The First Motorcycle in the World: The Daimler Reitwagen (1885)
Discover how Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach built the world’s first petrol-powered two-wheeled vehicle.
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| Photo: Daimler Reitwagen — 1885 prototype, on display at museum (via Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA). |
Introduction (ads1)
The first motorcycle in the world is widely recognized as the Daimler Reitwagen, built in 1885 by German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. This experimental vehicle tested the viability of a compact petrol engine mounted on a two-wheeled frame.
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Drawings from 1884 showed a twist grip belt tensioner, complex steering linkage and used a belt drive. The working model had a simple handlebar and used a pinion gear drive.
Who built it?
Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach designed and assembled the Reitwagen in Cannstatt (Stuttgart), Germany, to test high-speed petrol engines for vehicle use.
When and where it first rode
The Reitwagen was completed in 1885 and first tested that November. Their 17-year-old son, Paul Daimler, made the first test ride — making him arguably the world’s first biker.
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| Photo: Daimler Reitwagen — 1885 prototype, on display at museum (via Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA). |
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Design and technical features
- Engine: 264 cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke internal-combustion engine
- Power / Speed: ~0.5 hp; top speed ~11–12 km/h
- Frame & Wheels: Wooden frame, iron-over-wood wheels with wood spokes; small outrigger wheels for balance
- Drive / Transmission: Belt drive; later iterations used a two-speed transmission
- Ignition: Hot-tube ignition system
Why it's considered the first motorcycle
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| Photo: Daimler Reitwagen — 1885 prototype, on display at museum (via Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA). |
Although earlier steam-powered two-wheel vehicles existed, the Reitwagen is widely recognized as the first gasoline internal-combustion motorcycle — and the first modern motorcycle in essence. Its invention marked a major leap toward the motorcycles and motor vehicles we know today.
Legacy and influence
The Reitwagen proved petrol-powered two-wheelers were possible, paving the way for the development of future motorcycles and other motor vehicles. Daimler and Maybach’s work laid important groundwork for engine and automotive design.
Photo Credits: Images from Wikimedia Commons (Daimler Reitwagen, 1885 prototype; museum display; replicas). Please retain attribution per CC-BY-SA / associated license.
