Motorcycles have 2 wheels and a motor like a car but can be ridden by one or two people. They require a special type of driver’s license and are usually driven on public roads. They have a much higher power-to-weight ratio than cars, making them capable of very high speeds.
The modern motorcycle is a highly developed machine with excellent handling and rider safety features. Some models have a sidecar that can carry a passenger. Whether riding alone or with a passenger, be sure to practice your control skills in a safe area before venturing into traffic.
Many motorcycles have a center of gravity that is very low (though some older designs have a higher weight distribution). This helps with stability, especially at lower speeds. Having the engine exposed also means they aren’t very aerodynamic, and generate considerable drag compared to the smooth, streamlined body of a car. This doesn’t matter at speeds below 60mph, but at higher speeds it can significantly decrease the available power.
Claudio Castiglioni, the industrialist who owned Ducati in the 1960s and 1970s, was an eccentric character. He had a Medici prince attitude toward his company and its chief designer, Massimo Tamburini, lavishing enormous, one might say ruinous, sums of money on creative projects. The result was some of the most exciting and innovative motorcycles in history.