Motorcycles and Their Subcultures

motorcycles

Motorcycles are powered by gas, oil, or electric engines and have two wheels. They are ridden by a rider, and power is delivered to the rear wheel sprocket through a chain or belt. A clutch is used to engage and disengage the engine. The transmission may be automatic or manual, and most have four to six forward speeds. The brakes are usually hydraulic disc, although drum brakes are used on small motorcycles. A kick starter is still used to start some motorcycles, but most are now started by pushbutton electric starts.

Motorcycle acceleration performance is very good, with even modest sport bikes able to reach 60 mph in less than three seconds. However, their poor aerodynamics, with the rider exposed and the engine blown open, create significant drag that reduces fuel economy, and at high speeds requires four times as much energy to maintain the same velocity as a car.

For many riders, motorcycling offers a more intimate and engaging experience than driving a car. The feel of the wind, sun, and scents while riding allows riders to fully immerse themselves in their surroundings. Additionally, the rider is an integral part of the vehicle’s dynamics, with body movements affecting how it turns, brakes and accelerates.

The motorcycle is also associated with a number of subcultures, from the mods and rockers of Britain’s 1950s to the more aggressive biker gangs of today’s America. In addition, social motorcyclist organizations (clubs) are popular, and some are geographically based or focus on particular makes of motorcycle.