Motorcycles are a fun and economical way to get around. With the right training, they can be a safe alternative to cars or trucks for transportation and allow you to connect with your ride in a more intimate way. Whether you want to cruise the beach in style or take on a racetrack, motorcycles offer an unmatched sense of freedom.
A motorcycle is a motorized vehicle that is steered by the rider’s hand levers and feet from a saddle-style seat. Traditionally, only two-wheeled vehicles were considered motorcycles; however, three-wheeled variations such as the trike are also common and are often classified as a separate category of motorized vehicle.
Like cars, most modern motorcycles have an internal combustion engine that converts reciprocating motion into rotary movement, propelling the bike forward. The engine is typically paired with a transmission system that transmits the rotating motion to the rear wheel, which provides the motorcycle’s forward propulsion. The handlebars are used by the rider to control steering, and two hand levers operate the clutch and throttle.
The rider’s body weight and leaning angle are the primary factors that influence a motorcycle’s stability. As such, the motorcycle’s center of gravity is located slightly above the ground, with most bikes being designed to facilitate low-speed maneuvering. Despite this, most middleweight and full-size motorcycles can out-accelerate almost all but the fastest cars on the road. However, due to their exposed wheels and engine, most motorcycles aren’t very aerodynamic compared with the smooth, sleek designs of many automobiles.