A motorcycle is a motor vehicle with two or three wheels, steered by a handlebar from a saddle-style seat. Motorcycles offer excellent acceleration performance – most middleweight bikes can easily out-accelerate even the fastest cars on the road, especially when driven in a sporty manner.
One growing trend in the motorcycle market that started pre-COVID and remains hot today is the rise of small-displacement adult-sized machines that appeal to new riders and are also tempting for experienced riders as well. These machines, in the 200-400cc range, such as the Kawasaki Ninja 400, KTM Duke 200 and BMW G310GS, can be ridden with a lower-tier license – a category that barely existed in the bigger-is-always-better American market just a few years ago.
The motorcycle chassis is often made of steel tube frames and sheet metal, although aluminum, carbon fiber and other materials are increasingly used. The rims of the wheels are typically steel or aluminum spoked wheels, but cast and even disc and rotor wheels are now available for motorcycles. Tires are smaller than those on automobiles and are shaped to allow leaning of the motorcycle in a turn, which helps to lower the center of gravity and improve traction.
As with any motorized vehicle, it’s important to wear a helmet and protective clothing. Practice riding regularly and consider taking a rider training course to keep your skills sharp and learn the latest safety systems on the market. The best safety system on any bike is the rider’s brain, which works perfectly if it’s properly trained and conditioned.
