Motorcycle Manufacturers Service Manual Directory
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There are Many Types of Motorcycles
There are many motorcycle classifications that determine what type of motorcycle you have, what the intended use of your type of motorcycle was designed for, and what type of terrain they are capable of traveling on.
This is an ever growing list as custom motorcycles continue to evolve.
- Adventure Touring / Dual Sports / Dual Purpose
- Adventure touring and dual sports bikes are designed to be ready for anything, paved, gravel, or trail riding
- Bobber
- A bobber, originally called a 'bob-job', is a stripped down motorcycle "unnecessary parts removed", and shortened "bobbed" rear fender
- Chopper
- As in the film "Easy Rider," choppers typically have extremely raked forks and comfy laid back seats
- Cruiser
- Designed for comfort riding, cruisers offer relaxed riding and exemplify a typically American motorcycle
- Power Cruiser
- Power cruisers often offer high performance, thick rear tires, large exhaust pipes, and low ground clearance
- Dirt Bike
- Designed for off-road riding, dirt bikes typically feature knobby tires, long suspension travel, and minimal frames
- Enduro
- Designed for long distance off-road competitions, Enduro bikes generally include lights, and race timers
- Motocross
- Motocross bikes are designed to compete in motocross events featuring tight turns and jumps
- Supercross
- Supercross riders compete in indoor arenas doing stunts and acrobatic jumps requiring light bikes with deep suspensions
- Supermoto
- Designed for on and off-road surfaces with deep suspension travel and road tires, Supermotos require a unique sliding riding style
- Naked Bike
- Naked bikes poses limited bodywork with exposed engines and inner workings, essentially stripped down sport bikes
- Trials Bike
- Light weight design for trials events where riders maneuvere over natural or man-made obstacles without feet touching the ground
- Touring Bike
- Touring bikes offer long-distance riding comfort with adjustable suspension, heated grips, intercom, backrests, windscreens, radios etc.
- Sport Bike
- Sport bikes offer aerodynamic riding position and enhanced power for high-performance track and street riding
- Sport Touring
- Designed as a more aggressive touring bike with a more sport bike riding position and touring bike comforts
- Standard Bike
- The rider sits more upright and motorcycle is suited for all purpose riding and may have luggage, tank bag, or comfort seat
With the evolution of motorcycles, their characteristics continue to specialize and evolve for different riding purposes.
Motorcycle Synonyms
There are also informal classifications or synonyms used by manufacturers, riders, and the motorcycling media.
Additional synonyms for motorcycles include: bike, chopper, cycle, dirt bike, enduro, hard tail, hog, minibike, moped, motorbike, scooter, sickle, soft tail, trials bike, etc.
The world of choppers also includes many words and terms that are not commonly used, or beg further explanation with chopper profiles. Many aftermarket chopper companies got their start supplying replacement parts for Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which they often resemble.
Competitive motorcycle sport sanctioning bodies often have enforced classification systems, and certain legal jurisdictions often establish legal definitions for motorcycle registration, emissions, road traffic safety rules, and motorcyclist licensing.