Engineering Magazines

For motorcycling enthusiasts, a motorcycle is more than just a motorized adaptation of a bike. To them it signifies power, freedom and style that must be flaunted. However, for most people a motorbike is a two-wheeler similar to bicycles but fitted with heavy and sturdy components that makes it powerful enough for fast travel.

There are different types of motorcycles that serve different purposes. While the basic purpose of a motorcycle is to act as a means of quick travel, it is also used by the army and law enforcing bodies, or for sports and racing purposes and touring. Another offbeat purpose that it serves is as a showpiece to flaunt. Concept motorcycles, though of not great appeal to the common man, are of great interest to those who view bikes as pieces of art similar to cars.

Different types of motorcycles:

Road motorcycle- the basic type of motorcycles is the road motorcycle catering to the needs of transportation and designed for moving on public roads. They come complete with all accessories essential for riding on the public roads. They have engine capacities of 125 cc, which can reach speeds up to 160-km/h.

Sports bike- these types of motorcycles are lighter and smaller and are intended for racing purposes. They possess four cylinder engines of 600 to 700 cc though super bikes may even have capacities of 1000 cc.

Cruiser- these bikes are meant for long distance riding with comfort and bring to mind the American bikes of the 1930s that were a rage till the 1960s. Harley Davidson and Henderson are examples of this type of motorcycles.

Touring motorcycles- these include Standard Tourers, Full-dress Tourers, Sports Tourers etc, and are designed to offer protection from harsh weather conditions including strong winds. These types of motorcycles have high torque engines, upright but comfortable seats and high capacity fuel tanks for long distance travel.

Naked bike- these are also called street bikes because the focus is on performance and ergonomics rather than style, which is why it is stripped to its bare essential parts. The Yamaha Seca II is a good example of this type of motorcycle.

Scooter- these are motorcycles meant for traveling short distances and have small wheels, about 14 inches in diameter and engines in the swing arm. These are 125 cc motorcycles though some larger ones may be over 250cc. A popular example of this type of motorcycle is the Honda Lead 80.

Moped- this is actually a hybrid type of motorcycle. These bikes with two-stroke engines that may be up to 50cc were immensely popular before the 1980s. however, they are used in some places even to this day.

There are several other types of motorcycles like, Off-road bikes that are best suited for rugged terrains and Farm bikes that were earlier used extensively by dairy farmers of New Zealand. For towing cars,light trucks and other such vehicles there is another type of motorcycle called towing bikes.

There are plenty of reasons to opt for a used motorcycle when you are looking to buy. The newer models might not have that classic look that you want, or you might prefer to have something a little cheaper than a brand new bike. That being said, there are some years for motorcycles that just weren’t the factory’s best and you’ll want to avoid them.

Choosing the right vintage or used motorcycle could help you not only get a cheaper bike, but you could even double your money in a few years, as vintage motorcycles become less common. It’s certainly something to think about as you shop around.

Motorcycles depreciate rapidly in value once they are put into use, which means that buying new just isn’t worth it most of the time. As soon as that front tire hits the street, the bike drops 30% or so in value. That means used bikes are a far better investment, particularly if you can find one that is practically new.

Vintage Bikes: It Depends On the Brand

When it comes to vintage motorcycles, not all brands are truly classic. The ones that have the cleanest lines and are the truly sought after bikes are the ones you want. For example, a Kawasaki isn’t going to be nearly as exciting as a vintage bike, not when you look at the early Harley Davidsons, at least!

For vintage Harleys, looking way back, the 1953 model is a popular one these days among fans of the classic look. In fact, this look was so popular that Harley made a newer Sportster that uses the same lines as the original.

Another great year for vintage was 1928, with the BMW Indian Scout. This bike features one of the early V-twin engines and is still a great looking bike if you can find one in good condition. Since this motorcycle is so old, chances are you won’t find one, but if you should, you’ll know it’s worth every penny.

Coming in as just barely a vintage motorcycle is the Suzuki 500 Titan. This bike doesn’t really have the looks that we aim for in a classic bike, but there’s no denying its popularity. The motorcycle uses a two-stroke engine that is quite large for the time period and features clean, smooth lines.

Modern Used Motorcycles

Again, it depends on the brand name when you are looking at which year was best for used motorcycles. Many people will give you different answers if you ask, so it’s also a matter of personal taste. However, some years were simply better than others all around, so we’ll be focusing on these here.

Most people find that more recent years are the best option since they aren’t too used. A fairly recent model will be less likely to have serious problems than much older models. In addition, you will be able to find parts for more recent models easier, as well. In general, the previous 5-10 years would be a good time period to look at.

2001 – Yamaha

The Yamaha YZ426F was the Bike of the Year in 2001. This off-road version of the Yamaha motorcycle is a good choice if you are looking for a used bike for more adventurous riding. It features titanium valves and a four stroke engine for some heavy duty power. The bike is light and well-built to withstand the rigors of off-road riding.

2005 – Harley Davidson

2005 was a good year for Harleys. The Road King, in particular, is the best model from this year and has been a favorite of many bikers to date. It was considered to be the smoothest running of all the bikes built in the new millennium and has a reputation for being very reliable, as well as looking great. The Road King is often recommended for use on longer road trips.

2008 – Honda

Despite technically being a 2009 model, Honda’s “Big Red” model was released in 2008, which is why it’s featured under this year. Big, bold and beautiful, this motorcycle was originally designed for comfortable long distance travel. Since it’s such a new model, chances are you won’t find many used, but if you do, they should still be in excellent condition.

There are plenty of different models in different years that will be excellent investments, as well, but these are some of the absolute best.

What to Look for in a Used Motorcycle

No matter what the make or year, it’s important that you take a careful look at any motorcycle that you are interested in buying used. Even the seller might not realize what the problems with the bike are, so you’ll need to check everything. The best used motorcycles will only have a few minor issues, such as scratched paint or loose bolts. These can be easily be fixed. It’s the bigger problems that you really need to watch for.

Here is a quick list of what to check:

Battery: Does it hold a charge? Check by starting and turning off the bike a couple of times.

Lights: Check all lights, front and back. Bulbs can be replaced, but smashed or flickering lights will need a little more work, which can be expensive.

Engine: Does it start up easily? The bike should be able to run without having to constantly use the throttle.

Gauges: Make sure the gauges all work, since these are important for the information they give about your speed and the amount of gas left.

Feel: When you take the bike out for a test run, does it make odd noises or vibrate more than it should?

Buying a used motorcycle is about more than just saving money, you’ll be getting a bike that has a special feel to it, particularly if you opt for a vintage or classic model. This is something that more and more people are moving toward since it is far more cost effective and a better investment to go with a second hand bike, as opposed to brand new.

A decade ago motorcycles had speed, looks, and style. They have certainly improved with each passing year. Year after year motorcycle manufacturers get more innovative, produce faster, lighter and more comfortable motorcycles, and learn what works and what doesn’t. What are the favorites from 2007?

- Yamaha V Star 1300 Tourer.

These motorcycles have a V2 engine with an electric starter and a liquid cooling system. The seat was 28.1 inches and the dry weight was 668 pounds. It was made with a double cradle frame and a telescopic fork front suspension with a swingarm rear suspension. These motorcycles had single disc rear brakes and double disc front brakes. They have a fuel capacity of 4.88 gallons.

- BMW R1200GS

These motorcycles have a two cylinder boxer engine. They also have an electronic fuel injection with an electric starter. These motorcycles had oil and air cooled engines and a 6-speed gearbox. At 438 pounds, they were meant for speed. These off road motorcycles came in desert yellow metallic, rock red metallic, ocean blue metallic, or granite gray metallic. Though the fuel capacity is a whopping 5.28 gallons, the consumption is 1.45 gallons for every 6.2 miles.

- Yamaha WR 450 F

These are also off road motorcycles. They have a single cylinder engine, with a liquid cooling system. At just 246 pounds, it is nearly two-thirds the weight of the BMW R1200GS motorcycles. The front suspension is a telescopic fork, the rear a swingarm. The fuel capacity on these motorcycles is a mere 2.10 gallons. These motorcycles had single disc brake systems for both front and rear.

- Yamaha FZ1 Fazer

These naked motorcycles had in line four engines with an electric starter. They also had a liquid cooling system, a final drive chain transmission, and digital ignition. Like the BMW R1200GS, these Yamaha motorcycles weighed 438 pounds. The frame was aluminum die cast and the front suspension was telescopic upside down forks. The rear a swingarm suspension. These motorcycles had double disc front brakes and single disc rear brakes. Fuel capacity on these motorcycles is 4.76 gallons.

- Harley Davidson VRSCX

These custom or cruiser motorcycles have a V2 engine. They have an electronic sequential port fuel injection system and liquid cooling system. The seat is a mere 27.1 inches high and the weight 637 pounds. These motorcycles are 5-speed with a final drive belt transmission. The front and rear brakes are both single disc four piston. These motorcycles came in two tone mirage orange pearl or brilliant silver pearl. It has a 5 gallon fuel capacity.

- Victory Vegas Jackpot

Like the Harley Davidson VRSCX, these motorcycles are also custom or cruiser motorcycles. With a V2 engine, an air cooling system, and final drive belt transmission, it has many of the same features as the Harley Davidson VRSCX motorcycles. It has an electronic fuel injection system and a 6-speed gearbox. These motorcycles had an even shorter seat at 25.7 inches high. Though the seat was lower, they were a bit heavier weighing 659 pounds. The fuel capacity was 4.5 gallons and colors included black, orange crush, or sunset red.

History of Motorcycles

The history of the motorcycle goes back over 100 years, when an American gentleman made a steam powered motor that would be small enough to fit onto his bicycle. Howard Roper from Roxbury, Massachusetts, got tired of pedaling his bicycle over long distances. Taking months and months to draw diagrams and thinking just how he could make a steam engine that would be small enough to relieve the pressure from his legs and feet as he traveled from place to place on dirt roads and paths. Finally in 1867, Roper succeeded; it was powered by burning coal to create the steam. This bike has been displayed in many fairs and circuses over the years.

In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach (later to be the founders of the Mercedes, the forerunner of the Mercedes Benz), produced the first petroleum powered motor bicycle. However, not until 1894 was a motorized two wheeled vehicle (Hildebrand & Wolfmuller) made available for the transportation market.

As engines became too powerful for just a bicycle, and the designs changed very quickly, the leading manufacturer of motorcycles, (the Indian brand), had already produced well over 20,000 motorcycles a year until World War I.

By the 1920’s, Harley Davidson took this lead away from the Indian Company as the Harley Davidson Company had acquired many dealers in as many as 67 countries throughout the world. By the end of World War II, BSA bikes took the title away from Harley Davidson, and until the 1950’s had produced 75,000 bikes a year.

Through the 1990’s, there had been extensive work done on two stroke bike engines due to Walter Kaaden’s work in the 50’s in East Germany.

Although Harley Davidson is still the leading bike manufacturer for the motorcycle market, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki are also doing very well with their developments of a durable and elegant looking street bike.

Motorcycles have even gone into dirt bike track racing and cross-country racing. Several world records have been made on dirt bikes and some bike names have ended up in the Guinness Book of World Records. Motorcycles have a place in some of the Olympic Games as the advancements and the changes have been changed to the extent of taking parts off the original bike to make it lighter.

Motorcycles have jumped many cars, trucks, and even the Grand Canyon. Today riders are doing back flips, hand stands, and various other daredevil stunts.

Looking through EBay, you will be able to find many different antique motorcycles from the old Indian Frames to the Harley Davidson 1983 Wide Glide, a TR6 Triumph Trophy, and Suzuki DRZ 2003 and DRZ 250. Some of these bikes have been Chromed Out and restored to a very beautiful luster.

There is no better feeling than to be riding down the road and being able to feel the wind in your face and the freedom you feel when you are riding a motorcycle. Motorcycles are today becoming more and more popular due to the fuel crises all around the world. With the smaller size engine and the less fuel consumption, motorcycles may be the next thing we see for commuters.

Harley Davidson. The name means motorcycles. In business for over a hundred years, the company is universally acknowledged as the manufacturer of some of the world’s finest motorcycles, and justly so.

Beginning in the mind of William Harley and the backyard of his friend, Arthur Davidson, the pair created a ‘motorized bicycle’ that has evolved into the standard for fine two-wheeled transportation.

Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, their first bike didn’t even have enough power to make it up the small hills of the town without pedal assistance. The pair were undaunted. Within a few years they were producing vehicles for the military fighting WWI and it’s been the standard for military and police bikes ever since.

From 50 motorcycles produced at the original factory in 1906, the company has grown to produce millions that are sold around the world.

‘Harley’, ‘Choppers’, ‘Hogs’ and other nicknames became attached over the years. Choppers are bikes that have a front fork angle extended, moving the handlebars back. ‘Hogs’ came into being when live pigs were ridden around on the back seat after winning a race. But whatever you call them, Harley Davidson motorcycles – with the exception of a short-lived hiccup in the 1970s – have always been the gold standard of bikes.

Their large, powerful engines and distinctive pipe sounds make them recognizable before they even round the corner. Seeing one cements the impression that the viewer is watching greatness drive by.

They figure prominently in the major rallies, the Daytona in Florida in March, the Laconia in New Hampshire in June and the Sturgis in South Dakota in August. Thousands of Harley owners attend and there are inevitably a few dropped jaws at the sight of some of the customized versions.

The Harley Owners Group, H.O.G., founded in 1983, now has over 1,000 chapters with over a million members worldwide. Many don’t even own a bike. But the passion for this exemplar of motorcycle engineering is the same, even so. You don’t have to own a Rolls Royce to appreciate one as an example of excellence in motoring design.

Beyond the bikes themselves, there are co-branded jackets, helmets and hundreds more items carrying the Harley Davidson winged emblem recognized the world over. Though they contribute a modest percentage to the over $5 billion in annual revenue, the advertising is priceless. As if anyone needed to be told that Harley Davidson makes motorcycles!

There are thousands of Harley Davidson forums online – three times as many as there are for Yamaha. One of the few serious competitors for the crown of motorcycle design. BMW, Victory, Honda… many strive – some come close – but Harley Davidson remains the champion. A title they are unlikely to relinquish anytime soon.

After all, there’s only room for one at the summit of the tallest peak.

The history of the motorcycle goes back over 100 years, when an American gentleman made a steam powered motor that would be small enough to fit onto his bicycle. Howard Roper from Roxbury, Massachusetts, got tired of pedaling his bicycle over long distances. Taking months and months to draw diagrams and thinking just how he could make a steam engine that would be small enough to relieve the pressure from his legs and feet as he traveled from place to place on dirt roads and paths. Finally in 1867, Roper succeeded; it was powered by burning coal to create the steam. This bike has been displayed in many fairs and circuses over the years.

In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach (later to be the founders of the Mercedes, the forerunner of the Mercedes Benz), produced the first petroleum powered motor bicycle. However, not until 1894 was a motorized two wheeled vehicle (Hildebrand & Wolfmuller) made available for the transportation market.

As engines became too powerful for just a bicycle, and the designs changed very quickly, the leading manufacturer of motorcycles, (the Indian brand), had already produced well over 20,000 motorcycles a year until World War I.

By the 1920’s, Harley Davidson took this lead away from the Indian Company as the Harley Davidson Company had acquired many dealers in as many as 67 countries throughout the world. By the end of World War II, BSA bikes took the title away from Harley Davidson, and until the 1950’s had produced 75,000 bikes a year.

Through the 1990’s, there had been extensive work done on two stroke bike engines due to Walter Kaaden’s work in the 50’s in East Germany.

Although Harley Davidson is still the leading bike manufacturer for the motorcycle market, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki are also doing very well with their developments of a durable and elegant looking street bike.

Motorcycles have even gone into dirt bike track racing and cross-country racing. Several world records have been made on dirt bikes and some bike names have ended up in the Guinness Book of World Records. Motorcycles have a place in some of the Olympic Games as the advancements and the changes have been changed to the extent of taking parts off the original bike to make it lighter.

Motorcycles have jumped many cars, trucks, and even the Grand Canyon. Today riders are doing back flips, hand stands, and various other daredevil stunts.

Looking through EBay, you will be able to find many different antique motorcycles from the old Indian Frames to the Harley Davidson 1983 Wide Glide, a TR6 Triumph Trophy, and Suzuki DRZ 2003 and DRZ 250. Some of these bikes have been Chromed Out and restored to a very beautiful luster.

There is no better feeling than to be riding down the road and being able to feel the wind in your face and the freedom you feel when you are riding a motorcycle. Motorcycles are today becoming more and more popular due to the fuel crises all around the world. With the smaller size engine and the less fuel consumption, motorcycles may be the next thing we see for commuters.