A Brief History of Motorcycles

If you’re in search of high-adrenaline thrills, consider trading in your passenger vehicle for a motorcycle. Life on two wheels is fast and exciting. But how did motorized bikes come to be?

St. Charles Harley-Davidson® is your local motorcycle dealership, so we have taken the time to provide this brief history of motorcycles and the various types of bikes out there to help make your purchasing decision easier. If you’re planning to buy a bike, visit our dealership in St. Charles, MO, to browse our selection today!

Early Developments

Way back in 1885, German inventor Gottlieb Daimler built the first motorized bicycle, which featured an internal combustion engine attached to a regular bicycle. Other inventors would take note and improve upon this basic design, making it sleeker, more agile, stronger, and faster over the next decade.

In 1895, French automobile manufacturer DeDion-Bouton began to mass-produce the first lightweight engines that were easy to assemble, which led to further developments on the motorcycle’s design. Motorcycles began to proliferate, particularly for use in racing and in military applications as a convenient form of transport.

Following the two World Wars, the motorcycle market expanded to the general consumer in the middle of the 20th century. Motorcycles have been consistently popular over the past several decades and they’ve only become faster and more agile with time and further innovation.

Types of Motorcycles

The motorcycles of today offer a much wider variety of functions, with specialized parts to make them better suited to certain riding conditions. The classic muscle bike or cruiser is still very commonplace, so if you want that retro style, you’ll be able to find it. Lightweight sport bikes are internationally popular, meaning that you’ll find plenty of this style to choose from, too.

Some more current offerings include bikes tailored for long-distance riding, such as touring bikes that will take you over hundreds of miles of highway in comfort and safety. Motorcycle stylings have come a long way, incorporating more unique looks to appeal to a broader variety of riders, so you can customize your ride to suit your personality. No matter what attitude you want to present, there’s a bike out there that will match it.

Visit our location in St. Charles, MO, to check out our inventory of motorcycles for sale. We also provide financing options to help buyers on a budget, and if your bike needs parts or repairs, we can help you with those, too. St. Charles Harley-Davidson® proudly serves all those in St. Louis and St. Peters.