August 29: Daimler Patents the first Motorcycle

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed

Gottlieb Daimler deposited a patent for the world's first motorcycle on August 29th, 1885. Built from wood, it was powered by a 4-cycle 1-cylinder engine that produced 0.5 hp. This invention represents an historical turning-point, as engines had only been used up to that point on stationary machines.

The original motorcycle is located in Germany, at the NSU Museum in Neckarsulm.