Whether you’re looking to buy your first motorcycle, or are a few years into riding and considering a change or upgrade, brushing up on the types of motorcycles out there is always worth the time. Who knows, you might just find a motorbike that re-ignites your passion for hitting the open roads on two wheels including the recently popular electric motorcycle. We examine all the different motorcycle types in-depth in this article, comparing traditional motorcycles to new ones.
What are the Different Types of Motorcycles?
Cruisers, Supermotos, Sportbikes, Dual Sports, and Dirt Bikes, oh my! The world on two wheels is an exciting one, with no shortage of motorcycle options to choose from. Yet to the uninitiated, the various types of motorcycles available may seem like a foreign language.
Motorcycles aren’t the only thing that moves fast in this industry. Motorcycle manufacturers are constantly pushing the envelope, developing new and different types of bikes to thrill and excite.
This can make the hunt for the perfect motorcycle a challenging one. Understanding the different kinds of motorbike styles can help you better evaluate weight, size, control, and features to help you make the right choice.
If you are confused about what type of motorcycle you want, this guide on the different motorcycles is for you.
Street Motorcycles
As the name aptly suggests, street motorcycles encompass a broad range of motorcycle styles for road use. Designed for paved roads and highways, street bikes span a lot of makes and models, including but not limited to those motorcycles we’ll be covering shortly. They are a popular choice for daily commutes and long distance travel too.
Examples of Street Motorcycles include the Suzuki SV650 and the Honda Nighthawk.
Sportbikes
Engineered in the likes of and inspired by racing bikes, sportbikes rank among the most adrenaline-inducing motorcycles on the market. These motorcycles are known as ‘crotch rockets’ among the motorcycle crowd. These motorcycles boast powerful engines, with engine displacements typically ranging from 600cc to 1000cc or higher, delivering impressive power outputs. A sport bike’s unique design and lightweight frame requires the rider to assume a tucked/crouched position, reducing wind drag and shielding the rider from debris while cutting through curves.
With sportbikes, agility, speed, and raw power are the name of the game. However, they can have higher fuel consumption than smaller bikes with higher insurance costs.
This style features front fork-mounted clip-on bars, high foot pegs for improved clearance when leaning into sharp turns, and usually an inline four-cylinder motorcycle engine. As for weight, the sportbike is a featherweight, offering superior maneuverability and easy handling for even the most petite-built individuals.
These bikes can also be a bit ‘much’ for those new to biking and require a certain amount of practice to handle the motorcycle safely. The sportbike also ranks among those bikes involved in the most crashes. As such, motorcycle insurance for this type of bike tends to land on the higher side. It is an excellent choice worth considering if you’re in the market for a new motorcycle, especially a sports one.
Sportbikes are often separated into two distinct subcategories:
- Superbikes: those with 1000cc or higher
- Sportbikes: those with 600cc or higher
A Few Examples of Sports Bikes Include the Yamaha YZF-R1, Suzuki Hayabusa Hyperbike, Kawasaki Ninja, and Honda CBR 954rr.
Naked Motorcycles
No, these motorcycles aren’t the favored bikes of nudist colonies. The naked motorcycle combines a sportbike’s sporty tuning, agility, and power while offering a more comfortable ride for everyday use.
Naked Bikes features include a more mature exterior, ergonomic riding position, sport suspension and braking, and a few more bells and whistles than a sportbike.
So where does the ‘naked’ come from? A naked bike lacks a windscreen, fairing, windscreen, and other exterior add-ons, revealing more of the machinery underneath.
A Few Examples of these Motorcycles Include the Triumph Speed Triple R, the Ducati Monster 1200 R, the Ducati Monster 696, and the Kawasaki Z1000.
Streetfighter
A Streetfighter is a take on the traditional sportbike, blending the tenants of a standard or naked motorcycle and dropping the fairings. These bikes feature elements of the sportbike (minus excessive fiberglass around the body), with the low rumble of a cruiser.
Examples of these motorcycles Include the Triumph Street Triple R and the Ducati Streetfighter.
Touring Motorcycles
The behemoths of motorcycles and touring bikes are MASSIVE. Meant for, you guessed it, touring long distance travel on roadways and long trips. These tourer bikes are ultra-comfortable, featuring bigger engine capacity, heated grips, superior wind protection, ample storage space, and even have room for a partner on the back. Typically, a touring bike features a more ergonomic design, easy for an ‘older’ man or woman; what these bikes lack in sport is that they are more than made for comfort and luxury.
Sports Touring Motorcycles are easily identifiable by their large fairings, designed to protect from the elements while riding. The touring motorcycle is the traveler’s best friend. Bikes with over 80,000 miles are expected to be clocked on the odometer.
A Few Examples of a Sports Tourer Include the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra, the Honda Goldwing, and the Kawasaki Versys.
Sport Touring Motorcycles
You’re a sensible lady or gent. You know that long-distance motorcycle rides require some comfort and ergonomics. You enjoy the pleasure of technology, a full-featured dash, and added storage space. Their larger engines give the invigorating feel of opening up the throttle on the open road. Sport-touring motorcycles blend the sensibilities of touring bikes with bigger, sportier motors.
Examples of Sport Touring Motorcycle Include Yamaha FJR 1300, KTM 1290 Super Duke GT, and Kawasaki Concours 14.
Cruiser Motorcycles
Cruiser Motorcycles is Known as a chopper; these bikes have been popularized on big and small screens for decades and are nothing if not iconic. The favored bike of biker gangs and discerning riders alike, these motorcycles offer a lot between two wheels.
Large and in charge, the cruiser motorcycle is an oversized bike, moderately heavy and engineered for cruising the streets. Cruiser Motorcycles feature a relaxed, upright seating position, ergonomic riding position, mid/forward foot control, lower seating, and classically understated style; these bikes offer incredible comfort for all-day rides.
Given Cruiser Motorcycles size and propensity for highway travel, these bikes are almost always powered by twin motors of 1000cc or higher, capable of delivering ample power throughout the RPM curve with their larger engines.
Although a solid ride for novice and experienced motorcycle riders, those with petite frames may find the heavy bike too much to handle.
Examples of this type of motorcycle include any make and model from Harley-Davidson.
Forward Control Cruiser
A variation of the cruiser motorcycle, the prime differentiator is this bike’s footpegs. The shift peg and the brake pedal are positioned farther forward on the motorcycle. This can give the bike a bit of a sporty feel, although at the risk of sacrificing comfort. Those with lower back problems will likely enjoy the standard motorcycle model best.
Power Cruiser Motorcycles
If a cruiser and a sportbike were combined, the resulting motorcycle would be a power cruiser. Typically, power cruisers are considered a ‘subcategory’ of cruisers; the power cruiser melds the power and exhilaration of a sportbike with the comfort and rideability of a cruiser.
Examples of this type of motorcycle Include the Ducati Diavel 1260, Harley-Davidson FXDR, Yamaha VMAX, Triumph Rocket, and Moto Guzzi.
The Chopper
Popularized by shows such as West Coast Choppers, the chopper motorcycle has long been a favorite of motorcycle enthusiasts. Starting with a basic cruiser design, the chopper is named for its chopped approach, excessively high handlebars, and unique aesthetics.
You won’t find a chopper off the factory line, however. Choppers are almost all custom-designed to the specifications of the motorcycle rider, making each bike an actual work of art and a one-of-a-kind ride.
The closest option that can be had without any customization is the Harley-Davidson Softail Motorcycle.
Bobber Motorcycles
The Bobber Motorcycle takes the traditional chopper design and strips it down to its roots. Theoretically, any bike can be stripped down into a bobber by removing excess body parts, lowering the suspension, and reducing the bike’s weight. These ‘spartan’ designs are known as a ‘bob’ due to the shortened rear end of the bike itself, minimizing or removing the fender altogether.
Bobbers aren’t generally available without ordering some customization, but there are a few options right off the assembly line.
Examples of Bobber Motorcycles Include the Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber, the Indian Scout Bobber, and the Triumph Bonneville Bobber.
Adventure Motorcycles
Designed to go the distance and handle both highway and off-road riding (but not too off-road), these bikes are highly capable feats of engineering. They feature a higher rear suspension for rough terrain. These bikes resemble oversized dirt bikes with improved ergonomics in an upright riding position for comfortable long rides. An Adventure Bike almost always features a ‘beak’; these motorcycles are outfitted with luggage options, sport tires, crash protection, and more.
Examples of this type of motorcycle include the KTM 1290 Super Adventure, Honda Africa Twin, and Multistrada Enduro.
Standard Motorcycles
Featuring a subdued but adequate motor, up-to-date styling, and an ample brake and suspension system, these standard bikes make for a great choice for beginners. Unintimidating yet fun, the standard motorcycle is usually powered by mid-sized twin engines that are capable yet manageable for most riders.
Often the perfect choice for new motorcycle riders, standard motorcycles have mostly neutral ergonomics, a shorter seat height, and a wide range of engine capacity from 125cc up to 1000cc.
Examples of these types of motorcycles include the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and the Suzuki SV650.
Cafe Racer
A Cafe Racer is considered a subcategory of the ‘standard motorcycle’; these bikes bring together everything that makes a motorcycle great, with a modernized retro look popular among younger generations. Although Triumph Motorcycles led the way with this style of vintage bike, other manufacturers have also jumped on board, with an ample selection now available.
Examples of these types of motorcycles Include the Ducati Scrambler Café and the Triumph Street Cup.
Dirt Bikes
The off-road bike of the motorcycle world, dirt bikes are have a lightweight frame, nimble, and equipped with tires and higher suspension travel designed to help you navigate motocross and backwoods trails. These off-road motorcycles feature a single-cylinder motor and sporty plastic covering their frame; these motocross bikes pack much fun.
Examples of these types of motorcycles Include Suzuki RM-Z450, Yamaha YZ450F, and the Honda CRF250R.
Dual Sport Motorcycles
While dirt bikes are engineered for off-road enjoyment and motorcycles for paved thrills, Dual-Sport Bikes make the best of both worlds.
These bikes are legal for both ON and off-road enjoyment, with on/offroad tires making them dual-purpose bikes. Capable of going anywhere doing (almost) anything, go where no standard motorcycle would dare go before, all with the added safety of features including a horn, turn signals, and more.
Seat heights on these bikes are a little taller, which can make these bikes a tad uncomfortable for shorter folks. However, this bike makes up for it with an improved suspension that can absorb the ups and downs of backroad travel.
Examples of these dual-purpose bikes include: Suzuki DR-Z400, KTM 500 EXC-F, Honda CRF250L, Yamaha WR, BMW R1200GS, BMW F650GS and the KTM 1090 Adventure R.
Supermoto
Combine the torque of a single-cylinder motor with the nimble, fast action of a dirtbike designed for the streets. This street-legal motorcycle combines a dirt bike’s playfulness and youthful appeal with modifications, making it legal for on-the-road use.
A few examples of these types of motorcycles include Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, Suzuki DR-Z400SM, Ducati Hypermotard 950.
Scrambler
Like a retro-styled bike, this unique conception melds together aspects of a standard motorcycle with a retro flair, knobby tires, mudguards, and side exhaust.
Examples of these types of motorcycles include the Ducati Scrambler and Triumph Scrambler 1200XE.
Scooters
Less common in the USA, Scooters have recently seen a resurgence in popularity, offering a practical, fuel efficient, and fun way to get around on two wheels. A motor scooter is characterized by small engine displacements (usually 50cc-500cc), which is adequate for zipping around town but could be better for highway use.
Transmissions are usually automatic, making the scooter ideal choice for beginners and those in ‘stop and go’ traffic. The iconic frame design called an underbone, leaves nothing but space from the rider’s legs to the front of the scooter. Maxi scooters, with slightly bigger engines and frames, are starting to get famous.
The most notable example is the iconic Vespa.
Mopeds
Whether the moped is a subcategory of the scooter or the scooter, a subcategory of a moped may be up for debate. But what needs to be put up for debate is the fun of these miniature-powered bikes. Often sporting engines with as little as 50cc of power, or even an electric motor, similar to an electric motorcycle. Mopeds are lightweight, nimble, and perfect for jet-setting around town.
Examples of a moped or minibike include the TaoTao Titan 50.
Born to Ride: final thoughts on modern motorcycles
Motorcycles have long been an iconic, exhilarating mode of travel. The possibilities are endless, from cruising the city streets to motorcycling, long-distance cruising, and even a bit of offroad exploration.
In this guide on the different types of motorcycles, we introduced you to some of the most popular motorcycle styles and the various options available, giving you a head start on searching for your own perfect ride. Looking for more information about different Motorcycles? Read Our Guide on the Most Reliable Motorcycle Brands and How to Get a Motorcycle License.
