classify types motorcycles

Although, there’s no universal method to classify motorcycles, but because of the various accessories, power specs and hardware components from which the bikes are manufactured of, it becomes quite necessary to categorize them. Basically, we can divide bikes in eight different categories, namely- cruiser, sport, touring, standard, mini, dual sport, street and dirt. However, many of us probably know the sole purpose of each of the stated ones, still sometimes it becomes cumbersome to recognize whether a bike is a cruiser or a sport one, for instance. This post will let you know about the different categories of bikes and how they are put to use.

How to Recognize a Cruiser Bike?

Cruiser Bike

Cruiser Bike

For those, who know what a cruiser is, are definitely the rebels on road. A cruiser motorcycle takes styling cues from the American culture during ancient 1930’s to the early 1960’s. Some of the well-known brands for manufacturing cruisers include Harley-Davidson, Indian, Triumph, Victory etc.,. They are recognized by their upright riding position, macho size, high-mounted handlebars. They have a higher engine displacement between 150cc to 2000cc. Cruiser engines, which makes more horsepower, equipped with stronger brakes and high suspension set-up are normally termed as power cruisers.

How to Recognize a Sport Bike?

Sport Bike

Sport Bike

In simpler terms, machines that are built primarily for accomplishing the racing tasks are known as sport bikes. They are optimized for speed, acceleration, braking and cornering on terrains. In terms of design, they get bulky silhouette, higher foot pegs, clip-on handlebars, wider tyres, etc,. Braking duties are performed by disc brakes with multi-piston calipers. These bikes have three sub-categories- a light-weight, a middle-weight and a superbike. A lightweight sport bike has an engine displacement capacity of up to about 500cc, whereas a middleweight has between 600-700cc displacements. The superbike is a litre-class with 1000cc.

How to Recognize a Street Bike?

ktm duke 200

Street Bike

A street bike is a naked Tourer with upright relaxed seating position, usually have flat bars and manufactured mainly for the urban riders. These bikes do not have a fairing on the front and carries less weight. KTM Duke 200 comes under the category of a street bike, which is completely designed to the dominate the streets by a trellis frame, massive fuel tank and USD forks. Street motorcycles are so user-friendly as they often offers best comfortable riding position with perfect seat height.

How to Recognize a Touring Bike?

Touring Bike

Touring Bike

As the name itself clears the meaning, a touring bike is the one, which is suitable for touring. Nevertheless, any motorcycle can be considered as a touring bike, but for the sake of riders, auto-makers have come up with some specific models to distinguish them for the other bikes. Visually, they have got windshields for wind protection, muscular fuel tanks, split up seats, side panniers and much more. Cruisers may come under the category of touring bikes. They have got engine displacements between the range of 500-1500cc.

Read Also: Most Comfortable Touring Adventure Motorcycles for Long Rides in India

How to Recognize a Standard Bike?

Standard Bike

Standard Bike

Recognizing a standard bike is pretty much easy. A motorcycle, which is a fusion of upright riding position, handlebar and footpegs, so that one can be comfortable all the time while riding the bike comes in the category of standard. We can also call them naked tourers. Usually, these bikes do not have a windscreen or fairing and fitted with a single headlight. They have got mid range engine sizes and hence are economical as per the price perspective.

Interesting One: 60 KMPL to 80 KMPL Standard Mileage Bikes in India

How to Recognize a Mini Bike?

Honda Navi

Honda Navi

As the name of the segment defines itself, a small and lightweight two-wheeler that is more of a scooter and slightly less to be called ‘a pure bike’. There is no such kind of bike segment in the India before Honda introduced Navi, first of its kind. Having no such competitor directly in the market, built mainly for off-highway roads, more specifically for the short rides. Visually, the mini bikes, sometimes also called a minimoto or pocket-bikes, are shaped as the dirt bikes. Having an engine displacement in the range of 100-125 cc and top speed under 100 kmph, the segment bikes feature a small fuel tank capacity and offer the fuel economy in the range of 50-60 kmpl.

How to Recognize a Dual-sport Bike?

Dual sport Bike

Dual-sport Bike

A dual-sport motorcycle is the one having the capabilities of both- on-road as well as off-road. It is a typical street-legal motorcycle with dual-purpose features. The accessories, which are affixed into the bike are lights, speedometer, mirrors, horn, license plate mounting and muffler. They are extremely versatile and do their job smoothly even on rough surfaces.  Designed with narrow seats and high suspension, dual-purpose motorcycles are not allowed to carry heavy loads beyond a certain limit.

How to Recognize a Dirt Bike?

Dirt Bike

Dirt Bike

An off-road motorcycle that is powerful, light-weighted, fast and agile is considered as a dirt bike. The tourer can be used for many different purposes, i.e., from touring to racing or even beyond that. Size and ergonomics totally depend on the type of rider it has been chosen for. Motocross is the most common dirt bike designed especially for off-road racing. Engine-wise, all we can say that the more powerful it’d be, if it gets more cc’s (engine displacement). Other than that, these motorcycles are engineered with suspension forks and rear shocks to tackle uneven terrain deterrents.

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