The history of motorcycles consists of great stories. There are stories of successes and failures, partnerships and rivalries, friendships made and friendships broken, failed experiments and advancements in technologies, great victories and miserable defeats all driven by human creativity and adventurous spirit.
Tuesday Trivia will be a piece of history, a fun fact or motorcycle trivia. Some of the motorcycle facts will blow your mind, some will make you smile and some will make you scratch your head.
Hopefully you will increase both your knowledge and enjoyment of motorcycle riding - maybe it will even help you win a trivia quiz as you display your astounding smarts!
Duke Cannon for Bikers - tough on grime! |
Since the early 1970’s Japanese motorcycle manufacturers have dominated the MotoGP championships; however, no Japanese rider has won the MotoGP championship.
Japanese manufactures are strong in MotoGP |
Few have created wide spread public interest in motorcycles as Evil Knievel (Robert Craig Knievel). With over 75 ramp to ramp jump attempts from 1966 to January 1977 he captivated public interest. He is dubbed the Godfather of extreme sports.
The original daredevil |
In the 1930's foreign made motorcycles were very rare in the USA. However, Bill Johnson opened a Triumph Motorcycles dealership in a high traffic area of Pasadena, California. He sponsored races and quality racers during the 40's - 60's. His efforts paid off as Triumph sales grew in the USA. He has been dubbed "America's Man of Triumph."
America's Man of Triumph - Bill Johnson |
The tiny island known as Isle of Man is home of the famous Isle of Man TT motorcycle race. The 37.73 mile (60.725 km) course has some amazing records. The fastest lap is held by Peter Hickman on a BMW S1000RR at 16:42.778 minutes! Average speed was 135.452 mph (217.989 km/h) and he was running Dunlop tires.
Peter Hickman at the Isle of Man on his BMW S1000RR |
The world famous Motor Maids began in 1940 with 51 members. Today membership exceeds 1,200. The first president was Dot Robinson and she was the president for 25 years. To quote from the Motor Maids’ website “Today, 81 years later, the Motor Maids, are one of the oldest continuously operated Women’s Motorcycling Organization in North America. Joining the Motor Maids will enlarge the 1,300+ membership that is a diverse group with a passion for riding, promoting safe riding habits and showing the world a positive image of ladies on motorcycles.”
Early members of the Motor Maids |
With good weather comes more motorcycle riding and unfortunately more accidents. The most common configuration of motorcycle accidents in the United States is when a motorist pulls out or turns in front of a motorcyclist, violating their right-of-way. Be careful and be alert!
Intersections are high danger zones |
Four different retired police Harley
Davidson motorcycles were used in the classic Easy Rider movie. The “Captain America” bikes were Hydra-Glides
that were “chop” to make the distinctive motorcycle. The builders were Cliff Vaughs and Ben Hardy.
The Iconic Captain American Motorcycle |
Kenny Roberts, riding a Yamaha, became the first American to win the Grand Prix Motorcycle World Championship in 1978. He repeated the feat in 1979 and 1980. Roberts is credited as the first rider to use his knee for balancing in the corners and for using “throttle steering” – using engine power to spin the rear tire as the bike is exiting corners thus helping steer the bike.
Kenny Roberts during his first World Championship season |
Duke Cannon for Bikers - tough on grime! |
The Six-Speed Suzuki Hustler |
Ana on her Kawasaki 300 |
1975 Honda 750 |
As of September, 2020 Honda is the largest manufacturer of motorcycles on the globe. Honda has 33 production facilities in 22 countries and sells the most units (motorcycles, scooters, mopeds and ATVs) worldwide. The Big Red Wing’s Super Cub has accounted for over 100 million units since its debut in 1958
Honda produces a wide variety of motorcycles |
Founded in 1921 Moto Guzzi is
celebrating 100 years! The company was a
venture between shipowner Emanuele Vittorio Parodi,
his son Giorgio and Carlo Guzzi. Moto
Guzzi motorcycles were some of the best-performing racing motorcycles from the
late 1930’s to mid 1960’s.
1938 Moto Guzzi 250 |
Honda’s CEO Kawashima in 1963 set an ambitious goal of increasing sales in the USA from 40,000 to 200,000! Grey Advertising came up big with the slogan “You Meet the Nicest People of a Honda.” Using children, housewives, young couples and other respectable people in the ad changed the perceptions of motorcyclists in the eyes of the public and increased the popularity of Honda to record levels.
Honda's highly successful 1964 ad campaign |
Shozo Kawasaki started his company Kawasaki in 1878. During the postwar reconstruction of Japan Kawasaki grew into a leader of helicopter manufacturing. In 1966 a small team was sent to the USA charged with breaking into the motorcycle industry. Kawasaki’s presence was felt quickly but in 1969 the company produced the legendary Kawasaki H1 powered by the Mach III. The two-stroke triple was for a time the most powerful production bike in the world.
1963-1975 Kawasaki H1 MachIII |
One of the largest increases in motorcycle riders in the USA came directly after World War II. Veterans returned home after having ridden motorcycles during the war (Harley Davidson provided about 90,000. The economical growth in the USA and the surplus of motorcycles created a positive environment for motorcycling growth. The cruiser style gained in popularity at this time.
Motorcycle popularity grew after WWII |
Dallas Thibodeaux and Rozell Nunn, Jr organized the first National Biker Roundup in 1977 in Kansas City, Kansas. The rally has grown from 49 riders to well over 30,000 riders attending the now five-day event and the NBR websites states, “”The National Biker Roundup is the largest camping motorcycle rally in the USA and is organized by a group of African American motorcycle clubs.” Attendees donate food and/or money for local charities. Unique to the rally is the yearly change of venue (with every 10th rally returns to the home city of Kansas City). The 2021 rally will be in Perry Georgia August 10-15.
The highly successful National Biker Roundup |
Ducati brothers, Adriano, Bruno and Marcello founded an Italian company making components for radios. During WW2 the factory was destroyed forcing the brothers to restart in spite of great hurdles to overcome. The new company started making four-stroke engines and in 1945 they produced their first motorcycle operating as a manufacturer for Cucciola. In July 1949 Ducati made the first Ducati 60. The brothers’ financial difficulties in 1948 led to the sale of Ducati to the Italian government.
1949 Ducati 60 |
Happy Groundhog Day! During the early 20th century motorcyclists in northern countries just could not stand not riding in the winter, so riders started putting studs on tires and riding on ice. It wasn’t long until the ideal of ice racing emerged. The first recorded ice race happened in 1924 in Sweden, according to the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Soon longer studs were used and lean angles increased. In 1939 the first sanctioned race was held in Moscow. Ice racing has grown and spread across the world.
Early ice racing |
Early motorcycles used wire spoke wheels. In 1927 the Czechoslovakian company Böhmerland fitted a motorcycle with cast wheels, but it would not be until the 1970’s popular motorcycle manufacturers started using them on road bikes. The Yamaha RD400C was the first by a big maker to be sold with cast wheels.
Yamaha RD400C with cast wheels |
1949 saw the introduction of sidecar racing in the World Championship. The British duo of Eric Oliver (rider) and Denis Jenkinson (passenger) on a Norton Manx won 2 races and finished with 27 points. Eric won the championship 3 more times with two different teammates. Eric made some innovated changes that advanced the sport.
Eric Oliver was a leading force in sidecar racing. |
The first time motorcycles were
used in combat was 1916 when General “Black Jack” Pershing used Harley-Davidson
J-series motorcycles to engage Pancho Villa in the rugged terrain of the SW desert. The general and the US Army liked what they
saw during the 11-months in Mexico leading to more extensive use in WWI.
Men on HD getting ready to hunt for Pancho Villa |
The first Boss Hoss V8 motorcycle was built in 1990 by Monte Warne, a commercial pilot. Working in his 5,000 sq. ft. shop in Dyersburg, TN. Powered by the Chevy V-8 motor the Boss Hoss produced 350= horsepower! Since then Monte has grown Boss Hoss Motorcycles and has dealerships in multiple countries.
Custom painted early Boss Hoss |
The famous motorcycle case scene and jump with Steve McQueen in the
classic movie The Great Escape was
done in one take. The 65-foot jump over
the fence was done by stuntman Bud Ekins on a 1961Triumph TR6 Trophy (painted
to be a German BMW R75). Artist Von
Dutch converted the motorcycles for the movie while working for Ekins at Bud’s
shop.
The Great Escape iconic motorcycle jump |
John Ogden Jr. at Ophir Pass |
The sidecar predates the motorcycle, but in 1903 W.J. Graham from Enfield, England put forth a patent for a motorcycle sidecar. The sidecar gained popularity extremely quickly due to lower cost and usefulness.
Adapted from their use with bicycles, the sidecar became very popular. |
Although “lane splitting” or “filtering” is common in Europe it is not in the USA. In 2017 California passed AB-51 make lane-splitting legal and is currently the only state where it is legalized. Utah legalized “filtering” – a motorcycle moving between two lanes of traffic when traffic is stationary.
1914 saw 30 motorcycle manufacturers in the United States. Henderson, Excelsior, Flying Merkel, Thomas, Ace, Yale, Cleveland, Pierce (maker of Pierce-Arrow cars), Cyclone, Iver Johnson, Orient, Curtiss, and Royal were among the US makers of motorcycles. However, Indian and Harley-Davidson were the only motorcycle manufacturers to survive the great depression.
Early American motorcycles at the Wheels Through Time museum in Maggie Valley, NC |
Suzuki made weaving looms for Japan’s silk industry in the early 1900’s. In the 1930’s founder Michio Suzuki began an engineering firm and began manufacturing cars and engines. In 1952 Suzuki produced its first motorcycle, the Power Free, it was a motorized bicycle. On Sunday November 15, 2020 Joan Mir and his Suzuki won the MotoGP World Championship.
1952 Suzuki's first motorcycle |
Joseph Merkel started making single cylinder motorcycles under “The Merkel” moniker in 1902 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. By 1905 Joseph was making racing motorcycles and became a leader in the American racing world. He patented an innovating spring front fork which was the precursor of today’s telescopic front forks. He also developed the rear monoshock system. “All roads are smooth to the Flying Merkel” became one of the company’s taglines.
The Flying Merkel circa 1914 |
1980 saw Honda and Kawasaki leading the way with fuel injection. Kawasaki equipped the Z1000 with fuel
injection raising the weight slightly and the price approx. $500. It took a while for other manufactures to
make the change, but now fuel injection is the standard.
Kawasaki1980 Z1000 with fuel injection - new technology at the time. |
ARAI is recognized globally for high quality racing and road riding motorcycle helmets. ARAI began as a hat company in Japan by founder Hirotake Arai who was a motorcyclist and at one time a motorcycle stunt rider.
Check out a review of the Arai Profile |
The longest running production motorcycle is the Royal Enfield Bullet. The Bullet first appeared in 1932 but did not begin its continuous production until 1948. In many countries it is considered a beginner’s motorcycle.
1948 Royal Enfield Bullet |
Jim Davis became the first winner of an AMA sanctioned national flat track race in 1924 on a 1-mile track in Toledo, Ohio. Later in life he stated, “I won the first official race I entered and won a pair of rubber goggles and a quart of oil. I was on top of the world.” Racers these days get a little more than that when they win.
Flat track racer Jim Davis in the 1920's |
The Harley Davidson Sportster is one of the most widely recognized motorcycles in large part for its versatility and the face that it has been in production since 1957. The Sportster has been produced continuously since its introduction, the longest of any HD model.
1957 Harley Davidson Sportster with 883cc engine |
Improvements to motorcycle braking has always been welcomed. In 1952 the first hydraulic brakes were used on motorcycles, a technological advancement still used today.
Valentino Rossie hard brakes prior to a turn. |
September 22, 2020 – Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen (known as KTM) is an Austrian company which created its first prototype motorcycle in 1951 and is now a leader in dirt bike motorcycles.
Founded in 1903 the Yonkers Motorcycle Club in New York is the oldest MC. The clubs first president George Eller guided the group transition from the Yonkers Bicycle Club to the Yonkers MC. The club was an early sponsor of a lot of motorcycle events.
Yonders Motorcycle Club - AMA chartered chapter #6 |
In December 1978 the first Dakar Rally took place with 80 cars, 12 trucks and 90 motorcycles (182 vehicles). There was no separation or divisions among the vehicles. 74 vehicles finished with Frenchman Cyril Neveu winning the inaugural race, even without winning any individual stage. Cyril eventually won four more Dakar Rally races in 1980, 1982, 1986 & 1987. After the first year of the rally vehicle divisions were created.
Cyril Neveu Dakar Rally 1986 on Honda 780 NXR |
Harley-Davidson’s 1965 Electra-Glide was the last Harley made with the
Panhead engine and it was first “big” Harley with an electric start. This is a highly collectable motorcycle.
Restored 1965 HD Electra-Glide |
The record for the longest motorcycle jump is credited to Robbie Maddison. Robbie jumped 346 ft (107 m) in Melbourne, Australia on March 29, 2008.
World's longest motorcycle jump by Robbie Maddison |
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally celebrates it’s 80th anniversary this year. August 1938 the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club hosted the first rally called the “Black Hills Classic” with a small audience and one race with nine riders. The rally grew from original racing and stunts and by 1961 included the Hillclimb and Motocross races.
Main street Sturgis during the rally |
The “Hollister Riots” took place during an AMA motorcycle
rally in Hollister, California in 1947.
The minor damage caused to the town was overblown and some in the press sensationalized
the event. Marlon Brando later starred
in The Wild One based on the legend
of the “Hollister Riots”.
Iconic photo by Barney Peterson that has become part of the Hollister legend |
Sir Hugh Cairns, doctor to TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) |
Motorcycle rallies in the USA have a colorful and diverse history. The Laconia Motorcycle Week is held in New Hampshire and can boast of being the oldest national motorcycle rally dating back to 1917 when Harley-Davidson and Indian promoted the first official Gypsy Tour at Weirs Beach in Laconia.
Joey Dunlop during an Isle of Man TT |
Motorcycle Board Race in the 1910's was intense |
The 11 miles of US Highway 129 on the Tennessee/North Carolina state line known as Tail of the Dragon began as an animal trail and was used by Native Americans and early settlers. For a period in the 1800’s a toll both was on the road to collect the toll from travelers (mile 3 – Toll Booth Corner). In 1992 Doug Snavely rode the Dragon and soon was promoting the road as the place for motorcyclists to visit and ride. Today the 11 miles with 318 curves Tail of the Dragon is a favorite of motorcyclists and car enthusiasts.
Locateed at mile marker 3, the toll booth was opperated by locals - photo circa 1890s |
Walter Villa in 1976 riding at Nurburgring |
The first official Jack Pine Endurance Run was held in 1923. This 800 mile, three day off road race took place in the back country in Michigan. Riders faced unique and various obstacles: rivers, deep sand, elevation change, mud, thick underbrush to name a few. A point system was used and the winner was rewarded a cowbell. Eventually a trophy was also presented.
Riders in the Jack Pine Endurance Run had to be prepared for anything! |
Harley Davidson Police Motorcycle - 1909 |
In 1902 Indian sold its first single cylinder motorcycles and built 143 that year. In 1903 co-founder and head engineer Oscar Hedstorm set a world motorcycle speed record at 56 mph. Boy things have changed!
Co-Founder Oscar Hedstrom |
1905 FN4 - check out that shaft drive |
Newspaper photo of Floyd Clymer |
1955 Yamaha YA - 1 |
Leslie at the salt flats |
Robert Gull in Sweden popping a wheelie on ice |
1904 Indian motorcycle |
Leslie Graham - the first 500cc MotoGP World Champion |
Sally Robinson in Washington DC. |
The 1916 Traub, the rarest motorcycle in the world. I have visited Wheels Through Time Museum 3 times. It is great. |
I could be wrong, but have heard that there is also a replica of that Harley-Davidson shed in almost every Harley-Davidson Dealership in the world. Thanks for the fun facts Oz!
ReplyDeleteI have heard there are some dealership with a replica, but never seen one at the shops I have visited. Glad you enjoy the fun facts.
ReplyDelete