1869 Roper Steam Velocipede first motorcycle - video and photo

[Jon]

Roper Steam Velocipede from 1869; one of the three "first" motorcycles (the motorcycle may have been an example of multiple discovery). 1:30 video of replica:

And I believe this is the original, at the National Museum of American History:

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...e_fullsize.jpg


The inventer of the Roper Steam Velocipede, Sylvester H. Roper, also suffered the first recorded motorcycle fatality. Autopsy revealed the cause of death was heart failure. We don't know if Roper crashed and then his heart failed as a result of his head wound, or if, per the generally preferred story, that he was overcome by the sheer joy and exhilaration of riding one of the first motorcycles.



More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roper_steam_velocipede

Previously:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...242#post116057
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