Motorcycles may be seen as a more of a luxury vehicle or supplemental vehicle in today's pop culture, but they have a rich history steeped in American traditions of the past. Learn more about the motorcycle's beginnings here.

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2. The motorcycle, with its stunning design
and visual allure, has long pulled in
drivers looking for a unique way to hit
the road. Its progressive development
began in the early 1800s and was
subsequently improved upon by a host
of different inventors.

3. The American inventor Sylvester
Roper worked on steam-powered
velocipede in 1867. The velocipede is
often brought up in discussions on
motorcycle development, as it refers
to a human-run vehicle that uses
wheels. With steam power behind it,
Roper's creation and the French
Pierre Michaux sought to push the
vehicle along, with varying degrees of
success.

4. In 1881, Lucius Copeland attached a
steam boiler to a penny-farthing
bicycle model. He continued to refine
his product and added features
including a stronger engine, an
additional wheel, and a bench to
accommodate multiple passengers
simultaneously. This early device
could hit the road at approximately 10
miles an hour.

5. Following steam products, several
inventors worked on petroleum-driven
motorcycles. Gottlieb Daimler and
Willhelm Maybach designed a
"Reitwagen" in 1885, which used an
internal combustion engine and was
powered by petroleum. The first
official patent for a motorcycle was
submitted in the year 1900 by Werner
Brothers.

6. Harley-Davidson, which is still known
today for its classic motorcycles, rose
to prominence in the 1920s. They sold
vehicles all around the world. Joe
Petrali rode a Harley-Davidson vehicle
at over 136 mph in 1937. Interestingly,
historians have pointed to the famous
actor Marlon Brando for his pivotal
role in the popularity of the vehicle.

7. The 1953 classic "The Wild One"
featured Brando, who played the
character of Johnny Strabler. Strabler
was depicted as the leader of "The
Black Rebels Motorcycle Club" and he
rode a Triumph Thunderbird. Infamous
biker gangs and clubs started emerge
following World War II. in 1959, Honda,
a Japanese-based company, became
the world's largest manufacturer.

8. The most popular motorcycle in the
world is the Honda SuperCub. Driven
in Africa, Asia, and South America,
the SuperCub found a home in
nations across the globe thanks to its
convenience. Today, Japanese
companies are particularly prominent
in the arena, but companies like BMW,
Victory, and Ducati have made a
name for themselves as well.

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