COLLECTIBLE CYCLE ART

In 1817, the German Baron Drais presented a machine with two wheels connected by a wooden crossbar on which a seat was installed; it was patented in 1818 under the name velocipede, and commonly known as the Draisienne in France. Twenty years later, a brilliant Scottish blacksmith, Kirkpatrick MacMillan, added pedals to it, creating the first true bicycle. This allowed for fast riding without having to touch the ground. The Michaudine, with its pedals on the front wheel, was a true success. Its inventor, the engineer Michaux, was overwhelmed with orders during the 1869 Paris World's Fair; he employed 500 workers to produce 200 machines per day. The Penny-farthing in 1870 featured a front wheel 1.5 m high; it was dangerous but so beautiful! Next came steel frames, chain drive systems, smaller wheels, and the rear-mounted saddle. By 1900, the modern bicycle was born, with its two wheels of equal size, chain transmission, and removable pneumatic tires. Ball bearing systems, braking, and derailleur gear changes represent significant technical advances, but the interest for collectors also lies in the search for the beauty of solutions as demonstrated by the tandem, tricycle, taxi, Solex, or carrier tricycle. These are precious objects to test, restore, and collect—always under the supervision of an expert who will prevent improper handling and advise passionate collectors on the most appropriate restoration. What can be said about the legendary moped and motorcycle models built in the 20th century—the 1994 Triumph Speed Triple, the Ducati 900 Supersport, the Kawasaki ZXR 750R, the 1998 Yamaha YZF-R1, the 1983 Honda CB1100RD, the BMW R 80 G/S, the 1992 Honda CBR900RR Fireblade, the Suzuki GSX1100 Katana, or the Yamaha XTZ 600 Ténéré—other than that they are as much a pleasure for the collector as they are for the investor. The world of cycles and motorcycles constitutes a world of its own, with its own codes and references that the expert will share without reservation.