1. Motor Scooter History
Razor Motor Scooter – Pocket Mod Betty
Did you know about the motor scooter history? And What really the scooter is? To answer it, i
will used some authorization sources to gain trust and useful information about the scooter.
Based on Wikipedia a scooter is a motorcycle with step-through frame and a platform of the
operator’s feet. While based on The United States Department of Transportation there is no
define for scooter term or any other terms such “motor scooter,” “moped,” “pocket bike,”
“mini-chopper,” “mini-ninja,” because this is only be used for the marketing purpose on
motorcycles and motor driven cycles.
Based NHTSA, motorcycle is a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the
use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with ground.
And motor driven cycle is a motorcycle with a motor that produces 5-brake horsepower or less.
Maybe you often see this kind of vehicle on the road because the motor scooter has become
popular among people in recent.This personal transportation being likely by people because it’s
simplicity, great design, stylish and quit fast enough.
The earliest motor scooter history was been made on 1900s. Even not as the first motor scooter
created but the firstly popular motor scooter from the post world war 2 are the Vespa and the
lambretta. In that time motor scooter was introduce as low power personal transportation
(engines from 50 to 250 cc). The scooter was popular as personal transportation because of
their low price, convenience.
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2. Motor Scooter on The Road
you can read more completely about motor scooter history below:
Motor Scooter History
Predecessors to the scooter
Hildebrand & Wolfmüller motorcycle
Scooter-like traits began to develop in motorcycle designs around the 1900s. In 1894,
Hildebrand & Wolfmuller produced the first motorcycle that was available for purchase.
Their motorcycle had a step-through frame, with its fuel tank mounted on the down tube,
its parallel two-cylinder engine mounted low on the frame, and its cylinders mounted in
line with the frame. It was water-cooled and had a radiator built into the top of the rear
fender. It became the first mass-produced and publicly-sold powered two-wheel vehicle,
and among the first powered mainly by its engine rather than foot pedals. Maximum
speed was 40 km/h (25 mph). The rear wheel was driven directly by rods from the
pistons in a manner similar to the drive wheels of steam locomotives. Only a few
hundred such bikes were built, and the high price and technical difficulties made the
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3. venture a financial failure for both Wolfmüller and his financial backer, Hildebrand.
Motor Scooter Predecessors
In France, the Auto-Fauteuil was introduced in 1902. This was basically a step-through
motorcycle with an armchair instead of a traditional saddle. Production continued until
1922.
First generation (1915–1930)
The Motoped entered production in 1915, and is believed to be the first motor scooter.
They were followed that year by the Autoped, whose engine was engaged by pushing
the handlebar column forward and whose brake was engaged by pulling the column
back. Autopeds were made in Long Island, New York from 1915 to 1921, and were also
made under license by Krupp in Germany from 1919 to 1922.
1st. Generation Motor Scooter
The number of scooter manufacturers and designs increased after World War I. The
Skootamota, the Kenilworth, and the Reynolds Runabout debuted in 1919, with
Gloucestershire Aircraft Company following with its Unibus in 1920. The Skootamota
was noted for being practical, popular, and economical, the Kenilworth for its electric
lights,[citation needed] and the Reynolds Runabout for its advanced specifications,
including front suspension, a two-speed gearbox, leg shields, and a seat sprung with
leaf springs and coil springs. The Unibus also had a two-speed gearbox, but it is more
notable for its full bodywork, similar to that which would appear of second- and
third-generation scooters.
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4. The reputation of first-generation scooters was damaged by a glut of unstable machines
with flexible frames, and more substantial examples like the Reynolds Runabout and the
Unibus were too expensive to be competitive. The first generation had ended by the mid
1920s.
Second generation (1936–1968)
Motor Scooter Second Generation
E. Foster Salsbury and Austin Elmore developed the Salsbury Motor Glide, a scooter
with a seat above an enclosed drivetrain, and began production in 1936 in California. In
1938, Salsbury introduced a more powerful scooter with a continuously variable
transmission (CVT). This was the first use of a CVT on a scooter. It was such a success
that Salsbury attempted to license the design to several European manufacturers
including Piaggio. The Motor Glide set the standards for all later models. It inspired
production of motor scooters by Powell, Moto-scoot, Cushman, Rock-Ola, and others.
The Cushman Company produced motor scooters from 1936 to 1965. Cushman was an
engine manufacturer that started making scooters after Salsbury found their offer to
supply engines to be unacceptable. Cushman and Salsbury competed against each
other, with both companies advertising the economy of their scooters. Cushman claimed
an efficiency of 120 miles per gallon at 30 mph. Cushman introduced a centrifugal clutch
to their scooters in 1940. The Cushman Auto Glide Model 53 was designed to be
dropped by parachute with Army Airborne troops, and was eventually called the
“Cushman Airborne”. Cushman scooters were also used around military bases for
messenger service.
Salsbury continued manufacturing scooters until 1948, while Cushman continued until
1965.
Small numbers of the 165 cc Harley-Davidson Topper scooter were produced from 1960
to 1965 using the engine from their line of light motorcycles based on the DKW RT 125.
It had a fiberglass body, a continuously-variable transmission, and a pull-cord starting
mechanism.
Early postwar Japanese scooters
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5. After World War II, wartime aircraft manufacturers were forbidden from making aircraft,
and had to find other products to make in order to stay in business. Fuji Sangyo, a part
of the former Nakajima Aircraft Company, began production of the Fuji Rabbit S-1
scooter in June 1946. Inspired by Powell scooters used by American servicemen, the S1
was designed to use surplus military parts, including the tailwheel of a Nakajima
bomber, re-purposed as the front wheel of the S1. Later that year, Mitsubishi introduced
the C10, the first of its line of Silver Pigeon scooters. This was inspired by a Salsbury
Motor Glide that had been brought to Japan by a Japanese man who had lived in the
United States.
Production of the Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon and the Fuji Rabbit continued through several
series until the 1960s. Some series of the Fuji Rabbit were developed to a high level of
technological content; the S-601 Rabbit Superflow had an automatic transmission with a
torque converter, an electric starter, and pneumatic suspension. Mitsubishi ended
scooter production with the C140 Silver Pigeon, while Fuji continued production of the
Rabbit until the last of the S-211 series was built in June 1968.
Second generation scooters, Japan, 1946–1968
Third generation (1946–1964) and beyond
Italy – Vespa and Lambretta
3rd. Generation Motor Scooter
In post-World War II Italy the Piaggio Vespa became the standard for scooters, and has
remained so for over 60 years. Patented in April 1946, it used aircraft design and
materials. D’Ascanio’s 98 cc scooter had various radical design concepts, including a
sleek, stress-bearing structure. The gear shift lever was moved to the handlebars for
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6. easier riding. The engine was placed near the rear wheel, eliminating the belt drive. The
typical fork support was replaced by an arm similar to an aircraft carriage for easier
tire-changing. The elegantly-styled body protected the driver from wind and road dirt,
and bore little resemblance to uncomfortable and noisy motorcycles. The smaller wheels
and shorter wheelbase provide improved maneuverability through narrow streets and
congested traffic. Combining the best elements of automotive, aeronautical and
motorcycle design, the Vespa quickly became an icon of design and economy. The
name reportedly originated when Piaggio’s president upon seeing the prototype,
remarked “Sembra una vespa”, “It looks like a wasp”.
Months after the Vespa, in 1947, Innocenti introduced the Lambretta, beginning a rivalry
with Vespa. The scooter was designed by Innocenti, his General Director Giuseppe
Lauro and engineer Pierluigi Torre. It debuted in 1947 at the Paris Motor Show. The
Lambretta ‘A’ went on sale on December 23, 1947 and sold 9,000 units in one year. It
was efficient, 160-180 mpg (miles per gallon) or 68–76 km/litre,[citation needed] at a
time when petrol was severely rationed. It had a top speed of 45 mph (72 km/h) from a
fan-cooled engine of 123 cc. The Lambretta was named after Lambrate, the Milanese
neighborhood where the factory stood. The first Lambretta designs had shaft drive and
no rear suspension, later designs used various drive and suspension systems until
Lambretta settled on a swingarm-mounted engine with chain drive.
Germany
Classic German Scooter
Germany’s aviation industry was also dismantled after World War II. Heinkel stayed in
business by making bicycles and mopeds, while Messerschmitt made sewing machines
and automobile parts. Messerschmitt took over the German licence to manufacture
Vespa scooters from Hoffman in 1954 and built Vespas under from 1954 to 1964.
Heinkel designed and built its own scooters. The Heinkel Tourist was a large and
relatively heavy touring scooter produced in the 1960s. It provided good weather
protection with a full fairing, and the front wheel turned under a fixed nose extension. It
had effective streamlining, perhaps thanks to its aircraft ancestry. Although it had only a
175 cc 4-stroke motor, it could sustain speeds of 70 mph (110 km/h). Heinkel scooters
were known for their reliability.
Glas, a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, made the Goggo scooter from 1951 to
1955. Glas discontinued scooter production to concentrate on its Goggomobil microcar.
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7. Several manufacturers in the German motorcycle industry made scooters. NSU made
Lambrettas under licence from 1950 to 1955, during which they developed their Prima
scooter. Production of the Prima began when NSU’s license to build Lambrettas ran
out. Zündapp made the popular Bella scooter in the 1960s. It 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. Maico built the large Maicoletta scooter in the 1950s. It
had a single cylinder piston-port two stroke engine, with four foot-operated gears and
centrifugal fan cooling. The Maicoletta had a choice of engine sizes, approximately 175
cc, 250 cc, or 275 cc, The tubular frame was built on motorcycle principles, with
long-travel telescopic forks and 14-inch wheels. The Maicoletta had a top speed of 70
mph (110 km/h) which was comparable with most 250 cc motorcycles of the time. Other
German scooters made by motorcycle manufacturers included the DKW Hobby, the
Dürkopp Diana, and the TWN Contessa.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, Douglas manufactured the Vespa under licence from 1951 to
1961 and assembled them from 1961 to 1965. BSA and Triumph made several models
of scooter including the BSA Dandy 70, the Triumph Tina, and the Triumph Tigress. The
Tigress was made from 1959 to 1964 and was sold with a 175 cc 2-stroke single engine
or a 250 cc 4-stroke twin; both versions used a foot-operated four-speed
gearbox.[citation needed] The 250 twin had a top speed of 70 mph (110 km/h). The BSA
Sunbeam was a badge engineered version of the Tigress.
Source: Wikipedia
based on story motor scooter history above you can see that motor scooter has 3 generation
and keep growing until now a days. It is show us that scooter is really can be accepted among
us as one of most popular transportation. If you are interesting to have an alternative
transportation devices, scooter would be great idea for you to have it.
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