1904
Orient Tricycle - Specifications & Review
Article Complete Info
| Articleid | 61218 |
|---|---|
| Category | Allround |
| Make | De Dion-Bouton |
| Model | Tricycle |
| Year | 1904 |
Chassis, Suspension, Brakes & Wheels
| Frametype | Decauville, steel |
|---|---|
| Wheels | Two rear wheels. Michelin pneumatic tires. |
Engine & Transmission
| Borexstroke | 100.0 x 120.0 mm (3.9 x 4.7 inches) |
|---|---|
| Clutch | Direct drive via a pair of gears from the motor directly to the rear axle |
| Coolingsystem | Air |
| Displacement | 955.00 ccm (58.27 cubic inches) |
| Enginedetails | Single cylinder, four-stroke |
| Fuelsystem | Carburettor. Surface carburator |
| Power | 8.00 HP (5.8 kW)) @ 1800 RPM |
| Topspeed | 109.0 km/h (67.7 mph) |
Other Specifications
| Coloroptions | Black |
|---|---|
| Comments | French made motorbike. |
Physical Measures & Capacities
| Dryweight | 88.0 kg (194.0 pounds) |
|---|---|
| Overallwidth | 920 mm (36.2 inches) |
| Powerweightratio | 0.0909 HP/kg |
About Orient
Country of Origin:
United States
Founder:
Charles H. Metz (Waltham Manufacturing Company)
Best Known For:
Veteran-era motor-bicycles and early motorcycles (late 1890s–1900s)
Company History
Built by Waltham Manufacturing under Charles Metz, Orient motor-bicycles belong to motorcycling’s dawn. Lightweight frames, clip-on engines, and belt or direct drives explored how combustion power could augment human mobility long before standards formed. Orient machines competed on early road runs and tracks, testing carburation, ignition, and durability while bicycle craft evolved into motorcycle engineering. Though the brand faded as the industry consolidated, it left behind a blueprint: iterate quickly, race to learn, and treat two wheels as a serious vehicle rather than novelty. Historically, Orient stands with Hildebrand-Wolfmüller and De Dion-Bouton as part of the origin story—clever, fragile, and brave machines that let personal motor transport escape the workshop.