In 1894, the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller was the very first motorbike and was powered by a 2 cylinder, 4 stroke engine
The Motorbike featured a water-cooled engine and a hollow tube frame, both of which were technically advanced for the time.
In 1902, the Auto-Fauteuil began production in France with an elementary engine in the back. This scooter set the basic design and frame for many motor scooters to come.
In 1910, the Motoped was believed to be the first scooter to enter production in America.
In 1919 British engineer Granville Bradshaw created the Skootamota, which had a seat. Its single-cylinder 123 cc OHV engine, designed by Bradshaw, sat above the rear wheel and drove it by chain. The saddle and spacious footboard provided comfort. The Skootamota is a rare archetype of modern motor scooters. It is now on display at the National Museum Scotland.
Kenilworth scooter
In 1921 the Kenilworth scooter, another classic scooter designed in England was the first scooter to have an electric light. However the brakes still worked in the same way as those of a bicycles. The Kenilworth scooter had a maximum speed of 20 mph.
Salsbury scooter
1948 Salsbury scooter, was invented by E. Foster Salsbury and Austin Elmore. It had an enclosed body and an automatic transmission. It set the standard for all future models. The Salsbury Motor Glide defined the Five Commandments of a motorscooter - a small motor placed next to or just in front of the
rear wheel; a step-through chassis; bodywork to protect the rider from roadspray and engine grime; small wheels; and an automatic transmission/clutch package.
Cushman three-wheel scooter
Cushman three-wheel scooter based on step-through frame
The Cushman Company produced motor scooters from 1936 to 1965. Light, compact, and rugged, Cushmans were easy to ride and had an automatic clutch which allowed the rider to twist the right grip to go and step on the pedal to stop.
Cushman Eagle
The most successful Cushman model, the Eagle, was manufactured from 1949 to the end of Cushman's motorcycle production in 1965. With its exposed engine and top tanks, it resembled a conventional motorcycle, and was technically no longer a scooter. It was designed to be dropped by parachute with Army Airborne troops, so it became known as the “Cushman Airborne”. It was also used around military bases for messenger service.
World War II
During World War II, the inexpensive motorscooter was called to action for civilian and military use; English, German, Italian and American manufacturers all produced simple scooters to mobilize parachute regiments and ground forces...perhaps the most famous being the British Welbike which folded and was dropped by parachute inside a canister alongside the troops.
These military scooters continued to be manufactured after the war; the Welbike was modified by Brockhouse to be launched in 1946 as the Corgi. In the United States, civilians rode scooters during the war to save money and gasoline. Some manufacturers received dispensations to build scooters as civilian wartime transportation, whereas car makers were converted solely to military contracting. Riding a scooter became a wartime duty, as patriotic as flying the flag. As American motorcycle maven Floyd Clymer prompted while lauding the aptly named Victory Clipper scooter, ‘If you want to conserve Gasoline and Tires...and save money to invest in War Bonds you should consider our Motor Scooters...Remember a ‘D’ Ration book is good for 1 1/2 gallons a week...at 100 miles per
gallon that’s better than a ‘B’ Book’.
1946 - The Vespa was first manufactured in Italy. It was a huge development in scooter history. For over forty years scooters had provided inexpensive transport but the invention of the Vespa gave it style. Vespas are famous for their painted, pressed steel one piece body which combine a complete cowling for the engine (enclosing the engine mechanism and concealing dirt or grease), a flat floorboard (providing foot protection), and a prominent front fairing (providing wind protection) into a structural unit.
The Mitsubishi Silver Pegion was a series of scooter made in Japan by Mitsubishi between 1946 and 1963. It was largely made of warplane wheels and discarded warplane parts.
1947 The Lambretta 125 D was manufactured in Milan, Italy by Innocenti. It was named after the Lambrate region of Milan, the first Model A Lambretta was produced in 1947. The Lambretta arrived on the market one year after the Vespa but featured a second seat and a larger engine making it possible to carry passengers. The scooter was an instant success in Italy and the company grew to have factories all over the world. In 1966, Luigi Innocenti inherited the company. In 1972, Innocenti stopped producing Lambrettas in Milan and sold the tooling to a company in India where they are still produced today.
The Zündapp Bella R 154 from 1958 in Austria was in production for about ten years, in three engine sizes, 150 cc, 175 cc and 200 cc. They could perform all day at a steady speed of 60 mph (97 km/h). Extremely reliable and very well made, many of these scooters still exist today.
1983 The Honda FC50, also known as the "Beat," was a 50 cc scooter manufactured by Honda in 1983. It was produced for carrying one person at a time and mainly for the Japanese domestic market. The FC50 was powered by a single cylinder petrol two stoke engine that was liquid cooled, making it one of the most powerful in its class. The small radiator was fitted behind the grill between the two headlights. It featured 12 volt electric start and CTV transmission, the transmission charged from low to high at around 5500 rpm.
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A modern Honda Jazz
The classic styling of the Vespa never lost its popularity, and remains the most popular and most imitated scooter design. Almost all manufacturers now carry both a classic/retro model and a sporty/modern model.
Under bone: An underbone is a small motorcycle built on a frame consisting mostly of one large diameter tubular component
2007 Yamaha Nouvo 115
