Motorcycles


 * Abstract**

Motorcycle technology and evolution throughout the past century and a half has led to the emergence of many social groups and lifestyle influences. After the invention of the first motorcycle in 1868, society became fascinated with the new creation. As motorcycle technology became more sophisticated throughout the years, motorcycle sales increased. Soon riding a motorcycle became large social interaction which lead to the formation of the AMA (American Motorcycle Association), infamous motorcycle gangs, and most currently, a large internet based motorcycle forum boom. Popularity of motorcycles can be traced back to two important time periods; the post World War II baby boom, and the 1980’s second generation baby boom.


 * Motorcycle Use During World War II**

During World War II motorcycles began to see much more practical military uses than in the past. Motorcycles did see use in the Mexican-American war and World War I, however they played very limited rolls. In the early 20th century Harley Davidson signed a contract with the U.S. military and started exporting one third of their entire motorcycle production to the government. Motorcycles began to see more and more popularity as the war went on because of their maneuverability and ease of use. Harley Davidson supplied the military with roughly 80,000 motorcycles. The most that were active during one time was around 20,000. The Germans blitzkrieg war tactic fit well with the speed and reliability of motorcycles. While the allies mainly used motorcycles in non-combat rolls, such as medicine delivery and messenger vehicles, the Germans mounted motorcycles with machine guns and used them as highly effective gorilla assault vehicles.


 * Post World War II Era**

After the troops were sent home, they lost most of the excitement that they experienced in the war. The motorcycle became the main source of adventure that the veterans used to fill the void that was left from the war. One veteran in particular, Willie Forkner, saw an opportunity for these veteran motorcyclists to band together and become a “brotherhood.” This group called themselves the Boozefighters, and they are accredited with being the first motorcycle gang. The Boozefighters gained their reputation during the 1947 Hollister take over. Four thousand motorcyclists showed up in the small town of Hollister for a rally. Many members of the Boozefighters were arrested or injured in the multiple fights and races that took place. After this incident they became so infamous that a movie was made after them called “The Wild One” starring Marlon Brando. There were two main other motorcycle gangs that were involved in the Hollister incident, The Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington, and the Market Street Commandos. “The Wild One” opened society’s eyes to hidden world of motorcycles and motorcycle gangs. Many popular motorcycle gangs began to pop up after the Hollister riot, most notably the Hell’s Angels. Many of the members had no respect for the law, and did anything they pleased. Another factor that contributed to the rowdiness of these gangs was their heavy drinking. During the war many soldiers looked to the bottle to cure the social wounds that the war imposed on them. Although the war was over now, they could not leave the drinking behind. These motorcycle gangs generally hung out at bars where fights and killings were not uncommon. The war had taught them to be killers, and that was a teaching that they could not part with. Not all returning war vets took the “immoral” path that the motorcycle gang members did. Some decided that motorcycling in itself could give them the excitement they desired. Harley Davidson was the main motorcycle supplier in the United States during the 1940’s. Harley’s, as they were referred to, came in a variety of different models with many options for the riders. For someone that wanted a smaller, more agile motorcycle they offered the 45 cubic-inch engine. This bike was much lighter, and cheaper for that matter, than the other models Harley offered. For a rider desiring more power they offered a 61 and 74 cubic-inch engine. Harley’s were, and still are, known as one of the “meanest” motorcycles on the market. Their long and narrow pipes with small or no baffles are infamous for emitting a loud growl that made the presence of the bike known. These law abiding Harley riders were filled with a feeling of pure ecstasy when they jumped on their “hog.” One rider accounts “The low growl of the exhaust rumbled through my chest. The torque of the machine rattled the bike at idle. Riding my [1949] FL Hydra-Glide is…something that can’t be put into words.” Another rider during the baby boom era claims “The economic boom that followed the war freed up money so we could purchase leisure items like cars and motorcycles. Before the war, most of us had just enough money to get by our daily lives. It seemed to me like every garage around us had a car and motorcycle parked inside; it was really an amazing thing.”


 * 1980’s Commercial Motorcycle Boom**

Motorcycle popularity increased through the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, however dealerships saw a decline in overall motorcycle sales. The baby boomers were growing up, they now had families and many did not have time for their motorcycles anymore. Although sales were dropping, the media would not let America forget the two wheeled machines. Many television shows, most notably, happy days, featured “bad boy” characters that rode motorcycles and were rebels of society. Arthur Fonzarelli, or more popularly, “The Fonz” from Happy Days was quite possibly the most famous character of his era. He always wore his smooth leather jacket, rode a Harley Davidson, and had a beautiful young, and usually different, girl by his side in each episode. In the early 1980’s motorcycle dealerships began to see a boom in sales again. This boom can be generalized into two main reasons. The first being that the baby boomers children were grown up, which meant the parents now had more free time on their hands. Most of the parents of this generation stuck to riding their cruiser bikes, most notably the Harley, which was still the most popular bike of its kind. The second reason for the sales spike was that the sport motorcycle was beginning to makes its appearance onto the market. The main manufacturer of the sport bike in North America was Honda. This sport motorcycle was a much lighter, agile, and speedier bike compared to the cruiser. This type of motorcycle appealed mainly to the children of the baby boomers. This was the first time in motorcycle sales history that the market had something to offer to two different generations. One local motorcycle salesman recalls, “I worked in the business for over 20 years. The 80’s was the first time that I saw entire families coming into the store to purchase motorcycles. Most of the times I could sell two bikes in one pop, one to the father and one to the son.” As the number of riders increased, the number of social motorcycle events increased proportionally. Peaceful motorcycle rallies began to be organized by the AMA and private motorcyclists alike. Owning a motorcycle meant that you were part of an elite social group. When one rider would pass another, it was blasphemy if one rider did not wave. The best analogy for the strong social connection that riders developed between each other is the network created by religion. Riders across the country began to help each other out when they were in need. One rider in California remembers, “I was down on my luck. I lost my job, tax collectors were constantly harassing me, they even repossessed my house. I was sitting in a local bar telling my story, when a man I barely knew tapped me on my shoulder and said I could come stay with him until things got better. Neither of us knew each other all that well, but he knew that I was a rider, and I knew the same about him.”


 * Social Interactions via the Internet**

Beginning in the early 21st century, motorcyclists’ social networking changed from local to global via the internet. The most popular medium for motorcyclists to interact with one another was no longer the streets, it was now the forums. Instead of having to meet up in person on the motorcycles, one could now just log on the web and be part of a multi-national discussion about motorcycles. Riders could join public motorcycle forums that allowed owners of any type of bike to join, or they could interact in a more private forum between people that owned the same type of bike as them. They could now ask other riders mechanical questions, general inquiries, sell their bike, or tell their stories and share pictures and videos with their fellow riders.


 * Conclusion**

Motorcycles are a technology that spawned a social network by giving members of society a common interest. Motorcyclists have always felt more comfortable riding in groups; this is because all members of that group share a common love. The popularity of motorcycles that was increased due to World War II spurred the formation of motorcycle gangs mainly located on the western coast of the United States. Over the next thirty years motorcycle technology hit somewhat of a wall because the buyer market was limited. In the 1980’s the market began to boom again and motorcycle technology followed suit. Riders began to interact again through rallies and group rides. Later they found a new medium of social interaction, the internet. Through the internet riders now collaborated with each other and no longer felt the geographical restrictions of before. As more motorcycles hit the streets, the social bonds between riders throughout the world become tighter and larger.


 * Resources**

__Primary__ “Motorcycle History Through the 1940’s.” Interviewer: Seth Simpson Interviewee: Herbert Solomon “Motorcycle Sales.” Interviewer: Seth Simpson Interviewee: Wilson Thatcher Cameron, Kevin. __The Grand Prix Motorcycle__: The Official Technical History. David Bull, 2009. __Motorcycle Forum__. Motorcycle Superstore, 2 June 2009, www.motorcycleforum.com.

__Secondary__

Gardiner, Mark. "Yamaha Motorcycle History: History of Yamaha." Motorcycle News, Reviews, Videos : Motorcycle.com. 16 Apr. 2009 . Lisa Gregory "__War bikes: motorcycles have played an enduring role in American military__ __ operations since the Army enlisted its first two-wheeled cycle before World War  __ __ I __ ". Soldiers Magazine. FindArticles.com. 09 Jun, 2009. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0OXU/is_8_58/ai_106981877/ Ltd, Hazelton Publishing. __Motocourse: 50 Years of Moto Grand Prix The Official History__ __of the Fim Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix__ (Hazleton History). Grand Rapids: Hazelton (UK), 1999. Walker, Mick. __Motorcycle Evolution, Design, Passion__. New York: The Johns Hopkins UP, 2006. Wilson, Hugo. __Ultimate motorcycle book__. London: Dorling Kindersley, 1993.