When Americans think about the history of motorcycles, they may think of masses of bikers rolling through the streets of Sturgis, or maybe Peter Fonda's stars and stripes chopper from Easy Rider.
The decades leading up to the Easy Rider era saw motorcycles become much more common. From the early days of mass motorcycle production, through World War II, and into the post-war economic boom, let's explore how the decades from the 1930s to the 1950s shaped motorcycling as we know it.
The 1930s: hard times all around
The 1930s were difficult years for many industries in America, including motorcycles. With the onset of the Great Depression, motorcycle manufacturers had little money to invest in advancing technology or manufacturing bikes and many consumers didn't have the resources to purchase them. Worse yet, there was a tax on bikes weighing over 224 pounds, allowing lighter weight British bikes to get the upper hand on the heavier Harley Davidson and Indian motorcycles that had become popular in the years leading up to the Great Depression.
As with many early eras of vehicles, the two biggest focuses of motorcycles in the 1930s were going fast and having a fairly cheap method of transportation. This was an era when motorcycling technology was beginning to evolve and several speed records were set with a variety of motorcycles, including Joe Petrali, reaching 136 miles per hour on a modified Harley-Davidson in 1937. One of the more notable aspects of this speed record came from a new engine design in the now very common overhead valve method – which in the case of the Harley-Davidson, became known as as the “Knucklehead” because the engine was shaped like a closed fist, complete with fingers as valves.
While many companies failed in their efforts to compete in the emerging market that offered reasonably priced transportation, well known companies like BMW had started an engineering department as they recognized the value of the two wheeled machines.
The 1940s: Origins of motorcycle culture
There isn't much question that the beginning and end of World War II marks a new era for transportation in the United States. Soldiers went to war in Europe and Japan, where they had the opportunity to try motorcycles that weren't readily available at home. Their interests followed them home, and the economic and production boom that followed the war pushed motorcycles and regular automobiles into a new culture of its own. American factories also had an easier time ramping up production of motorcycles than Japanese and German industries because the war never reached American soil.
Motorcycle clubs also started to appear in the United States around this time, spurred on by the presence of millions of cheap surplus military bikes that were promptly sold to GIs returning home. Motorcycles were also a part of many soldier's identity – they had seen and lived through war, and they craved the excitement both from battle and from having downtime while in the service. The two wheeled bike helped soldiers maintain a link to the preceding years and also served as a social signal to other veterans that they had been through the same experience.
A certain amount of intrigue and mythology began to develop around motorcycles, though many of the problems assigned to them were likely overblown. The American media grasped onto the story of a particularly wild night in Hollister, California when a motorcycle rally took over the town and authorities were unable to control the crowds. A few drunk motorcyclists were thrown in jail and some peace was disturbed, but one Hollister resident said the bikers did more harm to themselves than they did to the town. Nevertheless, news coverage of the event portrayed a violent riot, marking a turning point in how motorcyclists were viewed. Some were seen as non-violent fan groups, while others became what we know as outlaw motorcycle gangs of today.
Motorcycle riders also started modifying their bikes more often. With cheap tools available and bikes being easy to work on, they got to work in the garage or driveway and stripped their motorcycles of weight, added custom details, and made them more powerful.
The 1950s: A changing social tide
Starting in the late 1940s and into the 1950s, the motorcycle became a true counter culture symbol. While there are many factors that led to the rise of the counter culture, a defining cultural representation was the film The Wild One, released in 1953. Starring a young Marlon Brando, The Wild One centered on a story of rival motorcycle gangs, and helped establish both the fashion of the motorcycle rider and their attitude – or at least to some.
As overseas motorcycle production increased through the 1950s, there was plenty of competition for motorcycle riders' dollars. Honda and Yamaha had entered the scene and British bikes became common in the States, too. Triumph and Bonneville were in competition, and Ducati also started to make its way into the market. Competition was intense, and riders had lots of choices.
With a variety of technical innovations coming about in the 1950s thanks to new, more powerful engines, new speed records were being set. In 1955, a Triumph Bonneville set a speed record of 193 miles per hour – then shattered that record a year later at 214 miles per hour. The record wasn't beat again until 1962.
The 1930s-1950s: A defining moment in motorcycle history
Over the course of three decades, motorcycles in America entered the mainstream as a form of transportation, technological advancement, and cultural symbol. The innovations and cultural shifts of this era continue to influence motorcycle enthusiasts and industry developments today.