The first test ride of what is often considered the first modern motorcycle, the Daimler Reitwagen (‘riding car’) or Einspur (‘single track’) took place in 1885. At the controls was 17-year-old Paul Daimler, eldest son of the bike’s inventor, Gottlieb Daimler. This journey effectively made Paul the world’s first biker.
The saddle was too high for the rider’s feet to reach the ground and the lousy frame geometry made it unrideable so they fitted spring-loaded stabiliser wheels.
The first ride on the 0.5hp machine was an interesting excursion for Paul. He travelled at 3.1-7.5 mph during his roughly 5.5 kilometre trip from the workshop in Cannstatt to Untertürkheim, Germany. Along the way his seat caught fire due to the hot tube ignition located directly beneath it. Despite a few improvements, Daimler paused the project in 1886 in favour of pursuing four wheel vehicles. A fire destroyed the original creation in 1903.