Motorcycles have come a long way from the early designs in the 1800s to the different types available in the market today. This article takes a look at the history of these machines to see how much they have changed throughout the years. The early motorcycles were essentially motorized versions of the safety bike, a bicycle which has wheels of the same size.

Several inventors tried their hands on creating their version of the motorized safety bike but none would be as significant as the one invented by German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in 1885. Their bicycle was powered by a petroleum-fed engine. Later designs by other inventors chose to use the internal combustion engine which was a relatively new invention at the time.

But not all early motorcycles were run by fossil-fuel-powered engines. In 1867, an American inventor Sylvester Howard Roper created a steam-driven engine. Another was by a Frenchman, Louis-Guillaume Perreaux created a motorcycle based on the same concept in 1868. By the early 20th century, the race was on for the production of motorcycles. Different companies included motorcycles into their line of products such as Triumph which originally produced bicycles.

Several companies were also created that specialized in motorcycle production such as Harley-Davidson and the Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company. The use of motorcycles gained even more popularity after WWII when veteran soldiers rode these vehicles to give them the sense of adventure they felt during the war. In the 1950s to the 1960s, a new player came into the market. Japanese motorcycles went in and later on dominated the world of motorcycles. Japanese brands still have a large share in today's motorcycle production, but American and European brands like Harley-Davidson and Ducati maintain a high degree of loyalty among its users.

Motorcycling Gear and Accessories : Motorcycles are unlike any other type of vehicle because of their design. They typically have two inline wheels which make them inherently unstable. Aside from that, each type of motorcycle aims to tackle a particular need or situation. Because of that, there are several accessories that protect the rider and address the demands of his/her bike. Below is a list of some of them.

1. Crash helmet : this is by far the most important accessory that any motorcyclist should have. Since the bike is unstable, there are more chances of a fatal crash than any other type of vehicle. For example, there are no airbags to cushion the impact, not even a seat belt. A crash helmet is the one which absorbs the impact to the head in case of an accident. Riding without it could have fatal consequences.

2. Gloves : are essential to any rider. For one, they help keep off cold from the hands when driving in colder climates. Also, they are tough enough to protect hands from abrasion in the event of a crash. And there are specialized varieties that are designed to be weatherproof.

3. Boots : more than just adding to a rider's cool factor, a pair of motorcycling boots protects the feet of the rider in the event of a crash. That is why the boots should be tough enough to protect the feet from abrasion and impact.

4. Clothing : motorcycle clothing of old used to be made of tough leather which does well in protecting the rider from abrasion during a crash. But more and more riders now choose clothing that is made of synthetic materials since they are breathable and addresses some safety issues associated with riding motorcycles.

Author: Bercle George

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