Moto History

A Harley Davidson motorcycle is one of the most beautiful and powerful motorcycles to own and use. Many long for these Harley Davidson motorcycles and they have good reasons to.

The classic design of Harley Davidson motorcycles

The classic design of Harley Davidson motorcycles is the one that we’re more familiar with. The classic Harley Davidson motorcycle has two-cylinder V-twin engines. It also comes with a single pin crankshaft and pistons that are connected to their connecting rods.

Speed and flexibility of a Harley Davidson motorcycle

A Harley Davidson motorcycle comes in various speeds, depending on the kind of engine used. All Harley Davidson motorcycles, however, are over 750 cc. These motorcycles are made for city or highway cruising. These motorcycles are actually popular in cross-country tours.

Engine quality of a Harley Davidson motor bike

The engine quality of Harley Davidson motorcycles has progressed through the years. These motor bikes started with condenser systems, and then moved to magneto ignition systems. Currently, the company has introduced Electronic Fuel Injection into their engines.

We owe the beautiful designs of Guzzi motors to Carlo Guzzi. The humble beginnings of the most famous motor-bike brand in Italy can be traced back in the First World War. Then, young Carlo is an airplane mechanic. He befriended two pilots named Giorgio Parodi and Giovanni Ravelli. The enthusiasm and passion of Carlo about motor-bikes led to a discreet plan of creating his own motors. Together with his affluent friends who helped him finance his projects, he was able to build his first motor-bike in 1920.

The very first model of Moto Guzzi contained a horizontal cylinder with a four-stroke engine. The production of such motor bike was made possible by a freighter owner who financed and willingly agreed to invest in the manufacture of the moto Guzzi. The spare parts of the motorcycle guarantee not only functionality, but reliability as well.

It is a one-of-its-kind, that all the preceeding Guzzi motors were based in that single prototype. At first the moto Guzzi is known as Guzz-Parodi motors. The motorbike adapted the eagle as its logo in commemoration of the genius of Ravelli. The moto Guzzi made a smooth entrance to races. In 1921, the first time it joined internationally recognized races, it won the twentieth place. Eighty-five years after that, the moto Guzzi still continues to speed its way to motor-bike races.

Indian Motorcycles, once Harley-Davidson's greatest competitor and having more than a century's worth of existence behind it, was sadly closed down in 2003 after numerous attempts to make it a more active competitor in the world of motorcycle enthusiasts. But even after that setback, the interest and passion of Indian motorcycle lovers has hardly waned.

Now, a private British equity firm, Stellican Ltd., the new owner of the brand, is hoping to release a brand new Indian Chief Motorcycle model by 2007. The firm is counting on the love and passion that a number of Americans have for the brand to help the beleaguered company regain its foothold in the market.

Many people are now clamoring for an alternative to the revered Harley-Davidsons, and a revived Indian Motorcycle Company might just be the thing they're looking for.

Yamaha's Virago is a motorcycle with a very long production life. Echoing the "chopper" looks and styling of American cruising bikes the Yamaha Virago has earned quite a loyal fan following.

Critics may say that it is nothing more than a copy of the American styled-big bore machines, but Yamaha must be doing something right as they are still selling Viragos today, more than 15 years after the first one rolled off the production line.

With its tear-drop fuel tank, step seats and differently sized tires, the Yamaha Virago, with its maintenance free drive shaft does give the traditional cruiser choices (Harley-Davidson et. al) a bit of healthy competition for the hearts and minds of motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide.

Mopeds are what can be considered as motorized pedal-driven vehicles, and this is reflected by their name: Mo(tor) Ped(als).

Mopeds are basically bicycles with a motor attached. For safety reasons, mopeds are restricted in the amount of power they have in their engines. In some places they are considered road hazards because they are treated as motorcycles by their owners, which lead them to overestimate the capabilities of their moped. As a result, crashes are common where a moped is driven on the same lane as other motor vehicles.

But it's foolish to condemn the moped because of bad publicity. It's better to blame bad driving instead.

This is the movie that inspired a whole lot of us to get out there and ride. Easy Rider was a financial risk for Columbia Pictures, as the idea of two counter-culture bikers as the heroes of the movie scared them out of their suits.

The movie stars Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper as the two friends out on a quest to find their version of the "American Dream" in a bittersweet travelogue through the highways and byways of America. They meet various individuals throughout their travels and they realize that the America they thought they knew was different from the America that is.

This movie started the biker fad way back then, in 1969, and is still seen as an inspiration to many out there who enjoy the freedom of the road, and to those who are still seeking their "American Dream."

For many bikers it's not unusual to make a bike their own by adding or subtracting a part here or there. From repainting to accessory adding, bikers always want to embellish their rides with a little bit of their personality.

And then there are those who want the ultimate customization: Having a bike built to their specifications, from the ground up. These dudes will and often are willing to spend as much as double or even triple the cost of a brand new bike in order to have a ride they can call all their own. But for them, having a bike built just for them justifies the expense.

These bikes are the ones you often see in bike shows and competitions. Most of these bikes are rarely ridden on by those who own them and are mostly display or promotional pieces.

Feet First or Feet Forwards motorcycles are motorcycles that put the rider in a recumbent position, that is, in a reclining seated position, like in a car. While this position is often seen on other motorcycles, like choppers, a Feet First motorcycle is a completely different vehicle.

An FF vehicle attempts to marry the advantages of both a car and a motorcycle, and tries to avoid the disadvantages of both. A lower center of gravity helps avoid nasty spills, while the two wheel configuration allows for greater maneuverability. An FF vehicle will often have an enclosed body to protect the rider like in a car, but will be on two wheels like a motorcycle. Space is also addressed with an FF bike. As it is smaller, less space is occupied while allowing the rider to move about in relative comfort.

There is some debate as to whether or not classify FF vehicles as a motorcycle or a two wheeled car. It is my opinion that it is in a class all its own.

Perhaps no other piece of clothing worn by a motorcycle enthusiast identifies one as such more than the leather jacket.

Leather jackets have been worn by bikers for decades, and the material is ideal for protection against the elements and the occasional nasty spill. Leather has, no doubt, saved many a biker a skin graft on their arm or back.

The intimidation factor of leather is well known. Anyone wearing one is immediately suspected, more often because of its black color and misconceptions regarding bikers, and subsequently, their apparel. Some revel in the image leather jackets give them, while others wear it as a matter of practicality.

For better or for worse, leather jackets have become part of the "biker" image. It is now up to the biker himself to change or propagate it.

The word "chopper" has become a buzzword as of late. This was a term only bikers were usually able to use, but things have changed over the years, and word usage has changed with them.

The term "chopper" refers to a motorcycle, usually a cruising type one, which is radically modified to suit a particular person's taste. This practice was started in California and Florida in the 50's and 60's, with motorcycle owners removing or "chopping" parts of their motorcycles they found not suiting to their taste.

A true "chopper" motorcycle is a stock vehicle with some parts removed or modified at the owner's behest. A motorcycle built from the ground up should be considered a "custom" bike rather than a "chopper". Hear that, OCC?

The V-twin engine is a Harley-Davidson innovation, first introduced way back in 1909. The "v" comes from the placement of the two cylinders at a 45-degree angle, and is protected by several United States patents.

The single-pin crankshaft connects to both pistons via a pin through their connecting rods. This causes the pistons to fire off at uneven intervals. The resulting engine sound is a distinctively Harley-Davidson engine noise.

Although the style, and even the sound is similar to other manufacturer's models, the V-twin remains a Harley-Davidson trademark, with the others being seen as "second-rate" (some would say unfairly) compared to a true American classic.