World's First Motorcycle On Display At Ohio Museum

World s First Motorcycle On Display At Ohio Museum AG WORLD More than 130 years ago two German engineers Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach converted an old greenhouse near a home in Stuttgart into a workshop that had family members and neighbors puzzled because no one knew what they were working on Within a year the two geniuses had created a horizontal test engine featuring a hot-tube ignition system Less than two years later in April 1885 Daimler applied for a patent on what is considered the prototype of today’s modern gasoline-powered engine The upright engine had a float-metered carburetor and an enclosed aluminum crankcase with a vertically-mounted air-cooled cylinder The bore was 2 3 in and the stroke was 3 9 in It weighed 132 lbs and with a cylinder displacement of just 264 cubic centimeters it produced about 1/2 hp at 650 rpm’s The intake and exhaust operated automatically Six months later Daimler threw open the doors of their shop and rolled out a wood-framed contraption held together with bolts brackets and angled braces His gasoline engine sat on a pallet-like box between angled side supports with a curved leather saddle on top Two spring-mounted outrigger wheels provided balance to what became known as the world’s first motor-powered riding cycle It was called the Daimler Reitwagen In November 1885 Daimler’s 17-year-old son had the thrill of his life when he drove the vehicle on an 8-mile round trip over roads made for horses and buggies It was the first ever official road trip for a motorcycle with a top speed of 7 mph Later the young man described it as a “hot ride” which undoubtedly referred to the fact that the top of the engine heated the leather seat and started his pants on fire as he returned home In the next 15 years Daimler and Maybach improved their engines and installed them in boats buggies and even flying airships They never pursued the motorcyle design Daimler Motor Company became a prominent engine manufacturer and eventually merged with a company started by Karl Benz in 1926 to form Daimler-Benz AG best known today for Mercedes automobiles Unfortunately the original Daimler Reitwagen vehicle was lost in a factory fire in 1903 Several reproductions have been made in the past 100 years and one of the most exacting replicas is located in Ohio’s Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum It was built by William Eggers a woodworker from New York City who started William Eggers Motorcycles after he retired Eggers builds custom motorcycles bicycles trucks tractors and specialty products His Daimler replica and thousands of other motorcycle artifacts are on display at the Motorcyle Hall of Fame Museum in suburban Columbus Ohio The facility celebrates heroes of the track road trails and halls of government who have helped elevate motorcycling through the past 100 years The Museum continues to develop educational exhibits and programs for motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum 13515 Yarmouth Dr Pickerington Ohio 43147 ph 614 856-2222; www motorcyclemuseum org

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