Editing Motorcycle (section)

===First World War===

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 rider]]s on motorcycles carrying messages, performing reconnaissance and acting as a military police. American company Harley-Davidson was devoting over 50% of its factory output toward military contract by the end of the war. The British company Triumph Motorcycles sold more than 30,000 of its [[Triumph Type H]] model to [[Triple Entente|allied forces]] during the war. With the rear wheel driven by a belt, the Model H was fitted with a {{convert|499|cc|abbr=on}} air-cooled [[four-stroke]] single-cylinder engine. It was also the first Triumph without [[Bicycle pedal|pedals]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.triumph1.com/triumph_history.htm|title=Triumph history |access-date=20 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908002718/http://www.triumph1.com/triumph_history.htm |archive-date=8 September 2008 }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=October 2014}}

The Model H in particular, is regarded by many as having been the first "modern motorcycle".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/689/2598/Motorcycle-Article/Triumph-Motorcycle-History.aspx|title=Triumph Motorcycle History|access-date=18 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321013937/http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/689/2598/Motorcycle-Article/Triumph-Motorcycle-History.aspx|archive-date=21 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Introduced in 1915 it had a 550&nbsp;cc side-valve four-stroke engine with a three-speed gearbox and belt transmission. It was so popular with its users that it was nicknamed the "Trusty Triumph".<ref>{{cite web|title=Triumph Motorcycles timeline|url=http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/triumph/time01.html|first=Ian|last=Chadwick|access-date=18 November 2013|archive-date=2 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402200355/http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/triumph/time01.html|url-status=live}}</ref>