A Brief History of Motorcycles in the United States The American motorcycle industry was born out of the ingenuity of pioneers who saw potential in combining bicycles with early automotive innovations.
In the late 19th century, cyclists experimented with engines attached to their bicycles, laying the groundwork for the motorcycles that would soon follow.
The velocipede craze of the 1880s introduced Americans to cycling, and as the industry grew, manufacturers began adding engines to two wheeled contraptions.