Roper steam velocipede

Roper steam velocipede

Handbill for Roper steam demonstration.
Manufacturer	Sylvester H. Roper
Production	1867–1869, 1884–1896
Assembly	Boston, Massachusetts
Class	Steam motorcycle

Production	1867–1869
Engine	Twin cylinder steam
Bore / stroke	2 1⁄4 in (57 mm)/?
Frame type	Iron
Suspension	Forged iron fork, rigid
Brakes	Spoon
Tires	34 in (860 mm) Iron on wood rims, wood spokes
Wheelbase	49 in (1,200 mm)

Production	1884–1896
Engine	Single cylinder steam
Bore / stroke	1 3⁄4 by 4 inches (44 mm × 102 mm)
Top speed	40 mph (64 km/h)
Power	3 hp (2.2 kW) 8 hp (6.0 kW)
Frame type	Pope Columbia bicycle
Brakes	Spoon

The Roper steam velocipede was a steam-powered velocipede built by inventor Sylvester H. Roper of Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, United States sometime from 1867–1869. It is one of three machines which have been called the first motorcycle, along with the Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede, also dated 1867–1869, and the 1885 Daimler Reitwagen. Historians disagree over whether the Roper or the Michaux-Perreaux came first. Though the Reitwagen came many years later than the two steam cycles, it is often, perhaps most often, known as the "first motorcycle" because there is doubt by some experts that a steam cycle meets the definition of a motorcycle.

After his initial prototype of the late 1860s, Roper built a new and revised version in 1884, based on the then state of the art safety bicycle frame type. Sylvester Roper died of an apparent heart attack while riding this machine in 1896.

An 1869 Roper machine is now in the Smithsonian Institution, and one from 1868 is in private hands after being offered at auction in 2012. An 1894 Roper velocipede was exhibited in the Guggenheim Museum's The Art of the Motorcycle show at their Las Vegas venue, and was shown in 2011 at the Deeley Museum collection in Vancouver.

There are competing claims for the title of first motorcycle, depending on whether a steam motorcycle, or only one with an internal combustion engine, counts as a true motorcycle, and the uncertainty as to which of the two earliest steam motorcycles, the Roper or the Michaux-Perreaux, was built first.

The earliest date claimed for the existence of the Roper steam velocipede is 1867, but some say the Michaux-Perreaux also could have been made in 1867. Motorcycling historians Charles M. Falco and David Burgess-Wise, and Motorcycle Consumer News design columnist Glynn Kerr date the Roper later, to 1868, and the Owls Head museum's example is of that year. The AMA Hall of Fame and motoring author Mick Walker put Roper's steam velocipede at 1869, in accordance with the date of the machine in the Smithsonian.Cycle World's Alan Girdler dates both at 1868, while Mick Walker also declares a tie, but in the year 1869.Classic Bike editor Hugo Wilson says the existence of an 1869 patent for the Michaux-Perreaux gives it "the better claim to 'first'", even though the Roper was built around the same time. Though Sylvester Roper took out a number of patents for firearms, industrial machinery and other inventions, he did not obtain patents for any of his steam cycles or cars.