On December 22, 1888, Félix Millet filed a patent for a "petroleum bicycle" named the Roue Soleil. It was powered by a 5-cylinder radial engine integral with the rear wheel which had wire springing as a form of rudimentary suspension.
Félix Théodore Millet built tricycles and motorcycles powered by a 5 cylinder engine which was integral with the rear wheel, the first designs appearing in 1892. The hollow axle of the rear wheel formed the crankshaft. On the solo motorcycles the rear guard formed the fuel tank and the surface carburettor was located between the wheels. Ignition was via a Bunsen cell and induction coil, and long before it became common practice it featured a handlebar-mounted twistgrip throttle control.
The Millet is believed to have been the first motorcycle to be fitted with pneumatic tyres.
It is estimated that the machine was capable of 35 km/h with the engine whirring along in excess of 180rpm.
Production rights were sold to Alexandre Darracq who produced the Millet from 1894 to 1895.
N.B. Another 5-cylinder motorcycle was produced by the brilliant Robert Esnault-Pelterie, and Megola built one in the early 1920s.
Sources: Bourdache (pp 21, 25, 33-36, 44, 45, 57, 72, 214, 380), Anibal Martinez; François-Marie Dumas; et al.
