No matter how long you have been riding, there is always something new or interesting to learn. It might be about how your bike’s engine works, a historical or obscure fact, or ways to make a long road trip even more fun. How many of these facts did you know? Test your knowledge about motorcycles below.
Did You Know: 10 Facts about Motorcycles
- First Harley Davidson. The first Harley only went 40 mph and had a single cylinder engine that used a tomato can as a carburetor.
- Great performance. Want to get the best performance from your bike? Opt for a synthetic oil or synthetic blend. As a cleaner oil, it can withstand high heat and will protect your bike and result in a smoother ride. Check out your local AMSOIL dealer, The House of Syn to get the perfect viscosity for your ride. You will also find specially formulated octane boosts and motorcycle filters- so your bike is ready to go when you are. And about that octane boost…did you know the Verucci Nitro 50 can go 106.9 miles on one gallon of gas?
Longest ride. With 3,406.17 KM (2116.5 miles) ridden in 24 hours, Carl Reese at the Continental Tire Proving Grounds in Uvalde, TX in 2017. The ride was done to raise awareness for the Motorcycle Relief Project on behalf of PTSD-afflicted veterans.- First Motorcycle. The motorcycle hasn’t always been gleaming chrome and sleek leather. In fact, the first motorcycle was made from wood! The cycle was designed and built German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. It was a glorified bicycle with the pedals removed. It offered a single-cylinder petroleum-powered ride.
- The Harley Hog. Most people know that Harleys are referred to as Hogs- but not the story behind the name. The name has been around since the early 1900’s Harley racing team, known as the Wrecking Crew. The team had a small pig as a mascot, which would ride on the tank of the bike whenever the team did a victory lap. As time went on, the motorcycles became known as “hogs”. It wasn’t until 1983 that the “Harley Owners Group” or HOG was officially founded.
- Riding backwards. Have you ever tried riding backwards? Apparently, it’s not impossible. In fact, Dipayan Choudhury holds the record for riding backwards. He rode 125.52 miles in Jabalpur, India on October 7, 2014.
- The Dead Red. This is the nickname for IC 9-21-3-7b-3d law in Indiana. Dead Red states motorcyclists only have to stop at a red light for 120 seconds. After that, they can treat it as a stop and proceed with caution through an intersection.
- Stolen not stolen. A man in North Carolina buried his Harley on his property and claimed it was stolen in 2006. The insurance paid him for his bike and the loan was also paid off. Six years later the bike was discovered when a new property owner was having some grading done by a contractor.
- Stolen bikes. The most ‘popular’ for bikes to be stolen is August, with September and July coming in second and third. The state with the most motorcycle theft is California.
- Most expensive bike. Coming in at $11 million, the Neiman Marcus Limited Edition Fighter is the most expensive motorcycle in the world. It has a top speed of 190mph, is street legal, has a 120ci 45-degree air cooled V-twin engine and titanium, aluminum and carbon fiber comprise the design.
So, the next time you are hanging out with other motorcycle lovers, you can wow them with your new facts. From the surprising to the mundane, there is always something of interest. Hmm, what fact or tidbit might you share?