History

main: Motorcycle history

became the first motorcycle available for purchase. In the early period of motorcycle history, many producers of bicycles adapted their designs to accommodate the new internal combustion engine. As the engines became more powerful and designs outgrew the bicycle origins, the number of motorcycle producers increased.

After the Second World War, the BSA Group became the largest producer of motorcycles in the world, producing up to 75,000 bikes per year in the 1950s. The German company NSU Motorenwerke AG held the position of largest manufacturer from 1955 until the 1970s.

From the 1960s through the 1990s, small two-stroke motorcycles were popular worldwide, partly as a result of East German Walter Kaaden's engine work in the 1950s.

Today, the Japanese manufacturers, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha dominate the motorcycle industry, although Harley-Davidson and BMW continue to be popular and supply considerable markets. Other major manufacturers include the Piaggio group of Italy, KTM, Triumph, Aprilia, Moto-Guzzi, MV Agusta and Ducati. In overall numbers the Chinese currently manufacture and sell more motorcycles than any other country and exports are rising.Fact: date=August 2008

In addition to the large capacity motorcycles, there is an enormous market in smaller capacity (less than 300 cc) motorcycles, mostly concentrated in Asian and African countries. The growth in this market is popularly thought to have started with the 1958 Honda Super Cub, which went on to become the biggest selling vehicle of all time, 60 millionth unit produced in April 2008.

Technical aspects

Construction

main: Motorcycle construction Motorcycle construction is the engineering, manufacturing, and assembly of components and systems for a motorcycle which results in performance, cost and aesthetics desired by the designer. With some exceptions, construction of modern mass-produced motorcycles has standardised on a steel or aluminium frame, telescopic forks holding the front wheel, and disc brakes. Some other body parts, designed for either aesthetic or performance reasons may be added. A petrol powered engine typically consisting of between one and four cylinders (and less commonly, up to eight cylinders) coupled to a manual five- or six-speed sequential transmission drives the swingarm-mounted rear wheel by a chain, driveshaft or belt.