On the Pegs - November 2021 Volume 6 Issue 11 - November | Page 180

The First Motorized Bike GOOD OLD TIMES BLOG

words by Kenneth Olausson photos courtesy of Husqvarna

The human urge to make things easier and more comfortable resulted in motorized two-wheelers . In the noble year of 1903 , Husqvarna produced its first Swedish velocipede equipped with an engine . It was the start of a totally new era , which would eventually result in the company ' s world-wide reputation . Here ’ s how curiosity conquered people ’ s minds .

At the turn of the century , the clatter of horse ’ s hooves was suddenly replaced by the rumble of 4-stroke engines . Husqvarna produced bicycles like " La Draisine ", " The Bone-shaker ", " The Hi- Wheeler ", " The Kanguru ", " The
Giraff " and " The Crypto-machine ". In the five-year period from 1897 to 1901 , the Husqvarna production included 4,916 bicycle units . Now , we see a lot of new inventions appealing to a hungry market with people starving to get a decent ride .
In the beginning , there was suspicion and ridicule from a lot of people . However , as with novelties , when they saw the benefits of this new vehicle , doubts were put aside . In fact , a lot of folk with money in their pockets wanted to have an easy life , investing in comfortable transportation , looking around the next corner with anticipation .
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 180