The first motorcycle, as we understand it today, was invented by several inventors who made significant contributions to its development. However, the person credited with inventing the first practical motorcycle is generally considered to be Gottlieb Daimler, a German engineer and industrialist.
In 1885, Daimler and his collaborator Wilhelm Maybach created a gasoline-powered, two-wheeled vehicle known as the "Daimler Reitwagen" (or "riding car"). It featured a single-cylinder, four-stroke engine mounted on a wooden frame, with the rear wheel driven by a belt. This vehicle is often recognized as the first true motorcycle.
While Daimler's Reitwagen was a significant milestone, it should be noted that there were earlier steam-powered and internal combustion engine-powered two-wheeled vehicles that can be considered precursors to the modern motorcycle. Notable examples include the Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede (1868) and the Petroleum Reitwagen built by Karl Benz (1885), who later went on to co-found the Mercedes-Benz automobile company.
The development and evolution of motorcycles involved contributions from multiple inventors and engineers across various countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, Daimler's Reitwagen is often acknowledged as a pivotal invention in the history of motorcycles.