Motorcycle Types Street
Sport bikes, also known as "bullet bikes", are often used for racing, but are also a popular option for street riders. The street-legal varieties have blinkers, lights, speedometers, license plates, and other additions. The aggressive riding stance provides plenty of maneuverability. Riders of sport bikes also enjoy a high amount of acceleration and speed. The Honda CBR series and Kawasaki Ninja are popular sport bikes.
Cruisers are some of the most popular street-legal motorcycles. They're characterized by foot pegs that are positioned farther in front of the rider, higher handlebars, and a relaxed riding stance. Since they are comfortable to ride, they are a more popular option for longer distance rides. They're used widely by biker gangs, but also by average people. Bikes like the Harley Davidson Softtail pictured above are popular cruisers.
Touring bikes are very similar to cruisers, but their larger engine size and comfort features make them ideal for long-distance trips, such as cross-country rides. Features often include padded seats, large rear seats with arm rests, sound systems, cruise control, and compartments for luggage, among other things. The most popular touring bike is the Honda Goldwing.
Adventure bikes are similar to dual sport bikes, which we'll discuss in the off-road section. They are best for riding on the road, but they can also be taken on dirt roads, grass, and many other terrains. They have an upright riding stance, making them considerably more comfortable than sport bikes. They also often include luggage options. The Honda Africa Twin pictured above is a popular choice among adventure bikes.
Trikes are a good option for a variety of different people. They provide stability so you don't need balance to ride, as well as the ability to ride without needing strength in your legs. They provide more comfort on long trips, while still allowing you to enjoy riding a motorcycle. They also have excellent storage space because of their bigger frame. The Harley Davidson Trike and Can-Am Spyder (pictured in the slideshow) are popular three-wheeled motorcycles.
Choppers are unique motorcycles in every sense of the word. They are custom-made bikes that often use parts from other bikes. They are often made from scratch, but can also be made by modifying an existing motorcycle. Although they can be made to almost any specification, they are traditionally very skinny, with long front forks.
Motorcycle Types Off-Road
Dirt bikes are motorcycles that are geared towards off-road use. They have different suspension from street bikes, which allows them to not only go over rough terrain, but also have a softer landing when the rider goes off of a jump. Dirt bike engines are smaller than street bike engines, but they are geared to give them plenty of power when it's needed.
Similar to adventure bikes, dual sport bikes can be ridden both on- and off-road. However, they are geared more towards off-road use. They are essentially dirt bikes with lights, blinkers, a speedometer, and other features that make them street-legal.
Racing dirt bikes are often referred to as "MX" or "motocross" bikes. They are very similar to regular dirt bikes, but they are tuned very differently. Their suspension is adjusted for the specific rider, and their engines are tuned to be very reactive. The differences are similar to that of a regular car and a racecar. Typically, a rider is sponsored, so you will see company logos on the sides of the bike.