Originally aired during the week of October 7, 2002
On June 7, 1901, a photograph of the first American motorcycle appeared in the pages of a Springfield, Massachusetts newspaper. Created by a bike mechanic named Oscar Hedstrom, it resembled a bicycle with a four-stroke engine and a small fuel tank. The introduction of the "Indian" brand motorcycle launched an American love affair with these machines. On the weekend of October 12-14, Montshire will host A Motorcycle Marriage: Vintage Vincents and Indians, an exhibit that recreates the alliance that existed between these two companies. Sixteen classic Vincent and Indian bikes will be on display, including a Vincent Series A Comet from 1936; and a new 2002 Indian Chief! In honor of the exhibit, we'll spend some time exploring the history of motorcycling. Don't forget to wear your helmet!
About the time that the internal combustion engine was developed, it occurred to inventors that grafting a motor onto a bicycle would result in (you guessed it) - a motorcycle. And that's what motorcycles started out as - motorized bikes. A French cycle maker tried attaching a small steam engine to the frame of a boneshaker bicycle. The boneshaker had an oversized front wheel, with a frame made of wood and wheel rims of iron. Given the rough cobblestone streets of the period, it's easy to understand how the boneshaker got its name. Anyway, Michauex's machine actually survived a ten mile trial run. This machine took a more humane approach than the "cynosphere," a tricycle that ran on dog power. The cage-like rear wheels contained small dogs, which powered the cycle.
The steam engine works by converting steam pressure into a circular motion through the use of a cylinder, piston, connecting rod, and a crankshaft. Steam engines worked well for ships and trains where a steady supply of fuel - coal or wood - could be fed into big boilers, which generated the steam. A German by the name of Nicholaus Otto developed the first practical internal combustion engine using gas as a fuel. The engine burns a mixture of air and gas in a cylinder that houses the piston. Motorcycle engines, and most cars, still use a four-stroke engine. That means the engine repeats a cycle of action in which each piston moves up or down four times. This engine was certainly a more compact solution than steam power and made possible the creation of motorized travel by car - or by motorcycle.
The rover safety bicycle built in 1885 used a chain drive connected to the rear wheel. This meant that the two wheels could be of similar sizes with the rider seated between. This bit of tinkering also made the motorcycle possible. The German engineer Gottlieb Daimler built his own four-stroke engine and mounted it on a wooden, bike-like frame. The engine was attached vertically in the center of the contraption. There was a twist grip to operate the brake, and two small stabilizing wheels to keep the whole thing upright. It was sturdy enough to be driven 12 miles on its maiden ride, with Daimler's son at the controls. The elder Diamler moved on to bigger things, developing a line of automobiles. But he is also credited with creating the first true motorcycle.
Phillip Vincent was a 17-year-old English schoolboy when he began building his first motorcycle in 1925. Decades later, his name is associated with some of the most legendary bikes ever produced. During the Columbus Day weekend, October 12-14, Montshire will bring together several Vincent machines borrowed from collectors throughout the region and put them all in one room next to some vintage Indian machines - recreating the brief alliance between the two companies from 1948 and 1955. As an inventor and engineer, Vincent produced many innovative designs during his career and bikes carrying the Vincent-HRD logo were known for their quality construction. Don't miss this chance to see some extraordinary machines in this classic motorcycle showcase.
