Types of Motorcycles

Table of content

Scooters
All-rounder
Chopper
Enduro
Cruiser
Sport bikes
Dirt bikes
Naked bikes

When you decide to buy a bike, it's important to think about where and how you'll be using it. Here we give you an overview of the most important and popular motorbike types and categories to help you make your choice.

Scooters

These are extremely manoeuvrable and offer advantages in the search for parking spaces and on congested roads. The comparatively low purchase and maintenance costs, the low fuel consumption, and their reasonable mileage make them popular city vehicles. The well-known Vespas also fall into this category.

All-rounder

All-rounders are called this because they are versatile road bikes for everyday riding. Comfort, ease of use for beginners and amateurs, as well as modern safety aspects such as an anti-lock braking system (ABS) characterise these motorbikes. They feature the combination of a touring bike and a super sports bike as well as the everyday suitability of a tourer and the riding pleasure of a sports bike. The term All-rounder is fluid, often used for motorbikes that cannot be clearly defined.

Chopper

The chopper is a classic among motorbikes. In the 1950s, bikers began to rid their heavy Harleys of unneeded bulk such as mudguards or crash bars in order to achieve a better weight/performance ratio. With choppers, extreme attention is paid to appearance. As a result, shortcomings in handling, braking or general safety are considered to be acceptable. You can easily spot them with their extreme modifications such as wide tyres and high motorcycle handlebars.

Enduro

Enduros are aimed at all those who like to go off-road. “Soft” enduros are versatile machines for road use and gravel tracks, while hard enduros are usually copies of pure motocross machines.

Typical of all enduros have the usually quite high seat height, agile ride, and precise handling characteristics. The prestigious big touring enduros offer plenty of space for luggage and are therefore also ideal for long rides in rough terrain.

Cruiser

The term cruiser refers to American production bikes from Harley-Davidson, Indian and Henderson built in the 1930s. Long wheelbase, wide motorbike tyres, large-volume engine, large mudguards, wide handlebars, upright seating position are the style-defining features. In addition, add-on parts from the touring scene are often mounted on them, such as windshield, saddlebags, additional headlights, and crash bars. You can identify them by their long wheelbase, wide tyres and handlebars, as well as a large capacity engine. If you want a bike with more “oomph” then you should consider a power cruiser. These are similar to the regular cruiser but are distinguished by their extra power, enhanced braking system, and tougher appearance.

Sport bikes

As the name suggests, they are sportier than other bikes. They may look like they have a seat for passengers, but that is only for appearance. These have been designed to be ridden at high speeds and are engineered to provide excellent braking and cornering. However, they are not considered ideal if you plan on taking longer journeys.

Dirt bikes

Dirt bikes are basically used for motocross and, unlike quads, are not suitable for riding on public roads. They are used on private terrain and are considered sports equipment.

Motocross bikes usually have tuned-up suspension, progressive spring characteristics and rough tyres, therefore meeting the requirements for riding in open terrain.

Naked bikes

Since the 1990s, motorbikes without partial or full fairings have been referred to as "naked". These are bikes that use no or only very few fairing elements. The advantages and disadvantages of naked bikes are obvious. Because the engine and chassis are not covered, you can see more of your bike's technology. For many motorcyclists, this is the true look of a bike.

Given the wide range of different motorbike types, it's important to find the right motorcycle spare parts for your specific model.

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