140 Years Ago, Daimler Laid the Foundation for the Motorcycle… and the Automobile
- Published on 10/11/2025 10:28
- Modified on 10/11/2025 10:34
November 10, 1885 marks a foundational date in the history of modern mobility with this Daimler-branded machine.
On that day, Gottlieb Daimler and his son Paul took to the road on a strange wooden contraption called the Reitwagen, literally the “riding machine.” With this first successful trial, humanity witnessed the first outing of a two-wheeled motorized vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine.
The machine was rudimentary: a wooden frame, spoked wheels, no suspension, and a leather belt ensuring transmission. But beneath its saddle beat the very first single-cylinder gasoline engine designed by Daimler himself, capable of delivering about 0.5 horsepower at 600 rpm. The device barely reached 12 km/h, but it symbolized a huge technological leap.
Two or four wheels, but the same freedom
On November 10, 1885, in the courtyard of his home in Cannstatt, near Stuttgart, Daimler unknowingly laid the foundations of the modern automobile. Because while the Reitwagen is recognized as the first motorcycle in history, its compact and reliable engine was soon adapted to four-wheeled cars. In other words, the motorcycle was the springboard for the car.
This invention, which may seem anecdotal today, was nevertheless a turning point: it demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of a personal autonomous vehicle, without rails or horses. A revolution that would soon transform the world’s roads.
You might be interestedin this article:
Ironically, the Reitwagen was never mass-produced. Daimler and his partner Wilhelm Maybach preferred to focus their efforts on more stable vehicles, paving the way for the automobile as we know it. But the trial of November 10, 1885 remains in the annals as the true birth of individual motorization, a day when man ceased to depend on animal traction and moved forward solely by the power of an engine.
A moment in history, just 140 years ago, that changed forever the way we move.
ALSO READ: 70 years ago, the first solar car saw the light of day
This page is translated from the original post "Il y a 140 ans, Daimler posait la première pierre de la moto… et de l’automobile" in French.
We also suggestthese articles:
Also read
