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| THE FIRST MOTORBIKES |
In 1855, the German car maker Gottlieb Daimler built the first motorcycle by fixing an engine to a bicycle frame. Today’s smallest motorcycles, called mopeds are also closely related to the bicycle. A moped engine is so small that the rider may have to pedal to help the machine up hills. By contrast, the biggest motorcycles are powerful enough to reach speeds of 260 km/h, faster than all but the fastest sports cars.
DESIGN OF MOTORCYCLES
Motorcycles have frame rather like that of a bicycle. The engine, gearbox, fuel tank, saddle and other parts are all bolted to this frame. The front and rear wheels have hydraulic dampers (shock absorbers) to prevent the bike from bouncing up and down too much. The engine is connected to gearbox and turn the rear wheel, usually by means of a chain. Engines range in capacity from less than 50cc (cubic centimeters) to over 1200cc. motorcycles with an engine capacity of 50cc of less are called mopeds. Small motorcycles generally have air-cooled, two-stroke petrol engines. Larger and more expensive machines usually have four-stroke engines and may also have water cooling. The front brake, throttle, clutch and lighting controls are mounted on the handlebars. The rear brake is applied by a foot pedal. Gear changes may also be made by foot. However, many motorcycles have automatic gearboxes.
