Believe it or not, motorcycle predates the 20th century. The first motorcycle, the Daimler Reitwagen, was invented in Germany by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in 1885. It was revolutionary for its use of a gasoline-powered engine, and Daimler's son Paul was its first test rider.

The invention of the Daimler Reitwagen led to automobile production a year later. Basically, Daimler's motorcycle was essentially a wooden bicycle frame without foot pedals that was powered by a one-cylinder Otto-cycle engine and included a spray-type carburetor. Unlike other engines of its time, this engine was small and powerful compared with other combustion engines of the day used for stationary operation.

Daimler’s priority was making his engine usable for mobile vehicles. While the Daimler Reitwagen's predecessors are considered motorcycles, the Daimler Reitwagen remains the first gasoline internal combustion motorcycle, and the forerunner of all land, sea, and air vehicles to use this type of engine.

If you found the above interesting, here are some more facts about the first motorcycle.

15 The World’s First Motorcycle Was The Daimler Reitwagen

Daimler Reitwagen
via Wikipedia

The earliest known official motorcycle was built in Bad Cannstatt, Germany in 1885 by German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, who also came up with the idea and designed it. It featured internal combustion and was fueled by petroleum, a rarity for its day. They named it the Daimler Reitwagen.

14 Gottlieb Daimler Patented It

Daimler Reitwagen- Gottlieb Daimler Patented It
via Wikipedia

Gottlieb Daimler was the main inventor behind the first motorcycle. As such, he made sure to patent it. Daimler was also frequently associated with building the world's first successful internal combustion engine, leading to the first automobile. Daimler got his Reitwagen patented as the first true motorcycle, officially staking his claim in the two-wheeler world a year before moving onto car development.

Related: Here’s Why Nobody Buys Motorcycles Anymore

13 Their Engines Were Later Used For Boats And Cars

Daimler Reitwagen- Engine
via Wikipedia

Daimler and Maybach had such an innovative engine design that it wasn't limited to motorcycles. Its popularity and practicality caught on, leading to its use in both boats and cars, specifically four-wheeled carriages. Eventually, this engine was used in the construction of a four-wheeled vehicle that was designed from scratch as an automobile.

12 Daimler Never Made Motorcycles Again

Daimler Reitwagen- Daimler Never Made Motorcycles Again
via Flickr

Daimler moved onto bigger projects after the creation of the Daimler Reitwagen model, never returning to motorcycle construction again. He ended up producing and constructing engines and power units, and then he began designing and building early automobiles. His Reitwagen was his sole motorcycle project.

11 This Led To Car Production A Year Later

Daimler Reitwagen- This Led To Car Production A Year Later
via ThoughtCo

The success of the Daimler Reitwagen led to automobile production a year later. After all, the Daimler Reitwagen was the first vehicle to feature a high-speed internal combustion engine, making it a direct antecedent of the automobile. Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz (of Mercedes-Benz fame) would later become known as the inventors of the automobile. January 29, 1886, was considered the birthday of the first automobile.

Related: The Story Behind Suzuki’s Rise To Motorcycle Greatness

10 The First Ride Was November 1885

Daimler Reitwagen- The First Ride Was November 1885
via TheConversation

November 1885 was the first ride of the Daimler Reitwagen, although accounts debate the date. Some say November 10, while others say November 18. The Reitwagen made its first public journey of any significant length in public. This ride demonstrated both the engine's power and a human's control over it.

9 Daimler's Son Paul Was The First Rider

Daimler Reitwagen- Daimler's Son Paul Was The First Rider
via ElectroDealPro

Daimler’s son Paul rode the vehicle, covering a 5 km distance between Cannstatt to Unterturkheim in Stuttgart, Germany at 5-12 kmph. He was the first test rider the Daimler Reitwagen at age 17 for its first journey of real length in public. Onlookers were amazed to see how a human being could completely control it.

8 Wilhelm Maybach Later Test Drove It

Daimler Reitwagen- Wilhelm Maybach
via YouTube

Wilhelm Maybach, Daimler's partner and co-inventor of the Daimler Reitwagen, later personally took the motorcycle for a test ride. Seeing how this invention strengthened the position of the Daimler and Maybach workshop and served as a solid foundation for future developments, it was important for Maybach to verify and confirm these findings for himself.

7 Gasoline Gives It Credibility

Daimler Reitwagen- Gasoline
via Flickriver

Gasoline gives the Daimler Reitwagen credibility, as for its day, gasoline was not often used as fuel and a lot of engines weren't powered by gasoline. Daimler's claim of developing the first "true" motorcycle landed credibility when it was announced that the Daimler Reitwagen was gasoline-driven. Previous vehicles of the time were tiny two-cylinder engines powered by steam.

6 It Overheated On Its First Ride

Daimler Reitwagen- Overheated
via touringroads.files.wordpress.com/

When Daimler's 17-year-old son Paul took the Daimler Reitwagen on its first test ride, it overheated repeatedly. This escalated to the point where the vehicle seat was repeatedly overheated and ignited, caused by the operation of the ignition system located directly below it, presumably making for a rather uncomfortable and possibly painful ride.

Related: Here Are The Fastest Motorcycles In A Straight Line

5 The Engine Was Patented On April 3, 1885

Daimler Reitwagen- The Engine Was Patented on April 3, 1885
via mercedes-benz.com

April 3, 1885, was when the engine design for the Daimler Reitwagen was officially patented. The most important prerequisite for the world’s first motorcycle was Daimler’s innovative, novel four-stroke, single-cylinder engine, a milestone in the history of technology. Unlike other engines of its time, this engine was small and powerful compared with other combustion engines of the day.

4 It Produced 0.5 Horsepower

Daimler Reitwagen- It Produced 0.5 Horsepower
via Buzzspeed.com

This new engine produced 0.5 horsepower at 600 rpm, which may be weak by today's standards, but was a lot for its time. The design for the Daimler Reitwagen included a wooden bicycle frame with the pedals removed and a single-cylinder Otto cycle four-stroke engine mounted on rubber blocks. It also featured two iron tread wooden wheels, as well as two outrigger wheels to keep it stable. It achieved a top speed of about 11 kmph.

3 Daimler Is The “Father Of The Motorcycle”

Daimler Reitwagen- Daimler Is The “Father Of The Motorcycle”
via Volo Auto Museum

Although constructing the Reitwagen was never Daimler's ultimate goal, inventing it meant that Daimler is often called “the father of the motorcycle,” merely because of this invention. The earlier engine, the three steam, powered the Daimler Reitwagen's predecessors in the decade immediately preceding the Daimler Reitwagen's construction and invention.

2 The Name Means “Riding Wagon”

Daimler Reitwagen- The Name Means “Riding Wagon”
via rockymountainatvmc.com

The Daimler Reitwagen has a meaning behind its name. Although it was partially named for its co-creator, Gottlieb Daimler, “Reitwagen” means “riding wagon” or “single track,” simply because the Daimler Reitwagen was on two wheels and rode on a single track, as opposed to a four-wheeled carriage, which rode on two tracks.

1 August 29, 1885, Was When The Design Was Patented

Daimler Reitwagen- August 29, 1885 Was When The Design Was Patented
via Yahoo Autos

The full design for the Daimler Reitwagen was patented on August 29, 1885. Daimler and Maybach’s next step was to install the engine in a testbed so they could see how well that engine could function in a vehicle. They wanted to learn what the engine could do, although their goal wasn't to create a motorcycle. Unfortunately, the engine prototype was not yet powerful enough for a full-size carriage.

Sources: media.daimler.com, thevintagenews.com, wired.com,

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