A Beginner’s Guide to the Types of Motorcycles
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If you’ve ever pictured yourself astride a motorcycle, cruising along a wide-open highway in gorgeous weather to the infectious groove of Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild,” you’ve no doubt longed to taste the freedom known by all dedicated motorcycling enthusiasts.
But, you don’t necessarily have to be a romantic to want to ride a motorcycle. Many people do it simply as a way to save money on gas. Whatever your reason, if you’re interested in buying a motorcycle but you’ve never ridden one before, you’re probably not sure where to begin your search. If so, rest assured. We’ve got some helpful information that’ll help cut out some of the necessary research on the various kinds of bikes there are out there.
The Three Types of Motorcycles
According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, there are three distinct types of motorcycles: street bikes, dual-purpose bikes and off-road bikes. From there, you can branch out into a bunch of different subcategories that will help you identify the exact type of motorcycle that fits what you’ve got in mind for your two-wheeling fun.
Street motorcycles are specifically designed with paved roads in mind and have the widest variety of body styles.
Touring motorcycles are the biggest of the lot. You’ve no doubt seen many of these ambling along the roadways, and you can tell them right away by their practical accessories, such as wind screens that help cut back on aerodynamic drag and large storage compartments. Touring motorcycles usually come with bigger gas tanks that enable riders to go long distances between fueling up. Their seats usually offer a relaxed, upright-sitting orientation that’s also conducive to riding longer distances.
Cruiser motorcycles are the kind most often associated with custom bikes and high-profile brands like Harley Davidson and old-school Indian styles. As a result of their design, which situates the rider in a low position with arms outstretched to reach the handlebars, they’re known for being a bit more difficult to handle than the average motorcycle and may not be the right choice for an absolute beginner.
Sport motorcycles are sometimes also referred to as “crotch rockets” or “sport bikes” because they’re capable of achieving high speeds in very little time and distance. They also rank high in ease of handling and braking, but aren’t known for maximum comfort or optimum fuel efficiency. If you’re in it for the thrill, this could be your ideal ride. But, if safety is at the top of your list of concerns, you may want to keep reading.
Standard motorcycles are pretty much your barebones, basic kind of street bike. Standards usually do not come with fairings or windscreens, offering the basic needs for the novice rider. They’re known for being relatively low-cost and versatile, and are usually the most highly recommended style of motorcycle for beginners because they blend comfort with practicality.
Scooters usually have smaller engines and aren’t capable of achieving the high speeds that most other bikes. Not recommended for highway use, a scooter is your best choice for achieving maximum fuel efficiency and for getting around from one end of town to another conveniently. Their small size can also save you a few headaches when it comes to finding parking.
Dual-purpose motorcycles are made specifically for the rider who wants the best of both worlds: to be able to take his or her bike off road, but to also have some of the necessary safety features associated with street motorcycles. Dual-purpose bikes usually look like off-roaders, but they come with horns, headlights, turn signals and side-view mirrors that make them road-legal. They also have fairings, those fiberglass shells on bikes, for aerodynamics and protection for the rider against the engine block and other moving parts. If you’ve got a mix of street riding and off-roading you’d like to get done, this could be your perfect match.
Off-road motorcycles were made for those seeking a more adventurous experience not available on paved streets and highways. This includes activities like recreational off-road trail riding, Motocross competitive racing and trials competitions where riders make their way through various obstacle courses. If you’re just getting your start and you’re looking for a vehicle that’ll deliver a mix of good, muddy fun, finding an off-roader will fit that bill perfectly.
Motorcycles can be fun and incredibly efficient machines. Once you’ve made your choice, be sure to enroll in a motorcycle safety training course so you’ll know exactly how to handle yourself behind the handlebars.
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This is a nice article. However, as a long time rider with a great many years of experience, The author does not really have the correct information regarding the Harley Davidson cruiser type of motorcycle. As they are set up to sit in an upright position with arms slightly bent at the elbows for easy of control and riding comfort. Now, if what you are referring to is a custom build or a chopper as a cruiser, then, you are correct. These type of motorcycles while enticing are not for a beginner. They are built for looks not riding performance or comfort. As a well known father and son team that build custom motorcycles. Our bikes are show bikes not riding bikes.
i disagree totally with the description of a scooter, My Honda Silverwing is a 600cc scooter with abs brakes. This bike is a perfect first bike, the transmission is cvt, hence, no shifting. It is more than capable on all roads except off-road. their genre is Maxi-Scooter
I want one of those. A friend of mine had one; he said it was “like driving a recliner” that could easily break 100MPH.
You’re thinking of a GoldWing not the Silver Wing. Goldwing is a much bigger, fantastic platform that can be referred to as you said, a 100 mph recliner with heated grips, seat, vents, stereo, gps, trailer hitch, reverse, just anything you can think of. The later generations have a stylistic plastic shell which also gets them the nickname ‘Tupperware’. They are fantastic bikes. The Silverwing also is a good bike but is a smaller, less expensive (third of the price) and suitable for beginners to whomever. What you wanted your moped to be while still being a bunch of fun to ride.
The article is a little lite. Either it was put together with tertiary information on motorcycles OR it was put together by a motorcycle enthusiast that was really dumbing down the information and then a less then interested editor ‘improved’ it and put it to print. I don’t know. Pretty much the same path as our Goldwing/Silverwing debacle. Good intentions everywhere but a little misplaced information.
Still, if it gets some people interested just realize that there are plenty of websites out there with bike information, groups they can talk to and most importantly, instruction programs that for a small price teach anyone that has every ridden a bicycle how to ride a motorcycle using their motorcycles with instructors so that any damage you do will be to their equipment. When done you will be perfectly well trained to ride a bike in a parking lot. The rest is real world learning and if the riding groups are not your cup of tea, perhaps the advanced training programs are.
The website I linked is to a Delphi forum whose content is controlled by a motorcycle instructor with a CD program that I would highly recommend. At least it’s helped my riding.
See you on the road.
Honda has created some confusion by using the monicker “Silverwing” on both a motorcycle and a 600cc maxi scooter. The scooter isn’t well known except among scooter enthusisasts where it’s highly regarded along with the Suzuki Burghman. It ceased production a few years back, but it’s everything James and Mark say.
I had a Suzuki Burgman 650 and loved it. I rode it up and down the east coast from Jacksonville to Daytona down A1A and everywhere in between. Magnificent ride with footrest in the cowling. The storage compartment was so big I could do some grocery shopping with no sweat. Got lots of compliments on it. It has a turbo mode that would take off like a rocket. Hated to sell it but moved to the Northeast where traffic is a nightmare. Never regretted buying it though.
There’s a two wheeler for everyone. The Vespas now do 100 mph, the Honda Helix will cruise all day at 65 mph and 60 mpg and is very reliable and comfortable. Many of the 1986 models are still putting along, and dealer support is excellent, with good forums.
For a light but powerful lowrider for women and beginners up to about 6′ tall, the 650 cc single cylinder electric start Suzuki S40 Boulevard (also known previously as the Savage or LS650) has styling, extreme simplicity and reliability and low pricing. It’s very narrow and maneuverable, and sounds great. You can get a good one for $1600 used. The seat is a bit hard for long trips, but a gel seat pad solves that problem. I’ve owned all these. For a fast, cheap, light reliable sport bike, try the BMW K75 (not the K100). Very reliable, tour de force engineering, good looks.
Harleys have little to recommend them except their image. They’re loud, heavy, expensive and bad handling.
You forgot maxi scooters. These are larger, faster bikes than the “scooters” discussed here. They can be ridden easily on the highway.
[...] A Beginners Guide to the Types of Motorcycles. [...]
Also, don’t forget sport-touring bikes: performance motorcycles tuned to long-range trips & rider / passenger comfort than a track-oriented sport bike.
Obviously more detail would have been helpful. Having ridden and compeated I have this to say to any potential new bikers: do not buy a dual purpose. Why they are even made is beyond me as they serve only one purpose, how to learn to not like motorcycles.
They have terrible handling with little or no comfort, not enough milage per gallon on the road, terrible handling and generally a lack of needed power off road.
You have mirrors that get broken off road and a dual seat that no passenger wants to ride very far on the road. These are just an example and there are worse.
Either get 2 bikes or wait to do one or the other when you can afford 2 bikes.
Believe me you will not like a dual after trying both areas of riding for a couple of times.
I tried two before I wised up when younger.
But either one is a great bike and a lot of fun with training and experience.
I’m not so sure I agree. Now I’m 60, and have owned many cars, trucks and bikes, off road and on. There are some dual purpose bikes that do seem to do both things pretty well. Of course they are not the best for racing on the road, or on dirt, but many people just don’t want to fool with trailering a bike to the riding area. Now I’m down to two bikes, a Kawasaki Versys, and a Yamaha WR250R. The Yamaha is dual purpose, and seems to do both things pretty well. Sure, it’s no racing bike, but for most of us it works well. I’ve even put on some saddle bags, and gone riding on pavement & dirt for a week. The seat I replaced. It gets about what it is rated at riding sanely: 70 MPG. I may even ride it up to northern Canada next summer with a friend who rides a 990 KTM Adventure.
I’m also 60 and find that a dual purpose is a bad choice. It’s not good on the street or the dirt. Pretty much worthless.
Apparently you have not ridden the right dual sports. Some like the KLR 650 is very comfortable and can get 60+ mpg on the highway. I have been riding for 52 years and you sir are wrong. I have ridden and have ridden with some outstandingly good handling dual sports. Try a modern dual sport and see what the real world is like !
From a 40 year rider and past motocrosser. If you have never rode a motorcycle I have only one suggestion that will save your life. I would suggest you do this on dirt with a helment and full protection. After you master shifting and turning get going about 40 to 45mph in a straight line and stop as quick as you can. If you can control it without falling then you will be ready for the street. If you fall, do it until you can master it. If you are afraid of falling in the dirt, stay off the street. Good luck, don’t trust anyone, and wear a helmet.
Good basic article about motorcycles. However, not enough information about safety…critically important for new motorcycles riders. Go to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s web site, http://msf-usa.org, for information on safety classes offered in your area. Before I started riding again (after 40 years!) since I was a teen, I took the MSF safety course at my local community college and will be forever thankful for that two days of training. It reduced my insurance rate, eliminated the need for a riding test at my local DMV (still had to take the written test), provided some discounts on motorcycle gear, and more.
As for what kind of bike to ride, well, I chose a V-Star 650 Classic; very inexpensive, excellent performance and mileage, not too heavy (550lbs), and to the un-knowing eye looks and even sounds like a “hog”. In the last year that I’ve been riding again I’ve logged over 12,000 miles all over California, Oregon, and Nevada.
Great way to travel, lots of fun, but please be safe, follow the rules of the road, and do not mix alcohol or drugs when riding.
Also, see “Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well” by David L Hough.
I just read a few excellent reviews and ordered it used for $6.98 from Amazon. Looks like a great book to have on hand. Thanks for the tip,
“wind screens that help cut back on aerodynamic drag”, you must live in the south. Up north here, we have this little thing called “windchill”.
Whatever you get, you’ll have less trouble if it’s Japanese.
Harley can’t put “made in USA” on their bikes anymore because most of the parts are made outside the USA
Bill H said it as well as anything that can be said about dual bikes. They are a rip off model that are basically overpriced, non productive, high maintenance, problems.
The only thing good about them is they usually have a very inticing design. They look “cool” to the novice who thinks “Wow, I save a lot of money and get the best of both worlds.”
No way as both worlds never live up to their advertising, they are extremely unsafe on both the dirt and the street. They don’t have the power for top level off road, no comfort on road and on road are very unsafe due to they tires and gearing.
They cost a lot to take care of as well due to various factors.
I can not think any knowledgable rider would ever have one of these toys.
I had one once but got rid of it very quickly.