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Royal Riley Quadricycle 2¼hp (1899-1901)

The very first motorised Rileys arrived 3 years after the Riley Cycle Co was established. Launched at the same time as the Tricycle, the Quadricycle had the same small single cylinder engine mounted between the wheels on the rear axle to provide motion. The machine retained pedals to provide assistance to the engine on the hills (perhaps the opposite of todays electric bikes!). At the front, in place of the Tricycles single wheel, there were two wheels with a passenger seat mounted between. This addition meant that the frame was quite different to either the Ricycle or the standard bicycle, on which it was loosely based. To ease the passengers journey, the front axle also featured suspension, all of which must have made a much heavier machine for the driver when it came to steering and climbing hills!