The history of the motorcycle begins in the second half of the 19th century. Motorcycles are descended from the “safety bicycle,” a bicycle with front and rear wheels of the same size and a pedal crank mechanism to drive the rear wheel. Despite some early landmarks in its development, the motorcycle lacks a rigid pedigree that can be traced back to a single idea or machine. Instead, the idea seems to have occurred to numerous engineers and inventors around Europe at around the same time.
These amazing vintage photos were found by Steve Given that show people with their motorcycles from between 1900s and 1950s.
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| Puch motorcycle and rider, somewhere in Austria, 1951 |
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| Man a circa 1900s 3 1/2 horsepower Bradbury motorcycle, somewhere in Victoria, Australia, circa 1908 |
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| Two sitting on an Indian motorcycle, circa 1910s |
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| Young lad posing with his Triumph motorcycle, somewhere in Victoria, Australia, May 1959 |
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| Indian motorcycle, somewhere in Scotland, circa 1915 |
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| Royal Enfield motorcycle, somewhere in Scotland, circa 1915 |
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| Triumph Model H registered in Hertfordshire, circa 1916 |
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| BSA motorcycle in Australia, circa 1920s |
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| Damsel on a Douglas motorcycle, somewhere in England, circa 1920s |
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| Harley-Davidson motorcycle and sidecar, circa 1920s |
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| Man on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, circa 1920s |
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| Man with his Harley-Davidson, circa 1920s |
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| Reading Standard 1200cc V-twin 18hp 1921 model. The registration number is from Paris, France, circa 1921 |
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| BSA motorcycle, somewhere in Scotland, 1922 |
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| A young lad tries a BSA motorcycle for size in Melbourne, Victoria, 1927 |
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| AJS motorcycle at Wroxham, Norfolk Broads, England, 1920s |
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| Sunbeam 9/90 500cc OHV registered in Cheshire, UK, circa 1930-31 |
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| Harley-Davidson, circa 1930s |
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| A Harley-Davidson and rider, somewhere in Wisconsin, circa 1940s |
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| Couple on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, circa 1940s |
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| Couple on a Triumph motorcycle, circa 1940s |
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| Ladies on Meister motorcycles, circa 1940s |
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| Matchless motorcycle, on an Air Force station, somewhere in Canada during WWII |
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| BSA motorcycle in England, 1947 |
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| Brough motorcycle and sidecar, on the Isle of Man, 1955 |
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| Harley-Davidson motorcycle taken in Illinois, circa early 1950s |
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| A team of motorcycles and riders, including a Triumph, Indian and Harley-Davidson, somewhere in Wisconsin, circa 1950s |
