Motorcycle Types - Descriptions and Pictures of Major Motorcycle Types - Page 3 By Walter F. Kern Touring Motorcycles
Touring Motorcycles are the ultimate long distance motorcycles. They come with the biggest engines, great acceleration and cruising speed, lots of storage including top trunks and saddlebags, amenities like cruise control, stereo radios, CB communications, reverse gears, onboard air compressors, large fairings and windshields, heated seats and grips, and high reliability. Shown here is a Honda Gold Wing 1500. Honda has most of the market in touring motorcycles. They stopped making the 1500 in 2000 replacing it with the Gold Wing 1800. For 2006, the Gold Wing became available with an onboard navigation system, ABS brakes, and even an integral airbag. Although it's possible to tour on any type of motorcycle -- and many do -- these touring motorcycles make riding two-up on a 3000 mile trip as comfortable as riding down to the local ice cream store. Examples of the touring bike are the Honda Gold Wing 1800, BMW K1200LT, Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide, and Yamaha FJR1300AE. Some bikes with somewhat less amenities plus superior handling characteristics are a cross between a sportbike and a touring bike. They're called Sport-Tourers. Examples are the Honda ST1300, BMW R1100S, and the Ducati ST4s. Motorcycle Trikes
Most people would not define trikes as a motorcycle type. However, the growth of trikes is certainly noticeable as more and more riders find themselves unable to ride a two-wheeler anymore or just like the concept of triking over biking. My wife was riding a Honda PC800 but a medical problem prevented her from holding up the bike anymore so I converted my Gold Wing 1500 to a trike for her. I then bought another Gold Wing for myself but liked the trike so much, I decided to convert my new Wing to a trike also. When I attend the Americade rally, I often hang around the Motor Trike area and listen to reasons why people want trikes. Yes, age and infirmities do seem to be a large part of it. However, there are also people who just want to ride and don't want to start with a 2-wheeler. And there are those whose spouses have complained about being dumped off the back of a bike too many times. They like the concept of a stable trike. The trike is symmetrical, unlike a sidecar rig. Most are built on Gold Wing platforms so they have a low center of gravity, shaftdrive, reverse gear, and all the creature comforts of the Wing. The picture shown here is a 2003 Honda Gold Wing 1800 w/Lehman Trike Conversion. These days, other brands are also being converted, notably Harley-Davidson. With half a dozen major trike conversion companies, the market is booming. Trikes attract a lot of attention. Don't buy one if you like to be left alone. Motorcycle Classics
I get to go to a lot of bike gatherings. One of the great side benefits is when I happen upon a classic bike. Now a classic bike can be an old motorcycle or it can just as well be a new bike with a classic or retro style. The picture, shown here, is of a 1946 Indian Chief Roadmaster, that spends its time scooting around Hawaii. Despite the fact that motorcycles have been around more than 100 years, you just can't go out and find a classic without a lot of work. You need to find a bike that still has parts support. It should also have a devoted legion of followers who have banded together in antique, vintage or classic clubs. Such clubs could be local or just found on the Internet. Use the Old Bikes and History category of the Motorcycles site to find additional information to aid you in your search. Many classics are old Indians. You may even see an old Vincent if you're lucky. Many people look for a bike they once owned in their youth. If you end up having to restore an old machine into a classic, you might want to read about one man's search in the book, Rebuilding the Indian: A Memoir. => Go to Page 4: Motor Scooters and Choppers/Customs
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© 2018 Walter F. Kern. All rights reserved.
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