Types Of Motorcycles Explained

It is rightly said that 'Four wheels move the body, but two wheels move the soul'. And as motorcycle enthusiasts, we totally agree! We list down various types of motorcycles and give you a quick lowdown on what the purpose of each type is. But what really matters is riding them. Riding motorcycles can be therapeutic, no matter what type are they! Of course, there are various ways in which one can classify motorcycles - body type, engine type, displacement-wise and so on. But do note, classifying motorcycles on the basis of the body type is more difficult nowadays as the lines between body types keeps getting blurred every now and then.

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Roadsters

(The Triumph Trident 660 is a great example of a roadster motorcycle)

Roadsters are basically motorcycles which are meant for leisure riding and road faring. Usually they are known to offer a comfortable riding position and feature an exposed engine and frame. One can further classify into naked bikes, cafe racers, scramblers, street-fighters and the standard road bike, which may be used for commuting. Roadsters are versatile by nature and can accommodate a variety of engines and usually fit more than one purposes. Anything from a 100 cc commuter to a 1,200 cc cafe racer can be a roadster. Some examples could be - Hero Splendor, Honda SP 125, Husqvarna 250 Twins, KTM Duke range, Triumph Trident 660 and so on.

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Modern Classics

(The 2021 Triumph Bonneville Bobber is a beautiful motorcycle and the perfect example of a modern classic bike)

Modern classics could be broadly classified as roadsters, but with an old-school design. Modern classic motorcycles are perhaps one of the most popular styles of motorcycles in demand globally and manufacturers like Royal Enfield and Triumph have a large collection of modern classic motorcycles. These motorcycles usually have a retro flavour but are modern under the skin, with a gamut of features like ABS, LED lighting, riding modes and so on. Royal Enfield's 350 cc range, 650 cc range and Triumph's modern classic bikes like the Street Twin, Speed Twin, Bonneville range are some good examples of modern classic motorcycles. Now, neo-retro motorcycles can be categorised under modern classic bikes but they are more modern than classics. One of the best examples of neo retro motorcycle will be the Honda CB650R.

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Sportbikes

(The 2020 KTM 390 Duke fits the bill as a budget sportbike)

Sport bikes! These are mainly performance oriented motorcycles and offer products from entry-level to mid-size and full-faired motorcycles. Performance being the key word here! Some examples of entry level performance bikes would be the KTM 390 Duke, Yamaha YZF R15, KTM RC 390 and so on. Similarly, mid-size performance bikes could include all the sporty 650 cc bikes such as the Kawasaki Ninja 650, Aprilia Tuono 660 and the RS660. Then of course you have your middleweight sport bikes which can be naked, faired or have a supermoto style as well. Sport touring motorcycles like the BMW F 900 XR adn the S 1000 XR can be catergorised as sport bikes as well.

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Naked Sportbikes

(The Ducati Streetfighter V4 - A naked sport bike doesn't get sportier than this)

Naked sport motorcycles are really popular globally. These are minimalist machines which offer plenty of performance and are not nearly as expensive to own as their fully faired counterparts. In some cases, a naked sport model is also derived from a fully-faired sport motorcycle. A great example would be the Ducati streetfighter V4 launching after the Panigale V4. Similarly, the BMW S 1000 R and the BMW S 1000 RR have the same relationship. Few other examples of naked sport bikes are Triumph Street Triple, Ducati Monster, KTM 390 Duke, Husqvarna Svartpilen 250 and so on. The list in this category is practically endless.

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Supersport

(The Aprilia RS 660 is one of the newer supersport motorcycles launched globally)

Once a global rage, supersport bikes are fully-faired motorcycles which have a displacement of around 650 cc or so. The idea behind a supersport was to offer a performance bike that was meant for racing on the track and be easy to purchase and maintain, unlike the bigger, litre class superbikes. The supersport motorcycles used to bridge the gap between 500 cc and 1,000 cc in a manufacturer's fully-faired motorcycle range. One of the most popular supersport models globally was the Yamaha YZF R6. Even though the last few years have seen their popularity decline, supersport motorcycles are already making a comeback. The Aprilia RS660 and the newly unveiled Yamaha YZF R7 are testimony to the fact. Plus, few supersport models like the Kawasaki Ninja 650 are now evolving into mid-size sport-touring motorcycles as well.

Superbikes

(The BMW S 1000 RR is a prime example of a fully-faired, fast superbike)

Superbikes! They have just one purpose! To go fast around a racetrack! And well, maybe look good while doing so. Superbikes are fully-faired and usually displace 999 cc and above. Offered with three-cylinder and 4-cylinder engines, superbikes are probably the biggest draw for most motorcycle enthusiasts. Superbikes usually make in excess of 200 bhp of maximum power, feature a bunch of electronic rider aids and have a very aerodynamic design. The seating posture too is committed, with rear-set footpegs, crouched forward and they usually have a windscreen behind which the rider can tuck himself so as to become one with the motorcycle and go really fast. Some of the best examples of modern litre-class superbikes are Honda CBR1100RR, Yamaha YZF R1, Ducati Panigale V4, BMW S 1000 RR, Kawasaki ZX-10R and so on.

Cruiser bikes

(The 2021 H-D Fat Boy is the perfect example of how a cruiser motorcycle looks)

Think cruiser motorcycles and first picture that comes to your mind are of chrome-laden, heavy-set bikes of the likes of Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycle and so on. Cruiser motorcycles are the ultimate style statement. They are usually big in size and displacement and are meant for relaxed, unhurried riding, especially for long distances. Most cruiser motorcycles offer a very relaxed riding position and have a good amount of pulling power, particularly in the bottom end and the mid-range. Another tell-tale highlight of a cruiser is a low seat height. Some good examples of cruiser motorcycles can be the Harley-Davidson Softail range, Indian Chief range, Triumph Rocket 3 and so on.

Adventure bikes

(The BMW R 1250 GS is perhaps the highest-selling adventure bike in the world)

The adventure bike segment is perhaps one of the most interesting and versatile motorcycle segments globally. Positioned as machines that can take the rider anywhere, adventure bikes are finding favour with a lot of enthusiasts globally and in India as well. Many manufacturers are offering adventure bikes with low displacement so as to cash in on the popularity of these bikes. India has a variety of affordable adventure bikes, such as the Hero Xpulse 200, Royal Enfield Himalayan and the BMW G 310 GS along with the KTM 250 ADV and the KTM 390 ADV.

(The Royal Enfield Himalayan is one of the most sought-after budget adventure motorcycle)

You have mid-size ADVs in the Suzuki V-Strom 650, Kawasaki Versys 650 and then there are the middleweight ADVs like the Triumph Tiger 900, Ducati Multistrada 950, BMW F 850 GS and the F 750 GS. Few examples of top-spec, feature-laden adventures bikes could be the BMW R 1250 GS, Ducati Multistrada V4, Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin and few others around the globe. Be it touring or off-roading or just using it as a daily ride, these adventure bikes do it all and then some more.

Sport Touring Bikes

(The BMW F 900 XR may have the stance of an ADV, but make no mistake, it is a full-blown sport touring machine)

The main idea behind a sport touring motorcycle is that it offers sporty performance and is still comfortable to tour on. The fascinating part is that sport tourers can have different body-styles as well. For example, the Suzuki Hayabusa is a great example of a sports touring machine and so is the BMW F 900 XR. Similarly, the Ducati SuperSport 950 and the BMW R 1200 RS are good examples of sport touring motorcycles. Not only are these bikes blisteringly fast but also offer enough comfort for long distances rides, with baggage.

Baggers and Touring Bikes

(The 2022 Honda Gold Wing was recently launched in India)

Baggers and touring bikes usually come with factory-fitted hard panniers for carrying luggage and/or a windshield. These motorcycles are designed for long distance travel and usually have a big displacement engine making a lot of torque. These motorcycles are usually laden with features like a music system with speakers, Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity, electronic riding aids and most importantly, they occupy a whole lot of real estate. Bagger motorcycles are really, really big. Few examples of bagger motorcycles are the Indian Roadmaster, Indian Challenger, Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special, Honda Gold Wing and even the BMW R 1200 RT.