First American Production Motorcycle: Orient-Aster (1898) or Thomas Auto-Bi (1900)?
Two machines are most often cited when people ask about the first American production motorcycle: the Orient-Aster (1898) and the Thomas Auto-Bi (1900–1912). The answer depends on whether “first” means earliest commercially sold motorized two-wheeler, or the first widely recognized purpose-built production motorcycle.
Orient-Aster (1898)
Charles Metz formed the Waltham Manufacturing Company in 1893 to build Orient bicycles. By 1898, he “caught the motor fever” and developed the Orient motorcycle using the French Aster single-cylinder engine. Metz designed a new frame specifically to fit the Aster, featuring an underslung fuel tank and a claimed top speed of about 30 mph (48 kph).
The Aster engine stood out for its fluted copper flanges around the cylinder instead of cast cooling fins, promoted as an improvement in heat dissipation. Metz later built his own version of the Aster engine, switching to aluminum cases (instead of bronze) and improving the heads and cylinders for more power.
Why some consider it the first
- Commercially offered in the U.S. as early as 1898
- Purpose-designed frame created to mount an engine (not just a simple bolt-on)
- Early performance claims (around 30 mph / 48 kph)
Why some disagree
- Early examples relied on a foreign (French) engine design
- Often described as a motorized bicycle in concept and construction
- Orient motorcycle production lasted only a few more years before shifting focus
When Metz’s associates pushed for more attention on the company’s automobile direction, he left to build motorcycles under his own name. The Orient motorcycle continued for roughly three more years before being discontinued in favor of cars.
Thomas Auto-Bi (1900–1912)
The Thomas Auto-Bi, produced in Buffalo, New York, is commonly cited as the first true American production motorcycle. A key reason is its broader production run and strong influence on early American motorcycle engineering—especially in how builders solved the problem of engine placement.
Early engineering experimentation
Around 1901, E. R. Thomas introduced a second-generation layout with the engine mounted high on the front downtube, with a long belt drive running to the rear wheel and passing over a tensioner. This “high-forward” configuration appeared on several early marques, but it was only one step in a fast-moving design evolution.
Why the layout changed
By 1903, Thomas repositioned the engine lower in the frame to improve balance, drivetrain efficiency, and handling. Early worries about keeping heat away from the rider gave way to more practical considerations: stable road manners, a better belt line, and easier control. This mid-frame placement became the consensus direction for motorcycle design.
Record & market impact
- In 1905, a Thomas Auto-Bi set a notable cross-country record (48 days) for the era
- Related models included three-wheeled variants such as Auto-Tri and Auto-Two
- As competition grew in the early 1910s, Thomas focused on automobiles and left the two-wheel market
If you’re speaking strictly by earliest commercial production date, the Orient-Aster (1898) was first. If you’re defining a true American production motorcycle with domestic engineering and broad industry impact, the Thomas Auto-Bi (1900) earns the title.
References & Further Reading
- Wikipedia – History of the Motorcycle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_motorcycle
- Book: American Motorcycles by Tod Rafferty.
Want to explore more iconic machines? Read more about classic American motorcycles .
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