeared in 1945, but it also well-known that Georges Gauthier presented a special motorcycle in 1902. This Frenchman presented a motorcycle which had very narrow wheels and which also has an open frame. This motorcycle also had a protection device, which made it very similar to the scooters we know today. This motorcycle was manufactured until 1914.

The origin of the motorcycle is very debated. According to some people, the motorcycle belongs to the German Henrich Hildebrand, who adapted a small steam m ..... Continue Reading. Click HERE .......

Is history important? At times, we have the notion that we should leave history in the past. Perhaps we argue that all we have is the present. Maybe we feel disconnected from events that happened years, decades, or even centuries ago. Possibly, we believe that today's innovations have made yesteryear obsolete. However, a product's history provides us with a better understanding of, and appreciation for, today's versions of the product. So before you strap on your Harley Davidson motorcycle boots, remember that without the motorcycle, no need fo ..... Continue Reading. Click HERE .......

The Veloce company was formed by a family of motorcyclists, which showed through the design and quality of the manufacturing of the machines called Velocette.

That family was the Goodman's, and three generations controlled the Hall Green firm over the years.

Between the years 1913 to 1925, Velocette produced high quality, but expensive 250cc 2-strokes, which gained an excellent reputation, that were entered into competitions such as the Isle of Man TT races. The single cylinder manchines had many advanced features for their time, ..... Continue Reading. Click HERE .......

"If you are going to do something, be the best"

Ginichi Kawakami, Yamaha Motor Company First President.

Yamaha Motorcycles, under this motto, employing all its creativity, and with a very strong spirit of challenge, became what it is now: one of the biggest players in the worldwide motorcycling scene.

But Yamaha's history doesn't start with motorcycles...

It is back in 1877 that Torakusu Yamaha started with the Nippon Gakki Company that later would become Yamaha Corporation: an important manufacturer of fine musical ..... Continue Reading. Click HERE .......

As with the story of many other motorcycle manufacturing companies, Kawasaki's history began on entirely different lines. Although by 1949 they were producing engines that could be adapted for motorcycle use, the first real motorbike didn't appear until 1954. Historically, the company had been involved in heavy industry, including the manufacture of aircraft, ships and trains.

The company's first offerings were a 60cc two-stroke, and a150cc and 250cc four-stroke respectively, which were developed using German technology. Kawasaki and BMW ..... Continue Reading. Click HERE .......