Early Motorized Bicycles...

[Bikeguy Joe]

....or "motorcycles".

Three examples.

Notice that they are all bicycles with engines of various types fixed to them in an almost haphazard way.

Motorcycles Index - Seal Cove Auto Museum

 

[jasonh]

That Indian is really cool. I like how the gas tank is contoured with the wheel.

 

[Bikeguy Joe]

The Flying Merkel looks like a flying junkpile.

 

[jasonh]

hahaha, it sure does. I wonder how many CC's that motor has though...2 cylinder....

The motor mounting on the Thomas....I don't get it.

 

[Bikeguy Joe]

They all are a little weird...I just posted it because I was looking at early "motorycles" and realized they were "motorized bicycles".

We have marched ahead into the past.

I like it.

 

[jasonh]

Hey, sometimes the people in the past got it right. I think I heard that in the early 1900's people actually preferred electric cars over gasoline.

 

[Dan]

Very cool. Seems like 1903 was "the" year. all sorts of great bikes.

"We have marched ahead into the past" Great thought Joe.

 

[tyrslider]

The Thomas motor looks wider so for belt alignment and crank/leg clearance, it seems, they mounted it forward and to the side. Curious!