The motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle that uses a gasoline engine for self-propelling. It’s the answer to the 19th-century dream of replacing the horse and carriage. It’s a vehicle that’s as much fun as it is dangerous. But it’s also a way to get around that’s incredibly affordable, environmentally friendly, and fast.
The motorcycle’s speed and the way it looks have given it a bad boy image that’s hard to shake. But the truth is, motorcyclists aren’t bad boys or girls. They’re people just like you and me, who love the freedom, power, and excitement that a ride brings.
There are lots of different kinds of motorcycles – dirt bikes, dual/adventure sport bikes, cruisers, chopper bikes, scooters, scramblers, and more. But it all comes down to the same basics: brakes, engine, and frame. Brakes are typically drum or disc based and can be either front- or rear-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive bikes usually have better braking performance because more of the bike’s weight is over the front wheel, making it easier to apply pressure.
Almost all motorcycles have a speedometer, an odometer, and a tachometer to keep track of the engine’s RPM. Some have a fuel gauge, but it’s rare for a street-legal motorcycle to have one. Most have a petcock that allows the rider to switch from the main fuel line to a reserve tank. The main line has a longer pipe than the reserve, so it’s easy to tell when it’s time to switch.