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Pictures to Go: Motorsickles

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I don’t want a pickle
Just want to ride on my motorsickle
And I don’t want a tickle
‘Cause I’d rather ride on my motorsickle
— Arlo Guthrie, “The Motorcycle Song”

Arlo Guthrie’s simple lyrics sum up the appeal of motorcycles which goes far beyond a vehicle for getting from place to place. Both the experience of riding one and our cultural mystique associated with the motorbike is of fun and freedom.

The years following the Civil War saw the swift development of steam-powered progenitors in France, England, Germany, and the U.S. Motorcycles’ rapid progress in engineering, manufacturing, and popularity in just over forty years is evident in this 1911 group photo of the Los Angeles Motorcycle Club (below):

Los Angeles Motorcycle Club at Venice, Calif. Panoramic photograph copyright by West Coast Art Co., August 28, 1911.
Los Angeles Motorcycle Club at Venice, Calif. Panoramic photograph copyright by West Coast Art Co., August 28, 1911. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pan.6a25819

The defining characteristics of two wheels of equal diameter powered by an internal combustion engine are contrasted in comparison to the large front wheel of the velocipede in this 1921 photo (below, left). The “bike’s” romantic potential is captured in this photo (below, right) from the “roaring” 20s! (Were it not so anachronistic, the woman seated sidesaddle appears to be talking on an unseen cellphone!)

Velocipede and Motorcycle. Photograph by National Photo Co., 1921.
Velocipede and Motorcycle. Photograph by National Photo Co., 1921. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/npcc.04884
Motorcycle. Photograph by National Photo Co., 1928 or 1929.
Motorcycle. Photograph by National Photo Co., 1928 or 1929. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/npcc.18072

Practical transportation uses were realized early on for mail delivery by the U.S. Post Office Department (below, left) and for police work (below, right) as well:

U.S. Mailman & Motorcycle. Photograph by National Photo Co., between 1909 and 1940.
U.S. Mailman & Motorcycle. Photograph by National Photo Co., between 1909 and 1940. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/npcc.28020
Police on Motorcycle Trailing Car with Smoke. Photograph by National Photo Co., September 1, 1923.
Police on Motorcycle Trailing Car with Smoke. Photograph by National Photo Co., September 1, 1923. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/npcc.09365

But, the essence of the motorcycle is the transformation from mundane transport for travel from here to there to the mindset of enjoying the sheer pleasure of “the ride.”

A Group of "Washington's Finest." Photograph by National Photo Co., April 26, 1922.
A Group of “Washington’s Finest.” Photograph by National Photo Co., April 26, 1922. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ds.00154

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