Paul Brodie's Roper Steamcycle

[New Mexico Brant]

Today, June 1st is the 127th anniversary of what is considered to be the first motorcycle death. Roper had a heart attack while riding his steam powered cycle on a track in Cambridge, MA. Sylvester Roper is "sometimes" credited as inventing the first motorcycle. "Sometimes" as people debate can a steam or electric propelled cycle be considered a motorcycle.

The below link shows the building process by Paul Brodie, famed mountain bike builder, to reproduce a Roper Steamcycle. The Youtube video at the end is fabulous.

Roper Steam Bike 1

Roper Steam Bike 1

www.steamcar.net

 

[39Rocket]

Very interesting history! Thank you for posting.
It’s powered by something other than human power. I’d consider that a motorcycle.

 

[veloturysta]

Died in the saddle.

 

[catfish]

Local Hero.

 

[New Mexico Brant]

On that tragic day Roper was timed at 40 mph on his steamcycle.

 

[Iverider]

Paul Brodie builds some amazing things on his Youtube channel. He revisited the Excelsior project as well where he built a few Excelsior antique-style motorcycles from scratch.

 

[New York Pope]

On that tragic day Roper was timed at 40 mph on his steamcycle.

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So fast ...very impressive he was a brilliant inventor.... one could make the argument a century ahead of his time