Motorcycle: An Introduction to the World of Two-Wheeled Vehicles

Motorcycles are two-wheeled motor vehicles that have evolved significantly since their inception. Their designs vary greatly, tailored to different purposes such as long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport (including racing), and off-road riding. Understanding the history, types, construction, and safety aspects of motorcycles provides a well-rounded introduction to this diverse world.

Historical Overview

The evolution of the motorcycle is a fascinating journey from steam-powered experiments to the high-performance machines we know today.

Early Innovations

The first designs that could be considered motorcycles emerged in the late 19th century:

The Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede Filed for patent in December 1868, in France.
The Roper steam velocipede Built about the same time in America by Sylvester H. Roper.
The Butler Petrol Cycle A three-wheeled design conceived of by Edward Butler in England in 1884.
- Displayed at the Stanley Cycle Show in London in 1884, it featured a 5⁄8 hp (0.47 kW), 40 cc (2.4 cu in) displacement, flat twin four-stroke engine with advanced features for its time, such as rotary valves, a float-fed carburetor, and Ackermann steering. It also had liquid cooling and compressed air starting.

The First Internal Combustion Motorcycle

The Daimler Reitwagen: Designed and built by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Germany in 1885, it is widely regarded as the first internal combustion, petroleum-fueled motorcycle.
- Unlike the bicycles of the time, the Reitwagen had zero degrees of steering axis angle and no fork offset, not utilizing established bicycle and motorcycle dynamics.
- The inventors called their invention the Reitwagen ("riding car").

Early Production and Development

In the early period of motorcycle history, many bicycle producers adapted their designs to accommodate the new internal combustion engine. As engines became more powerful and designs outgrew the bicycle origins, the number of motorcycle producers increased. Many of the nineteenth-century inventors who worked on early motorcycles often moved on to other inventions. At the end of the 19th century the first major mass-production firms were set up.

Triumph Motorcycles: Began producing motorbikes in England in 1898, and by 1903, it was producing over 500 bikes.
Other British Firms: Royal Enfield, Norton, Douglas Motorcycles, and Birmingham Small Arms Company began motorbike production in 1899, 1902, 1907, and 1910, respectively.
Indian: Began production in 1901.
Harley-Davidson: Established two years later.

World War I

During the First World War, motorbike production was greatly ramped up for the war effort to supply effective communications with front line troops. Messengers on horses were replaced with despatch riders on motorcycles carrying messages, performing reconnaissance and acting as a military police.

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Harley-Davidson: Devoted over 50% of its factory output toward military contract by the end of the war.
Triumph Motorcycles: Sold more than 30,000 of its Triumph Type H model to allied forces during the war.
- The Model H was fitted with a 499 cc (30.5 cu in) air-cooled four-stroke single-cylinder engine.
- The Model H in particular is regarded by many as having been the first "modern motorcycle".

Post-War Innovations

Chater-Lea: This British manufacturer stood out with its twin-cylinder models, followed by its large singles in the 1920s.
- Initially using a converted Woodmann-designed OHV Blackburne engine, it became the first 350 cc to exceed 100 mph (160 km/h), recording 100.81 mph (162.24 km/h) over the flying kilometer during April 1924.
- Later, Chater-Lea set a world record for the flying kilometer for 350 cc and 500 cc motorcycles at 102.9 mph (165.6 km/h) for the firm.
- Chater-Lea produced variants of these world-beating sports models and became popular among racers at the Isle of Man TT.

Mid-20th Century Developments

In the 1950s, streamlining began to play an increasing part in the development of racing motorcycles and the "dustbin fairing" held out the possibility of radical changes to motorcycle design.

Contemporary Era

In the 21st century, the motorcycle industry is mainly dominated by Indian and Japanese motorcycle companies. Today, this area is dominated by mostly Indian companies with Hero MotoCorp emerging as the world's largest manufacturer of two wheelers. In 2022, the top four motorcycle producers by volume and type were Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki.

Types of Motorcycles

Motorcycles are designed for a wide array of purposes, leading to numerous classifications and sub-types. There are three major types of motorcycle: street, off-road, and dual purpose. It is important to note that there is no universal system for classifying all types of motorcycles.

Street Motorcycles

Street motorcycles are designed for being ridden on paved roads. They have smooth tires with tread patterns and engines generally in the 125 cc (7.6 cu in) and over range. Typically, street motorcycles are capable of speeds up to 100 mph (160 km/h), and many of speeds in excess of 125 mph (201 km/h).

Standard Motorcycles: Also called roadsters or naked bikes, these conform to a stereotypical image of a motorcycle, with an exposed engine and fuel tank above it.
Cruisers: Designed for comfortable cruising experiences, often with a lower seat height and a relaxed riding position.
- Choppers: A type of cruiser, so called because they are a "chopped," or cut-down, version of a production cruiser. These are usually custom projects modified to suit the owner's ideals. Stereotypically, a chopper may have raked-out forks, small fuel tanks, and high handlebars.
- Bobbers: Related to the chopper motorcycle is the bobber, a solo bike which is created by "bobbing" a factory bike by removing superfluous weight and bodywork from a motorcycle to reduce mass and increase performance. A common element of these motorcycles is a shortened rear fender that creates a "bobbed" look.
- Power Cruisers: Bikes in the cruiser class that have significantly greater levels of power.
- Baggers/Touring Motorcycles: Also known as full dressers, full dress tourers, or dressers, these motorcycles are equipped for long-distance travel with amenities such as saddlebags.
Sport Bikes: Road bikes that emphasize top speed, acceleration, braking, handling, and grip, typically at the expense of comfort and fuel economy.
Sport Touring Motorcycles: Combine attributes of sport bikes and touring motorcycles, offering a balance of performance and comfort for longer rides.
Scooters: Distinguished by their continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and distinctive design. They feature an open frame structure, a seat, and a flat foot platform, allowing the rider to maintain an upright posture without straddling the engine.
- Standard Scooter: Ideal for urban mobility due to their ease of handling and parking.
- Maxi-Scooter: Equipped with high-displacement engines for covering long distances at high speeds.
- Mega-Scooter: Also known as touring scooters, these scooters feature a higher-displacement engine and superior performance, designed for covering long distances at high speeds.
Underbones: Small-displacement motorcycles with a step-through frame, descendants of the original Honda Super Cub. They are differentiated from scooters by their larger wheels and their use of footpegs instead of a floorboard.
Mopeds: A hybrid of the bicycle and the motorcycle, equipped with a small engine and a bicycle drivetrain.
Feet Forwards Motorcycles: These include models like the 1911 Wilkinson TMC and the 1918 Ner-A-Car.

Off-Road Motorcycles

Off-road motorcycles, also known as dirt bikes or scramblers, are specially designed for off-road use. The term off-road refers to driving surfaces that are not conventionally paved.

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Motocross: Raced on short, closed off-road tracks with obstacles. These motorcycles have small fuel tanks for lightness and long-travel suspension for taking jumps at high speed.
Trials: A specialized form of off-road competition testing balancing skills and precision rather than speed. Trials bikes are lightweight with crisp throttle response.
Enduro: A modified and road-legal motocross bike, equipped with features like a horn, lights, and a number plate. Enduro riders compete over longer courses.
Rally Raid: A special type of enduro bike with a significantly larger fuel tank for very long distance racing, typically through deserts.
Hill Climb: These bikes have a longer wheelbase to prevent backflip, paddle or spiked tires.
Track Racing: High-speed oval racing, typically with no brakes, nor rear suspension.
Snow Bikes: A snow bike takes a typical dirt-bike and replaces the rear wheel with a single tread system similar to a snowmobile and the front wheel with a large ski.

Dual-Purpose Motorcycles

Dual-Sport: A multi-purpose bike, made for on-road and recreational off-road riding. A dual-sport bike may resemble an enduro bike, but is less rugged and equipped with dual-purpose tires and more road-legal equipment.
Adventure Motorcycles (ADV): Motorcycles with touring capability on paved and unpaved roads. As a dual-sport they have a significant on-pavement bias and perform well on pavement at higher speeds unlike most dual-sports.
Supermoto: Often a dual-sport that has been fitted by the manufacturer with smaller rims and road tires, designed to compete on a course that alternates between road racing, track racing, and motocross.

Specialized Motorcycles

Some motorcycles are specially adapted for specific job functions, such as those used by the ambulance, blood bikes, fire, and military services, and for specialized delivery services, such as pizza deliveries. Beginning in the 1960s with the Mountain Goat specialized motorcycles were developed for use on farms.

Three-Wheeled Motorcycles

While motorcycles typically have two wheels, some motorized tricycles are classed as three-wheeled motorcycles. Some brands have made various types of three-wheelers direct from the factory. Tilting three-wheelers keep all three wheels on the ground when they lean to negotiate curves. These include Honda's Gyro range, all of which have a front wheel that leans and a pair of rear wheels that do not, and the Piaggio MP3, which has two front wheels and a single rear wheel, all of which lean.

Motorcycle Construction

Motorcycle construction involves the engineering, manufacturing, and assembly of components and systems to achieve the desired performance, cost, and aesthetics.

Key Components

With some exceptions, construction of modern mass-produced motorcycles has standardized on:

Frame: Typically steel or aluminum.
Front Suspension: Telescopic forks holding the front wheel.
Brakes: Disc brakes.
Engine: A petrol-powered engine typically consisting of between one and four cylinders (and less commonly, up to eight cylinders).
Transmission: A manual five- or six-speed sequential transmission.
Drivetrain: Drives the swingarm-mounted rear wheel by a chain, driveshaft, or belt.

Engine and Performance

Engines have pistons that move up and down in cylinders; this is what makes power. Generally, bigger engines make more power. The more cylinders an engine has, the smaller each piston has to be, and the faster the pistons can move at higher RPM.

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Harley Big Twin: About 1600ccs and two cylinders, with a top engine speed of about 6,000 RPM.
Kawasaki: A 600cc four cylinder engine with a top engine speed of 11,000 RPM, nearly twice as fast as the Harley.
MotoGP racing bikes: The motorcycles made right now are the 800cc MotoGP racing bikes.

For a given engine size, more cylinders means the engine can spin faster and make more horse power. It also means more moving parts, so the engine is more expensive to manufacture.

125cc bike: About 10 horsepower, and will have a top speed of about 55mph.
200cc bike: Makes roughly 18 horsepower and has a top speed of perhaps 72mph.
400cc bike: 40 horsepower and has a top speed of nearly 100 mph.
650cc bike: Can go almost 110mph.

Motorcycle Dynamics

Two-wheeled motorcycles stay upright while rolling due to a physical property known as conservation of angular momentum in the wheels. Different types of motorcycles have different dynamics and these play a role in how a motorcycle performs in given conditions. Motorcycles must be leaned in order to make turns. This lean is induced by the method known as countersteering, in which the rider momentarily steers the handlebars in the direction opposite of the desired turn. With such short wheelbase, motorcycles can generate enough torque at the rear wheel, and enough stopping force at the front wheel, to lift the opposite wheel off the road.

Motorcycle Safety

Motorcycles have a higher rate of fatal accidents than automobiles or trucks and buses.

Safety Measures and Training

Protective Gear: Essential for riders, including an armored jacket, gloves, and a good helmet. Boots are also highly recommended.
- Helmet: Must be DOT-certified to be street legal, with other certifications like Snell, ECE, and SHARP offering different testing standards.
- Jacket: Should be made of durable textile or leather with CE-approved armor on the shoulders, elbows, chest, and back.
- Pants: Made out of the same materials as the jacket with armor in the knees, hips, and tailbone.
- Gloves: Need to protect the palms, knuckles, and wrists, with molded knuckles, palms, and wrist protection.
- Boots: Should protect the toes, the soles of your feet, heels, and ankles without compromising your ability to use the foot controls on a motorcycle.
Motorcycle Safety Courses: Organizations like the MSF offer courses that go beyond the beginner motorcycle tips you hear from your friends. The MSF Basic eCourse is a highly interactive online program that provides riders of all skill levels with the basics of motorcycling.

Rider Positioning

The motorcyclist's riding position depends on rider body-geometry (anthropometry) combined with the geometry of the motorcycle itself.

Sport: The rider leans forward into the wind and the weight of the upper torso is supported by the rider's core at low speed and air pressure at high speed. The footpegs are below the rider or to the rear.
Standard: The rider sits upright or leans forward slightly. The feet are below the rider.
Cruiser: The rider sits at a lower seat height with the upper torso upright or leaning slightly rearward. Legs are extended forwards, sometimes out of reach of the regular controls on cruiser pegs.

Hearing Damage

Motorcyclists and motor scooter riders are also exposed to an increased risk of suffering hearing damage such as hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing ears). The noise is caused by wind noise while riding, rolling noise from the tires and the engine itself. The helmet only provides insufficient protection against high sound pressure levels. Medicine (as of 2024) is not able to cure hearing damage.

Environmental Impact

Motorcycles, like other motor vehicles, contribute to air pollution.

Emissions Standards: European emission standards for motorcycles are similar to those for cars. New motorcycles must meet Euro 5 standards, while cars must meet Euro 6D-temp standards.

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