Answers

1 The first electric start?

Indian 1913. This had two batteries and a dynamo that also
served as a starter. The batteries were in parallel for charging
and series for starting.

2 The first four cylinder?

Holden 1899-1902

3 The first inline four?

FN 1904, stayed in production in gradually improved versions
until at least 1914.

4 The first known commercially available internal combustion
motor bike?

Hildebrand and Wolfmuller.

5 The earliest British parallel twin?

Yes, Scott, though I meant to specify four stroke twin, 1908


6 The first British opposed twin? (180)

The Fee designed by George Barter. The production version was
the Fairy produced by Light Motors Limited starting in 1905.
After Light Motors went bust Barter was employed by Douglas
Brothers.

7 Why did George Brough chose Brough Superior for his brand.

Like people said his father was producing bikes.


8 Who introduced a commercial spring frame?

I was going for Indian in 1911, but like I said I am not going
to be dogmatic.

I am sure people can work out their own scores.

Ken Young

 

got that one right (ok, with a quick websearch to confirm the details)

and I think that one.

about 2/10 I think.

ABC had a sprung frame quite early on, not sure it was as early as 1911.
used leaf springs on both ends.
--
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Doubled my score.

 

http://www.ozebook.com/a-z_files/wanderer3.jpg

The illustration in the middle is by Ján Oravec, and shows the 1908
Wanderer. The seat stays are telescopic and contain spiral spings.

 

--
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Zenith

 

Quasar, Quantel

 

Wotcha.

http://www.ozebook.com/a-z.htm

A good place to start.

 

I was gonna have OK-Supreme

I'd love to have one of these, the big ones. The inimitable W. H. Charnock
had one, and it sounds one hell of a machine for the 20s.

the site mentioned down there a bit doesn't have a bona fide maker for "Y".

 

I can't remember my own children's names off the top of my
head. Therefore, with reference to a couple of books...

I - Ixion

U - Unibus (scooter sorry)

X - XL or X-TRA

Y - Young

Nick

 

Canon Basil H Davies

 

"doesn't have a bona fide maker for "Y".

There was a Yelverton Union, registered in 1921. Almost too bizarre
to be true, but truth is stranger than fiction .... wooden frame &
forks as manufacturer was a carpenter. 300cc.

Prototype was known to have been in regular use for over 35 years.
Not clear if if was only ever a one-off -- certainly was very limited
production at best & didn't appear as an exhibit at any Motorcycle
Show!

Colin

 

Young! Of course, why didn't I think of that? As Mark's pointed out,
I've even got a picture of one on my website.

 

You sad, sad people...

(member no 5945) ;-)

Nick

 

Jap bikes, certainly not.

Anything-but-British....

Well, starting from the bakck:

Zundapp

Yamaha

X????

 

I don't think you can find a Jap bike for every letter of the alphabet,
or if not, any foreign classic?

Oily

 

Wilkinson
V ?
Ural
Terrot
Sarolea
Rumi
Q ?
Peugeot
O ?
NSU
Moto Guzzi
Laverda
Kawasaki
J ?
Indian
Husqvarna
G ?
FN
Excelsior
Ducati
C ?
BMW
Adler

Can't think of any more off top of my head.

Oily

 

Vincent or Velocette

Cagiva


--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

Krusty said...
X-Sport

http://www.bikepics.com/xsport/xsport110/

 

Janecek & Wanderer

Gilera, Garelli, Griffon, Gnome et Rhone

Ceska Zbrojovka