Most people have a general idea that there are different types of motorcycles. Many of them, though, don’t realize just what those different types are, what they do, and why there need to be so many types in the first place. There are many different places to ride and that is one of the first things to consider when deciding which type of motorcycle is needed for the application.
To start with there are the main two classifications, street and off-road. These are pretty self-explanatory, but then as these two classes get broken down further the lines between them begin to fade as uses intertwine and the separation becomes less clear. The first ones we will look at are the street bikes.
Street Bikes
The monsters of the motorcycling world are the full-dress touring bikes. Typically huge bikes with huge engines and sporting fairings, windshields, and saddlebags; these big bikes are designed to travel long distances in relative luxury. There is enough cargo space in the bags to pack for a couple of days, but if needed these powerful bikes will haul a trailer with no difficulties. Most often the fairing is equipped with a dashboard complete with all the necessary gauges, radio, and GPS.
Cruisers are basically undressed touring bikes, all the power without all the weight. These bikes normally go for long day rides where you don’t need to pack all the extra gear. These are big and make their presence know on the roadways. This is the style most often modified into racing bikes or customized into those unique rides that decorate the streets known as choppers.
Choppers are designed and built to look good and they succeed, most of the time. They have big engines and straight-pipes, long front ends and handlebars to stretch for, but they are things of beauty. They’re fabricated to look at though and riding them can be difficult. The long front ends make maneuvering city streets a challenge and the stretched out style provides little comfort for a long highway ride.
Sport-Touring bikes are scaled down versions of the full-dressers. Smaller engines and lighter, more compact designs allow for windshields and luggage compartments on a more maneuverable ride. Small enough to wind through downtown streets, yet comfortable enough to go for a long haul, these are one of the most popular types of motorcycles.
The standard, or often called “naked”, bikes are undressed versions of the sport-touring bikes. Lightweight and easy to handle, they are the perfect bikes for beginners as there is little plastic to break if it gets dropped. Inexpensive to operate and easy to ride, these bikes are often used as daily transportation for work and pleasure.
SuperSport bikes, also known as crotch rockets, are lightweight and very fast. Covered in plastic body shields, they are shiny and bright colored and too often deadly. The flashiest of the street bikes, their design comes straight off the professional track circuits, they are a big draw to the younger crowd of riders. Due to their speed and handling, these bikes are not meant for the amateur rider.
Mopeds and scooters are not considered motorcycles by most people, but they are two-wheeled, motorized and used for transportation; therefore must be at least mentioned here. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, yet they all have the same step-through rider compartment that sets them apart from other bikes.
Off-Road Bikes
Motocross bikes are you all-around basic dirt bike. No frills or extras to hamper speed or maneuverability, there is little in the way when fast repairs need to be done on the trail or in competition. These bikes are the base for fabrication of specialty dirt bikes for situations such as: hill climbing where the rear swing-arm is extended for greater stability on steep inclines; trials racing where you lose points for your feet touching the ground, so the seat is removed to keep riders on the pegs; and supermotos that adjust the suspension on a motocross and add asphalt to parts of the track.
The four-wheeled, off-road ATVs are called dirt bikes by some as they are a ride that you sit on top of and control with handle bars. Although motorcycles are typically two-wheeled vehicles, ATVs can generally do the same things. Maneuverability is diminished, but stability is increased dramatically. They are fun to play in the dirt with and deserve honorable mention in dirt bike reviews and discussions.
The family of enduro motorcycles are a mix of street bike; in that they have lights, horn, and license plate holders and dirt bike; in that they have raised suspension, knobby tires, and high exhaust. They don’t perform either application as well as the more specialized bikes,, but they are the only ones that can go from street to trail at the whim of the rider. These are fun, sporty rides for the part-timers and the weekend warriors who want a street bike, but love to play in the dirt, too.
Many types of motorcycles, many types of riders, many types of scenarios to place each of them in. Playing, working, traveling; it can all be a part of the lifestyle of the motorcycle enthusiast.
