It's need about 20 minutes to ignite the world's first motorcycle engine

First ONE - Indeed, many say that the world's first motorcycle was born in Germany in 1885 by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach called Reitwagen ('Ridding car' in German), and remained one-off. Actually, the world's first motorbike is developed by a Frenchman named Ernest Michaux after his company Michaux ex Cie launched the first mass production of bicycles in 1868.

Here's the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad of 1894 was known as the first series-produced motorcycle in the world. (Picture from: MobiMoto)

At the time, the French company also began to develop motorbike still relied on a steam engine as its drivetrain, However, this effort was not successful, hampered by many technical factors that were difficult to overcome at that time. 

Then such two-wheeled motorized vehicle was further developed by a British gentleman Edward Butler, as time went by, turn out Butler was more inclined to develop three-wheeled vehicles.

The first motorcycle made by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in 1885 named 'Reitwagen' or Riding car, remained one-off and sat on display at the Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum. (Picture from: Wikiwand)

And the world's first mass-produced two-wheeled motorized vehicle called Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad produced by München-based motorcycle manufacturer in 1894. This German manufacturer whose later known to be developed the first mass-produced motorcycle was founded by two brothers Henry and Wilhelm Hildebrand, who also were steam engine engineers. They both worked together with Alois Wolfmüller and his mechanic Hans Geisenhof.

The Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad is a motorcycle with a completely unique shape, only the frame and engine, no chain, gear box, not to mention the electrical system, while for rear wheel driven directly by the crankshaft. (Picture from: Wikiwand)

It is a motorcycle with a completely unique shape, only the frame and engine, no chain, gear box, not to mention the electrical system, while for rear wheel driven directly by the crankshaft. Uniquely to drive the machine requires a fuel-air mixture that is supplied by the front carburetor, and is regulated by a valve that is operated by controls on the handlebars. 

Rear wheel hub with cam disc and "piston return spring" (recording of the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad replica). (Picture from: Wikiwand)

For your information, this Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad has been patented with No. 78553 is dated 20 January 1894, and is described as a motorcycle having a four-stroke, two-cylinder 1,489 cc (90.9 cu in) engine, with a diameter and stroke of 90 mm × 117 mm (3.5 in × 4.6 in).  Unlike modern motorcycle, the engine was said to produce power around 1.9 kW (2.5 bhp) @ 240 rpm to drive a 50 kg (110 lbs) load up to a maximum speed of 45 kph (28 mph).

The Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad having a four-stroke, two-cylinder 1,489 cc (90.9 cu in) engine, with a diameter and stroke of 90 mm × 117 mm (3.5 in × 4.6 in). (Picture from: OtomotifSindonews)

So to start the engine is not like today's modern motorbikes, so it requires a little more effort than usual. Well, to start the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad engine, it takes about 20 minutes, and could be done in two ways, firstly, the engine block must be heated by burning the outside with spirit or denatured alcohol liquids. The second, the motorbike was quickly pushed (known as "run and jump") until the engine is turned on and stable.

Technical description of the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad. (Picture from: Wikiwand)

As quoted from RanggawarsitaMuseum, this motorcycle was made by the factory in the amount of 2000 units in Germany and more was produced under license in France, Europe and America with a total production of 20,000 units, and was sold at very high prices. After that, this Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad failed to survive due to the intense competition at that time, practically existed until 1919.

The Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad was made by the factory in the amount of 2000 units in Germany and more was produced under license in France, Europe and America with a total production of 20,000 units. (Picture from: OtomotifSindonews)

Meanwhile, according to the records at the Koninlijk Instituut voor Taal, Land en Volkenkunde (KITLV), the first motorcycle came to Indonesia (at that time called the Dutch East Indies or Nederlands(ch)-Indië) was brought by an Englishman, named John C. Potter for himself in 1894. He worked as the First Machinist's at Oemboel Sugar Factory in Probolinggo, East Java, and also known as a car salesman who got the trust of the His Highness Sri Susuhunan Pakubuwono X, the monarch of Surakarta Hadiningrat, to take care of His Highness' first car delivery from Europe.

Well, even though that not brought by the Indonesian native, but a remarkable thing when the world's first mass-produced motorcycle was already sent to Indonesia since the first year of manufacture. For your info, this classic motorbike is first entered into the United States in 1895 when a French circus performer brought it to New York.

1894 Hildebrand und Wolfmüller Motorrad known as the first motorcycle in Indonesia sat on display in sober, rusty condition at the East Java Provincial State Museum 'Mpu Tantular' in Sidoarjo. (Picture from: RanggawarsitaMuseum)

Related to its current existence, as quoted of Wikiwand, there are about eight units of these original Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad which were on display in several museums in Germany such as the Deutsches Museum in Munich, at the Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum in Neckarsulm, at the motorcycle museum at Augustusburg Castle and at PS. SPEICHER in Einbeck.

Then there are more which are scattered in several other museums around the globe such as the Science Museum London, the National Technical Museum in Prague Czech Republic, The Henry Ford in Detroit, Barber Vintage Motosports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama, Wells Automuseum in Wells, Maine.

While the first Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad in Indonesia is currently sat on display in sober conditions at the East Java Provincial State Museum 'Mpu Tantular' in Sidoarjo with inventory number of 10.81, in category of Science and Technology. If you want to know other info about classic motorcycles in Indonesia, JUST CLICK HERE.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIWAND | THEHENRYFORD ]

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