
Ner-A-Car: A Century Later, Still Defying Motorcycle Norms
- ADV News
- October 18, 2024
The Ner-A-Car is one of those rare machines that remains as intriguing today as it was when first introduced over a century ago. Created by American inventor Carl Neracher in 1921, this motorcycle aimed to be “near a car” in both its comfort and weather protection, making it a truly unique vehicle of its time. Even its name reflects this ambition.
In the mid-1920s, the Ner-A-Car’s reputation for stability became legendary, thanks in part to daring riders like Mabel Lockwood-Tatham. Her confidence in performing hands-free stunts on the two-stroke Ner-A-Car, alongside fellow riders pulling even more daring moves, was a testament to the machine’s balance and design.
Yet, despite this, riding the Ner-A-Car today feels anything but straightforward. Its unconventional controls leave modern motorcyclists puzzled. The horn, instead of being a button, is a rubber ball that activates a brass klaxon. The clutch operates via a twist-grip, while the throttle sits on the right handlebar in the form of a small lever. Even more peculiar is the brake setup—there’s no front brake, and the twin-sided rear drum brake is controlled by both a lever and a boot pedal.

These eccentricities make the Ner-A-Car feel more like a relic from another world than a precursor to modern scooters. But in its day, it was hailed for being ahead of its time, providing a level of comfort and stability unmatched by other motorcycles.
Built in 1925, the Ner-A-Car may be over a century old, but its design still fascinates. Its hub-centered steering system, aerodynamic mudguard, and sheer oddity of controls are reminders of how innovative and experimental early motorcycle engineering could be. Today, riding a Ner-A-Car feels like stepping back in time—into a world where motorcycles and cars began to merge, long before the scooters and urban two-wheelers of the modern era.
While it may never have achieved mass-market success, the Ner-A-Car’s place in history is secured as a bold, inventive machine. It remains a weird and wonderful reminder of an era when anything on wheels was possible.