The cylinders rotated with the wheel, and its crankshaft constituted the rear axle" (Tharp 1). It wasn't until Hildebrand & Wolfnueller invented and patented a two-wheeler in 1894 that the two-wheeler became success. Still production and manufacturing was a slow process and motorcycles were not readily available for purchase. In 1885, the "French firm of DeDion-Buton built an engine that was to make the mass production and common use of the motorcycles possible" (Thorpe 2). The engine was small, light and a four-stroke. It had a battery and coil ignition instead of a hot tube. A lubrication system was invented to drip oil in metered doses. Soon the engine was copied and was used by Harley-Davidson in the United States. The first U.S. production began in 1892 in Waltham, Massachusetts. The motorcycle was called the Orient-Aster and contained the DeDion-Buton engine. Production continued at a slow pace until 1960. Between 1960 and 1970 over five million motorcycles were produced and sold. During the 1970's oil crisis, the motorcycle became the preferred mode of transportation (Lear 3). Today there are over "10 million motorcycles in the United States that are commonly used for commuting as well as for various racing competitions" ("Motorcycle Mechanics" 338). .
Riding safety is an important aspect to the motorcyclist that needs to be addressed. Safety is the responsibility of the rider. "In an average year 166,000 Americans will be .
hospitalized as a result of a motorcycle accident. 4,700 of them die. Many others will be crippled for life. In some countries the death rate for motorcyclists is up to nine times higher.
than that for person riding in a car" ("Motorcycle Safety" 1). A motorcyclist needs to ride with.
extreme care. Steering, accelerating and braking require skill and a high degree of coordination. A motorcyclist should never drive while under the influence of alcohol.