Motorcycle was producing over 500 bikes. Other British firms were Royal Enfield, Norton and Birmingham Small Arms Company who began motorbike production in 1899, 1902 and 1910, respectively. Indian began production in 1901 and Harley-Davidson was established two years later. By the outbreak of World War I, the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world was Indian, producing over 20,000 bikes per year. During the First World War, motorbike production was greatly ramped up for the war effort to supply effective communications with front line troops. Messengers on horses were replaced with despatch riders on motorcycles carrying messages, performing reconnaissance and acting
Roehr Motorcycle Company Roehr Motorcycle Company Roehr Motorcycle Company was a US motorcycle manufacturer based Gurnee, Illinois. It closed down in 2012. In 1995 Walter Roehrich began construction of the 500 cc two stroke v-twin motorcycle, using Yamaha YZ250 engine parts on a prototype crankcase. The result was the 115 hp Roehr Rv500 that was shown to the press in 2000. The company intended to manufacture the motorcycle in limited numbers but manufacturing the bike with the addition of the DFI fuel system was prohibitively expensive The company turned its focus in creating a production bike. The Rv1000 prototype powered by a 120