What Styles of Bikes Are Out There?

When I first got into riding, I almost bought the wrong motorcycle.  I was new to the sport, and it was only by listening to the advice of some friends that I avoided making a terrible choice for my first bike.

Like many of you, I googled around to learn what a good “beginner” motorcycle would be.  One name kept coming up, and it appeared to be a great choice.  However, even if the style were right, the size would have been wrong for me.

When it comes to motorcycles, size matters!  Both the frame of the bike and the engine power should be considered.   A motorcycle that may be perfect for a man the size of Tom Cruise would not work for someone the size of Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Keep in mind the bike not only has to fit you (a good indication of this is, can you reach the handlebars comfortably? Are both of your feet flat on the ground when balancing the bike?), but it also has to have the power to transport you and your passenger (if you have one).

The frame is easy enough to figure out; sit on the bike!  But we need to know how to talk about the CCs for engine size.

SIZE: QUICK LESSON IN MECHANICS

You need to be aware of one basic mechanical concept: the size of the bike measured in CCs or cubic centimeters.  You’ll see that all the time: 125, 883, 865, 1200, 1400, etc.

The greater the number of CCs, the more influential the bike is.  Therefore, it can haul more weight or go faster with increased CCs, depending on the style.

But what exactly are we talking about?  How can we give that number a little more meaning?

A motorcycle has, well…  a motor!  This motor works like this.  Picture a chamber.  In this chamber, an explosion takes place. This explosion forces a device called a piston downward.  This downward motion is transferred to the circular motion that turns your rear wheel.

And there you go, down the road with a tank full of gasoline and an engine propelling you with countless mini-explosions between your legs.  Welcome to the wonderful world of motorcycling!

To better understand this, picture that chamber as an empty coffee can.  A motorcycle has at least one to as many as four coffee cans.  The combined space inside the coffee cans will give you your cubic centimeters.  More space => bigger explosions => more power.

So in discussing different motorcycles, keep that number in mind.

The four basic styles of bikes are standard, cruiser, sport, and touring.  Now, as a disclaimer, you can have bikes that are a combination of several of the four, but let’s just stick to basics for now.

Standard

Standard bikes, also called naked or street bikes, are multipurpose motorcycles.  They have an upright riding position, somewhere between the reclining rider posture of the cruisers and the forward-leaning sport bikes. Triumph Bonneville and Royal Enfield Bullets are great examples of standard motorcycles.  These make a great beginner bike!

Cruiser

Cruisers are styled after American motorcycles from the 1930s to the early 1960s, like the ones made famous by Harley-Davidson and Indians.  Their engines are tuned, not with speed in mind, but having the power to work.

The riding position places the feet forward rather than straight down, and the hands can be placed relatively high so you can lean back slightly when you ride.  At low to moderate speeds, cruisers can be relatively comfortable, but riding for long periods on the highway, this position can lead to fatigue.

Sportbike

Sport bikes stress speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering, typically at the expense of comfort and fuel economy compared to other motorcycles.  If you like going fast, this is the bike for you!

The rider sits in a forward-leaning position with his feet tucked behind him. This makes his body as aerodynamic as possible.

These bikes have high-performance engines combined with a lightweight frame.  Everything about them is designed to go fast and handle well in turns.  If you watch a motorcycle race on TV, chances are you are looking at speed bikes.  One of the most common speed bikes I often see on the road is the Kawasaki Ninja.

Touring

Although any motorcycle can be equipped and used for the purpose, specific touring motorcycles are designed to cover long distances.  They have large engines, fairings, and windshields that offer good weather and wind protection, large-capacity fuel tanks for long ranges between fill-ups, and a relaxed, upright seating position (often including a back-rest and cup holder).

Passenger seating is excellent, and expansive luggage space is the norm for this type of bike.  You may hear these bikes referred to as Baggers.

So, now that you grasp some of the basics of motorcycle styles get out there and start shopping!