1895
Millet Motorcycle - Specifications & Review

Article Complete Info
| Articleid | 442295 |
|---|---|
| Category | Allround |
| Make | Millet |
| Model | Motorcycle |
| Year | 1895 |
Chassis, Suspension, Brakes & Wheels
| Frametype | Steel |
|---|
Engine & Transmission
| Coolingsystem | Air |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 625.00 ccm (38.14 cubic inches) |
| Driveline | Direct |
| Enginedetails | Radial |
| Enginetype | 5-cylinder rotary engine mounted on rear wheel |
| Fuelsystem | Carburettor. Surface carburetor |
| Gearbox | 1-speed |
| Ignition | Bunsen cell/ignition coil hybrid |
| Power | 1.20 HP (0.9 kW)) @ 180 RPM |
| Topspeed | 35.0 km/h (21.7 mph) |
Other Specifications
| Comments | First motorcycle to use pneumatic tires. Pedals in addition to engine. Prototype shown in 1892. |
|---|
About Millet
Country of Origin:
France
Founder:
Félix Théodore Millet
Best Known For:
Pioneering five-cylinder rotary engine built into the rear wheel (1890s)
Company History
Decades before mass motorcycle production, Félix Millet engineered an audacious five-cylinder rotary engine inside the rear wheel of a bicycle-like frame. The design predated modern lubrication and materials science, yet it ran—compact, elegant, and conceptually radical. Control systems were primitive, road surfaces brutal, and safety marginal, but Millet proved internal combustion could be integrated with two wheels in surprising ways. Though the layout didn’t become mainstream, his work broadened the design space and influenced early engine packaging experiments. Historically, Millet symbolizes the fearless curiosity of the 19th-century inventors who treated propulsion as an open question. His machine is a reminder that progress often comes from improbable prototypes that reframe what’s possible.
