Motorcycles
The first motorcycle ever built was powered by steam.
The first motorcycles looked more like bicycles. In 1867 an American invented a steam–powered motorcycle. His name was Sylvester Roper. Almost one hundred years later, in 1885, Gottlieb Daimler invented the first gas–powered motorcycle. This cycle was actually a wooden bicycle with an engine attached to it. This German inventor went on to build cars.
In 1903 William Harley and the brothers Walter and Arthur Davidson opened a motorcycle business. They built their motorcycles for racing. The first one was sold in Chicago, Illinois. Harley–Davidson built only three motorcycles that first year. In 1913 they built nearly 13,000 motorcycles. In 2004 the company sold 317,289 bikes.
Japanese motorcycles became popular in the 1970s. These companies made motorcycles faster. They cost less than American bikes. The popular Japanese motorcycle companies today are Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha.
There are different kinds of motorcycles. Some are built to ride on the streets. Others are meant for racing in the dirt. Touring bikes are big enough to carry luggage. There are many other types, too. Most motorcycles can seat two people.
A moped is a cross between a motorcycle and a bicycle. It comes with pedals so the driver can power it himself. But a moped can also run on batteries or the small gas engine it comes with.