With the invention of bicycles and steam engines, 19th century engineers came up with the idea of combining these technologies. From the 1880s onward, dozens of little companies started producing self-propelled machines, first in Europe and then spreading to America. In 1894, a German company became the first to establish a production factory and call their machines "motorcycles". In the US, the first motorcycle was built by Charles Metz in Waltham.
The 1980s brought a dip in the motorcycle market. In the '90s, Baby Boomers dove back into riding, and the industry saw an increase in sales. This encouraged brands like Ducati, BMW, and Triumph to make a comeback.
Today, companies offer bikes with more features than their creators could dream of. Modern motorcycles epitomize the bond between a human and a machine, a relationship that's been about the feeling of freedom. Did you know these American motorcycle brands existed?
15 Thor
In 1908, Thor offered magneto and battery ignition, as well as chain and belt drive. They developed the design featuring a twin with automatic intake valves. They transformed the bike industry to fit the needs of the racing culture. Even though Thor bikes ceased production in 1920, the brand still produces home appliances.
14 Cyclone
Cyclone was a little local brand located in St. Paul, Minnesota. The short-lived company made its mark by doing exceptionally great on track racing circuits. In 2015, a 1915 Cyclone bike previously owned by Steve McQueen was sold for $852K at auction. It was the highest price paid for a bike at auction.
13 Saxon
Saxon was founded in 2004. The brand produces custom motorcycles and related accessories at affordable prices. All motorcycles are designed and built in Phoenix, Arizona. Once you order a Saxon model, you can customize everything from the exhaust to wheels to graphics. Their popular bikes include the Saxon Motorcycle Hotrod Sceptre and Saxon Motorcycle Whip.
12 Big Bear Choppers
Big Bear Choppers is a custom bike manufacturer. With roots that date back to the '90s, it is a family-oriented business. Shops are opened in Big Bear Lake, Calif. The brand owner, Kevin Alsop, is responsible for designs and components, and his wife, Mona Alsop, is in charge of day to day operations.
11 Boss Hoss Cycles
Boss Hoss Cycles was founded in 1990 in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The company produces high-performance custom bikes equipped with tuned V8 engines and semi-automatic transmission. The company tries to make the most powerful motorcycles in the world. Their bikes have no vibration, especially when compared to that of a V-twin model.
10 American Iron Horse
American Iron Horse is one of the alternative companies that assembles motorcycles from units and parts. It was founded in 1995. The most interesting models are their choppers and cruisers with 2-cylinder V-like 1600-cube engines. They also produce accessories and some parts of their bikes, such as wheels and the braking system.
9 Bourget's Bike Works Inc
Bourget's Bike Works Inc was founded in 1993 in Phoenix by Brigitte Bee. This manufacturer has earned a reputation for building custom motorcycles. Their bikes are built to customer specifications, offering unique styling and high performance. Each bike is hand crafted by Americans with 98% American-made parts. Tires are manufactured in England.
8 Crocker Motorcycles
Crocker Motorcycles was a Los-Angeles based manufacturer of single-cylinder speedway racing motorcycles. In 1936, they offered a powerful and innovative V-twin road model. Production ceased in 1942. In 1999, the company was resurrected to produce OEM replacement parts. In 2007, a 1941 Crocker was sold for $230 000 at auction.
7 Flying Merkel
Flying Merkel was a company based in Middletown, Ohio that produced bikes from 1911 to 1915. They invented a "truss fork", which was the predecessor of the telescopic fork. They also came up with the idea of an automatically dripping oil feeder, which was copied by Harley-Davidson and other brands.
6 Confederate Motorcycles
Confederate Motorcycles was founded in 1991. In 1994, they showed their first prototype with awesome power, fatigue resistance and maintenance ease. Today, they produce exotic street bikes. In 2017, they unveiled the high-powered cruiser called The Hercules. Its tuned V-twin engine delivered 145 hp and 160 lb. ft. of torque.
5 Cleveland CycleWerks
Cleveland CycleWerks produces retro-style racers and bobbers and has manufacturing facilities in China and Taiwan. Most models feature a Honda-derived engine. Scott Colosimo, Jarrod Streng, and Curtis Ray, who founded the brand, say "The company aims to fill a gap in the motorcycle marketplace for inexpensive yet stylish motorcycles that riders find technologically accessible."
4 Hodaka
Hodaka produced bikes from 1964 to 1978. Almost 150,000 units were manufactured. The brand was known for creating some of the best trail bikes in the US. By the end of the 70s, the brand was dead. An economic weakness and a shift in demand to large bikes destroyed the company.
3 Victory Motorcycles
Victory Motorcycles produced bikes from 1998 to 2017. Their first model was a cruiser with a fuel-injected V-twin motor. It was the largest displacement engine money could buy. Besides, the overall bike profile mimicked the vintage look of 1930s-era cars. The company was closed due to limited profitability and market struggles.
2 Lightning Motorcycle
Lightning Motorcycle specializes in electric bikes. In 2012, their motorcycle set a speed record with an average of 173.388 mph. A little bit later it set a new record with an average of 215.96 mph. Their Barracuda Lightning Bike won the "joint eGrandPrix TTXGP and FIM ePower electric motorcycle racing series."
1 Rokon
Rokon creates two-wheel drive off-road motorcycles. These are low-speed models that can conquer the most rugged terrain. A standard top speed is 20 mph. When ascending a steep hill the speed can be 0.5 mph. Their most known bikes are the Trail-Breaker, Ranger and Scout. Each bike wheel can hold 2.5 gallons of water.