Tag: motorcycle

On this day in 1885, the first test ride of what is often considered the first modern motorcycle, the Daimler Reitwagen (“riding car”), occurred. At the controls was 17-year-old Paul Daimler, son of the bike’s inventor, Gottlieb Daimler. This journey effectively made Paul the world’s first biker.  Gottlieb and Wilhelm Maybach designed the motorcycle, the first example powered by a gasoline internal combustion engine. Multiple motorcycles built before this utilized steam power. This included the Perreaux and Roper, dating as early as 1867, and the 1884 Copeland. The other significance of the Daimler Reitwagen is that this was the forerunner of all vehicles, land, sea or air, to use an engine of this type, however, it was not the first. More on that in a minute. Above: Daimler Rei...

The Bishop family formed the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in Fontana, California on this day in 1948. Composed of members from a number of other local clubs, the Angels' name is supposedly inspired by WWII fighter pilots. Another source of inspiration could be Howard Hughes’ 1930 film “Hell’s Angels” about WWI fighter pilots. Internal club messaging states the name came from Arvid Olson, an associate of the club founders. During WWII he was a Squadron Leader of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron “Hells Angels” American Volunteer Group. Olson himself never became a member of the club. A Hells Angels clubhouse in New York City. By Beyond My Ken - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 Early knowledge of the Hells Angels is somewhat unclear, but some of the first chapters began in San Francisco, Fontana and Oa...