Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede

Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede
Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede on display at The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition at the Guggenheim in New York in 1998.
ManufacturerPierre Michaux and Louis-Guillaume Perreaux
Production1867–1871[1][2][3][4]
AssemblyParis, France
ClassSteam motorcycle
EngineSingle cylinder steam, 62 kg (137 lb)[1]
Bore / stroke22 mm × 80 mm (0.87 in × 3.15 in)[1]
Top speed9 mph (14 km/h)[5][6]
19 mph (31 km/h)[1]
Power1–2 hp (0.75–1.49 kW)[4]
TransmissionTwin leather belts
Frame typeDiamond section, iron down tube[5]
SuspensionRigid, leaf sprung saddle[6]
BrakesNone
TiresIron covered wood spoked rims
Weight87–88 kg (192–194 lb)[1][4][6] (dry)

The Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede was a steam powered velocipede made in France some time from 1867 to 1871, when a small Louis-Guillaume Perreaux commercial steam engine was attached to a Pierre Michaux manufactured iron framed pedal bicycle.[1] It is one of three motorcycles claimed to be the first motorcycle, along with the Roper steam velocipede of 1867 or 1868, and the internal combustion engine Daimler Reitwagen of 1885.[1][2][7][8] Perreaux continued development of his steam cycle, and exhibited a tricycle version by 1884.[9] The only Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede made, on loan from the Musée de l'Île-de-France, Sceaux, was the first machine viewers saw upon entering the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum rotunda in The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition in New York in 1998.[4][10]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Falco, Charles M.; Guggenheim Museum Staff (1998), "Issues in the Evolution of the Motorcycle", in Krens, Thomas; Drutt, Matthew (eds.), The Art of the Motorcycle, Harry N. Abrams, pp. 24–31, 98–101, ISBN 0-89207-207-5
    Michaux-Perreaux year 1868. Roper year 1869.    {{citation}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  2. ^ a b Setright, L. J. K. (1979). The Guinness Book of Motorcycling Facts and Feats. Guinness Superlatives. pp. 8–18. ISBN 0-85112-200-0
    Michaux-Perreaux year 1867    {{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Burgess-Wise1973 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d Falco, Charles M. (July 2003), "The Art and Materials Science of 190-mph Superbikes" (PDF), MRS Bulletin, 28 (7): 512–516, doi:10.1557/mrs2003.148, archived from the original (Adobe PDF) on 2007-03-06, retrieved 2011-01-29
    Michaux-Perreaux year 1867–1871.    {{citation}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Schafer1985 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Brown2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Kresnak, Bill (2008), Motorcycling for Dummies, Hoboken, New Jersey: For Dummies, Wiley Publishing, p. 29, ISBN 978-0-470-24587-3
    Roper year 1869.    {{citation}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  8. ^ Kerr, Glynn (August 2008), "Design; The Conspiracy Theory", Motorcycle Consumer News, vol. 39, no. 8, Irvine, California, p. 36–37, ISSN 1073-9408
    Roper year 1869.    {{citation}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  9. ^ Knight, Edward Henry (1884), Knight's new mechanical dictionary: A description of tools, instruments, machines, processes, and engineering. With indexical references to technical journals (1876-1880.), Houghton, Mifflin and company, pp. 922–923, retrieved 2011-01-27
  10. ^ Vogel, Carol (3 August 1998), "Latest Biker Hangout? Guggenheim Ramp", The New York Times, p. A1, retrieved 21 December 2014