Warehouse 13 Artifact Database Wiki
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Warehouse 13 Artifact Database Wiki
Daimler Reitwagen
Wooden motorbike

Origin

Gottlieb Daimler & Wilhelm Maybach

Type

Diesel Motorbike

Effects

Turns movement into heat energy

Downsides

Leaves fiery tread marks

Activation

Driving

Collected by

Warehouse 12

Section

Ford-1908

Aisle

Roper-97D

Shelf

406812-9721-846

Date of Collection

April 30, 1904

[Source]


Origin

Translated as “riding wagon”, the Reitwagen establishes itself as the first combustion powered vehicle, and in effect, ancestor to most gasoline fueled transport. Surprising since it was a miserable failure. Steam motorcycles (Michaux-Perreaux, Roper, Copeland) already predated this beastie. Prototype four stroke engine, wooden wheels and outriggers for balance resembled more early car than newfangled bike. And the seat caught fire the first test run. Which sounds terrible, but in retrospect, a two-wheeler was never the intended goal. Daimler just wanted to improve engine designs with his employee Maybach to get a carriage moving under its own power. Considering the outcome, bikers everywhere will take it as a victory.

Effects

Lateral forwards motion after starting the engine will return that energy as heat. Not just any temperature – the exact variation needed to fully burn every stubborn hydrocarbon chain within the fuel tank. Withstanding any additives or exotic fuels (coughcoufh *Steve, Joe and jet fuel* kluggh), it will run fine without any problem. Besides periodically lighting on fire. Yeah, the wheels have a real tendency to use some of that combustion for extra oomph and turn into rolling cinders, scorching asphalt. Both amazing and terrifying at burning doughnuts.

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