MARK BAYER MOTORCYCLES:
Our list of 2023 Evnets:
Go to the "POSTER" page for printable 2023 fliers. (page.6)
2023 KC VJMC events; more information at: kcvjmc.com
Saturday May 20th, 2023 Donnell's in Independence, Missouri off US Highway 40. From 10am to 1pm.
Sunday June 11, 2023 KCVJMC INVITATIONAL @ Blip, 1301 Woodsweather Road (West Bottoms), 9:30am to 1pm, behind the main building.
Sunday July 9, 2023 Bill Brown Picnic & Sidecar 8120 Gleason Lenexa, Ks. Noon to 5pm; all welcome, food for donation
Friday - Sunday July 21-23 Meetin-In-The Middle At LCC in Liberty, Missouri, go to KCVJMC.com for more complete information
Saturday August 5, 2023 the Commemorative Air Force Rally 6 Aero Plaza, New Century Kansas Airport 66031 10am - 2pm
Saturday August 12, 2023 The All KC 2-Stroke Rally Lees Summit, Mo. Jphnny Rays 800 SW Blue PKWY. 64063 9am - 2pm
www.markbayersmotorcyclenews.mysite.com
Vintage Honda Material:
www.markbayersvintagehonda.mysite.com
A history of the motorcycle from around 1860 to today:
www.markbayersmotorcyclehistory.mysite.com
www.markbayersmotorcyclehistoryII.mysite.com
Includes histories of Japanese motorcycles:
Pages related to Honda Motorcycles, new and old:
www.hondaenthusiasts.mysite.com
Indian Motorcycle History:
www.markbayerindian.mysite.com
the Cowtown Rockers Site:
Kansas Cith Chapter of VJMC
The link below goes to the list of current KC area motorcycle events:
www.markbayersmotorcyclenews.mysite.com/index_2.html
www.grandclassicevents.mysite.com
Hagerty motorcycle (or other vehicles) valuation site:
www.hagerty.com/valuationtools/HVT/VehicleSearch
Note additional site links on the lower part of the page. These are my non-motorcycle links.
THE HISTORY OF THE MOTORCYCLE IN NOT ONLY INTERESTING, INSIGHTFUL, BUT WILL ALSO BENEFIT YOUR CURRENT MOTORCYCLING EXPERIENCE:
The history of the motorcycle really begins after the turn of the last century. Certainly there were many attempts at building two wheeled vehicles before 1900 but the earliest efforts were primarily experimental in nature. The early machines were simply an effort to build something which would operate on it's own power. I have a list of over 18 early motorcycles which existed from 1860 to 1900 but they were not in the hands of the public. The Hildebrand-Wolfmuller was sold prior to 1900 but quickly went out of business because they were just not reliable or usable! Make sure and check out my "motorcycle history pages" listed above. Just click on the link and check out my history pages. The fact is, there were very few steam, electric, or petrolium powered vehicles till the early 1900's. In America, few ever saw self powered vehicles till after 1903 except in larger cities. Europe was half a decade ahead of the US, but in terms of the population the earliest vehicles were for the wealthy not the masses.
Engineering and manufacturing really begins to grow exponentially after 1900. In America from 1900 to WWI (1917), there were at least 100+ small manufacturers which had already attempted to build and market motorcycles. The earliest motorcycles were simply engines on bicycles! Neary all were modeled after the French deDion Buton engine. This engine was used because it was one of the first to produce over one horsepower and was relatively reliable. The early motorcycles had no lights, really bad brakes, typically had one speed (till the late teens), and the engines stopped when the bike stopped!
By WWI, the motorcycle had come into it's own but the Ford Model T (US) was picking up steam and sold for little more than a motorcycle. In America, the sales of motorcycles dropped off after the first world war and remained fairly flat till after WWII. After WWII sales slowly climbed in the US till the British motorcycles began to be imported after 1945. From around this time till around 1960, the "British Motorcycle Invasion" occured. British motorcycles were popular because they were smaller, lighter, faster, and handled better than the big American V-twins. From the early 1960' the "Japanese Motorcycle Invasion" occured. Around 1960, fewer than 90,000 new motorcycles were sold yearly. Roughly half were European and the other half Harley Dabidson and Indian (Indian goes bankrupt in 1953) motorcycles. By 1963, Honda was importing over 180,000 motorcycles alone. By 1970, new motoecycle sales in the US were over a million per year.
The Japanese motorcycles became the world-beaters by the end of the 1960's. By the early 1970's Japanese motorcycles owned the race tracks, were #1 in sales, were the most advanced in technology, and represented the largest segment, hands down, in the sport! The tables turned in the early 1980's when motorcycles sales were much lower. The people who had bought bikes in the late 1960's now had families and motorcycling as a sport was much smaller. People wanted the buy American and were not that interested in 100HP 500 lb. bikes. After Harley Davidson developed the "Evolution" motor, being much cleaner, more reliable, and looked more modern, their sales began to grow.
Today, the largest segment of riders in the US are those riding cruisers and large touring motorcycles. Sport bikes and an array of miscalleanous other types of bikes make up the total market today. Younger people seem to prefer newer more advanced machines while the over 50 crowd likes the cruisers. Motorcycling has again grown strong with a greater array of motorcycles than were ever offered before.
This short history is certainly painted with very large brush strokes but hopefully will encourage the reader to want to study more about the history of the motorcycle. Go back to the top portion of this page and check out my other motorcycle pages. On the "Mark Bayers Motorcycle News" pages linked above, I have many really great sites. Just go to the first page, scroll down, and there are a host of great links. There are other links on the other sites as well. Above all else, make sure and go through my "Motorcycle History" sites. If you work your way through these sites you will have the opportunity to get the know many aspects of the world of motorcycling much better. Have at it and above all, enjoy yourself!
Mark Bayer Ed.D.
My new book, An Overview of Motorcycle History, pictured below and to the right, is available on Amazon!
My latest book available on Amazon.
Note, below, other motorcycle history books available on Amizon.
My new book, on the right, is available on Amazon:
Non motorcycle related web sites; just click on the desired link and you will go directly to the site:
Mark Bayer Information site:
www.trailstoautomobiles.mysite.com
Marriage Related Information Sites:
www.markbayersmarriagesite.mysite.com
www.markbayersmarriageii.mysite.com
Mark's Art Related Sites:
www.markbayerquotes.mysite.com
Communicate with me through the e-mail link below. If you do, make sure and note that it is from the "Mark Bayer Motorcycle" page. Thanks.
Make sure and check out the other pages of this website. Click on the "next page" icon just under the heading and check out the additional information and pictures!
Below is a link to my primary "non" motorcycle page:
