The Motrice Pia was an early three-wheeled vehicle, introduced by Italian Enrico Bernardi, and credited as the first motorcycle by sources such as the Enciclopedia Italiana di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti.[1] The exact year of introduction depends on which one of the following milestones one considers: the demonstration of a gasoline engine in 1882–1884 (first used to power a sewing machine),[2][3] the application of the engine to a child's tricycle in 1884,[4] the application of this engine to a motorized tricycle (or low cart) in 1893,[2][5] or the mounting of the motor behind a bicycle on a one-wheel trailer via chain drive creating a "motorcycle" in 1894.[2]
| Manufacturer | Enrico Bernardi (inventor) |
|---|---|
| Assembly | 1884 one-off |
| Engine | 122.5 cc single-cylinder, water cooled, gasoline engine with cast iron cylinder |
| Bore / stroke | 44 mm x 80.5 mm |
| Power | 0.024 bhp at 200 rpm |
| Frame type | Wooden tricycle |
| Fuel capacity | 0.2 L (0.044 imp gal; 0.053 US gal) |
Specifications
editSpecifications in the box accompanying the article are from Museo Nicolis and refer to the 1884 tricycle.[4]
References
edit- ^ E.F., "Bernardi, Enrico", Encyclopedia Italiana (in Italian)
- ^ a b c "Review of Heinlich and Shube's Traction Drives", History of Automobiles and Early Transmissions
- ^ Terry Welshans (August 2013), A Brief History of Aircraft Carburetors and Fuel Systems, Aircraft Engine Historical Society
- ^ a b "Motrice pia" 1882, Verona: Museo Nicolis, archived from the original on 2012-06-23, retrieved 2014-05-26
- ^ Italian automotive chronology (PDF), Politecnico di Torino, 2004