Motorcycles are fun to ride, and they provide an adrenaline rush. They’re not for everyone, but if you have the courage and skill to get behind one, it will give you an experience that you can’t duplicate in a car. They are a great way to relieve stress and can also help you lose weight. Riding a bike can help you increase your flexibility and is known to improve knee function in people with previous injuries. It is recommended to practice on a small-scale before going out on a long ride.
The most important part of a motorcycle is the frame, which connects to fork tubes on either side of the front wheel that house hydraulic springs in the suspension. It is usually made of welded aluminum, but carbon-fiber frames are becoming more common. The engine is typically located in the middle of the chassis. A plastic or fiberglass shell, called a fairing, covers most of the engine to shield the rider from wind and aid in aerodynamics.
Most modern motorcycles have four to six speeds, with power being transmitted from the crankshaft through a chain or belts (except on very small bikes) to the rear-wheel sprockets. The clutch and throttle, which control engine speed, are operated by twist-type handles on the handgrips. The front-wheel brake is usually a disc and the rear-wheel brake is often a drum. A small display on the dashboard shows a clock and the rpm’s, which is the number of revolutions the engine makes in a minute.