Motorcycles

Motorcycles are two-wheeled motor vehicles with an engine and a place to sit. The most basic design has a front wheel that steers and a back wheel that does not, but the term is also applied to scooters, mopeds, and other small motorised vehicles with only one or two wheels. The earliest machines were steam powered, such as the Michaux-Perreaux velocipede or Edward Butler’s petrol cycle (also known as the Merryweather Fire Engine). It was several decades before the first modern gasoline-powered motorcycle, Gottlieb Daimler’s Reitwagen, appeared. It used a new engine designed by engineer Nicolaus Otto, who invented the four-stroke internal combustion engine in 1876.

Today, motorcycles come in a wide variety of styles. Street bikes are mainly built for urban riding and tarmac roads, sport bikes for canyon carving and track racing, and cruisers are made for leisurely rides. The bike you choose depends on your lifestyle and budget. If you’re buying a new bike, consider getting it shipped by a specialized motorcycle carrier. These companies have the most experience handling bikes and will offer the best insurance coverage.

The most popular category, however, are large-capacity touring or sport motorcycles, which can be ridden on long distances and in off-road conditions. There are also smaller-capacity motorcycles, such as the Indian Hero Splendor, that are designed primarily for developing countries and other markets with low per capita incomes.

As the world survived global conflict and economic turmoil, manufacturers continued to produce motorcycles in record numbers. The 1969 road film Easy Rider, starring Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda, fueled an image of rebellion and independence that would shape public perception of motorcycling for generations to come.