Motorcycles, Vehicles

A motorcycle (or motorbike) is a single-track, two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine. Styles of motorcycles vary depending on the task they are designed for such as long distance travel and on or off-road conditions. more...

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Motorcycles are among the least expensive and most widespread forms of motorised transport in many parts of the world.

The largest market for motorcycles is the Asia Pacific; where the underbone style is popular; with a 51% share of all units sold globally. Second is the United States (21%) where larger motorcycles are more popular and Europe (20%) where both larger and smaller motorcycles are popular.

Many countries define classes of motorcycles with differing compliance codes and licensing fees for each category. Common categories include mopeds (< 50cc), small motorcycles (<125cc) and an unrestricted category. Many small motorcycles such as scooters or pocket bikes may be classed as a moped or a motorcycle depending on the juristiction.

In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand motorbike is synonymous with motorcycle. Motorcycles are also referred to as bike in many other countries.

Motorcycles are often powered solely by a gasoline, diesel, Wankel, or electric engine, The rider controls the speed of the engine by a throttle. The rider sits on a seat while steering with the handlebars or indirectly by leaning the motorcycle. A motorcycle stays upright by being steered so as to keep its center of gravity over its wheels.

History

The inspiration for the earliest dirt bike, and arguably the first motorcycle, was designed and built by the German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Bad Cannstatt (since 1905 a city district of Stuttgart) in 1885.

However, if one counts two wheels with steam propulsion as being a motorcycle, then the first one may have been American. One such machine was demonstrated at fairs and circuses in the eastern US in 1867, built by Sylvester Howard Roper of Roxbury, Massachusetts.

In 1894, the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller became the first motorcycle available for purchase. In the early period of motorcycle history there were many manufacturers as producers of bicycles adapted their designs for the new internal combustion engine. As the engines became more powerful and designs outgrew the bicycle origins, the number of motorcycle producers increased.

Until the First World War, the largest motorcycle manufacturer was Indian. After that, this honour went to Harley-Davidson, until 1928 when DKW took over as the largest manufacturer. BMW motorcycles came on the scene in 1923 with shaft drive and an opposed-twin or "boxer" engine enclosed with the transmission in a single aluminum housing.

Police officers have used motorcycles — primarily for the enforcement of traffic laws — from the the early 20th century. Called motor officers in the United States, these officers call their vehicles simply "motors."'.

Read more at Wikipedia.org