Motorcycles have this place within American culture that sets them apart from other forms of transportation. The history of motorcycle development is what is quote interesting because it evolved from the simple bicycle into this motorized bike capable of going great speeds.

Below is an outline of motorcycle history to show how far this recreational vehicle has come:

• 1885 – The motorcycle was built in Germany by Wilhelm Mayback and Gottlieb Daimler. It was the first petroleum-powered vehicle.
• 1894- Hildebrand and Wolfmuller because the first motorcycle that could be purchased by the general public. From here, the motorcycle outgrew its bicycle origins.
• 1920 – Harley-Davidson became the largest producer of motorcycles.
• 1928 – DKW became the largest manufacturer.
• World War II – BSA became the largest producer until the 1950s
• 1955 – Racing motorcycles were being developed. The designs had started to look more like what we see today. NSU Motorenwerke AG became the largest manufacturer until the 1970s.
• From the 1960s to the 1990s, the two-stroke motorcycle became popular.
• 1980s – Motorcycles started seeing some of the elements of cars incorporated such as radios and even air conditioning.
• Today there are major manufacturers such as Honda, Harley-Davidson, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha.

Recent years have also shown other emerging manufacturers that have been incorporating new elements into motorcycles. Motorcycles can also come with GPS systems and many more options. They have more or less evolved from being a bicycle with a motor to a two-wheeled convertible car. Individuals take them on road trips or they simply use them for leisure. With the rise in gas prices, many individuals are using their motorcycles as their primary vehicles during warm weather. This proves just how impressive motorcycle history really is and that history is going to continue to expand as new innovations are made.

How does a motorcycle work? What exactly makes it tick? If you own a motorcycle or are interesting in owning one, these are important questions to have answers to. We all know that motorcycles can be quite powerful. We know that just by listening to them.

Here are some motorcycle basics that you can take a look at:

• We know that motorcycles usually consist of two wheels. There are some that have two back wheels. The truth is that anything with less than four wheels can be considered a motorcycle.
• The modern motorcycle’s layout was established in 1914. Not much as really changed. Just like the engine in a car, the motorcycle engine consumes gasoline and converts piston motion into rotary motion.
• The two hand levers on the handle bars enable the driver to operate the clutch and the brake. There are also two foot pedals that enable the driver to shift gears and to operate the rear brake.
• A motorcycle engine consists of one to six cylinders. The four-cylinder is the most popular choice nowadays.

That seems simple enough, right? However, there is a bit more to know about motorcycle transmission.

Motorcycle Transmission

Motorcycle transmission directs the power to the rear wheel through a series of movements that involve the clutch, the drive system, and the gearset. The clutch engages and disengages power from the engine’s crankshaft to the transmission. The clutch is important because the only way to stop the wheels from rotating would be to turn off the engine.

The gearset is important because it is the gears that are used to take a driver from a complete stop to cruising speed. Motorcycle transmissions usually consist of two to six of these gears and they are engaged by shifting a lever, which causes shifting forks to move inside the transmission.

There are different types of motorcycles, which is a good thing since everyone has different preferences. The different types include street bikes, sport bikes, cruiser bikes, and off-road bikes. Each functions in a different way depending on the driving conditions they are to be used in and each looks different in some way.

Street Bikes

Street bikes are those that are street legal. That means that they are not off-road bikes. These bikes have suspensions that are specially made for street environments and not for any other conditions. If these bikes are taken onto terrain other than what they are designed for, their suspension systems could be damaged. Furthermore, they generally come as cruiser bikes and touring motorcycles. They may have storage compartments for traveling and special tires that are designed to grip on to the streets. Basically, they come with a lot of extra accessories.

Sport Bikes

Sport bikes are for those who are not into the laid back cruiser types. Sport bikes are designed to go fast and maneuver well in curvy road conditions. They can usually be driven to their limits without breaking down.

Off-road bikes

Off-road bikes are those bikes that are illegal to ride on public roadways. These are only allowed to be used in off-road activities such as dirt bike races or when having a little fun on dirt trails. They have specially designed suspension systems that are fit to handle these types of road conditions without breaking down. These bikes are loud, usually don’t meet emission standards, and requires that the gas be mixed with oil before use. They are not recommended for riders that are inexperienced because of occasional horsepower surges that occur.

So now you know the different motorcycle types that are out there and what they are used for. This can help you determine what type of bike is right for you if you are considering purchasing one.