The Basics of Motorcycles
Each day people move from one place to another may it be going to work school or to the grocery store. They want to do this as easily as possible and without strain. This desire has given rise to inventions like motorcycles which can make this happen in a short amount of time.
At the very beginning of motorcycling, a bike was basically an internal combustion engine that replaced the human powered pedals. This new form of transportation opened up a whole vista of travel, with speeds and acceleration that approached the fighter planes that had been battling in the world wars. The ability to add a sidecar allowed spouses and kids to join the fun, opening up new possibilities for family vacations and country jaunts.
Once the industry developed and fine-tuned manufacturing and engineering processes that were learned in the war, it was possible to develop a variety of different types of motorcycles. Whether they are for sport, racing, street or touring, most motorcycles share the same basic features:
The body of the motorcycle, called the frame, is usually made from steel. It connects to two wheels which are usually made of rubber and are shaped similar to car tires but much smaller. Handlebars and a seat sit on top of the frame, and there are brakes for slowing and stopping. Many motorcycles also have a headlight, taillight, horn and turn signals for safety.
Most middleweight and large-bore motorcycles are able to accelerate to 60mph in under three seconds, thanks to their high-torque, high-revving engines. But they aren’t very aerodynamic, with the rider sat on the bike and exposed wheels and engine creating messy airflow that increases drag significantly compared to smooth, slick car designs. This means that in order to double speed, you need four times as much power.