Motorcycle Types - Descriptions and Pictures of Major Motorcycle Types - Page 4 By Walter F. Kern Motor Scooters
As was the case for trikes, motor scooters are not really a motorcycle type either. They are, however, taking a more prominent place within motorcycling. That's because they get better gas mileage, are simpler to operate, take up less space, are easier to maneuver, and are easier to mount and dismount. Anyone with problems with leg movement who can't flip a leg over a bike anymore, can easily step into a motor scooter and ride off using an automatic transmission. Motor scooters are step-through or feet-forward vehicles with smaller wheels than motorcycles. They tend to have automatic transmissions. They range in engine size from 50cc to 600cc with the 400-600cc machines most capable of sustained highway speeds and capabilities to keep up with regular motorcycles. Many riders had a motor scooter for their first 2-wheeled vehicle. When I was growing up, the rage was the Cushman motor scooter. These days, the metropolitan areas seem to be a magnet for machines such as the Vespa. For those already experienced in riding motorcycles, some new motor scooter riders are buying Suzuki Burgman 400 and 650 machines or Honda Silver Wing 600 scooters. Honda also has a line of scooters ranging from the 50cc Ruckus up to the Silver Wing. Shown here is a Suzuki Burgman AN650 motor scooter. Motorcycle Choppers and Customs
Choppers are motorcycles that have had certain components "chopped off." That was the original definition when returning soldiers looked at the bikes on the market and decided that they needed to be lighter, more streamlined, have more performance, and be as utilitarian as possible They also wanted their bikes to reflect their personalities and often make a statement of their philosophy of life. So they began to take components off and modify the rest. They wanted to have a chopper. Choppers tended to be creations executed by their owners. In recent years, motorcycle companies have been formed to create mass produced choppers. Such companies as large company, Big Dog, to small company, Wicked Women Choppers, have been formed to satisfy the growing market. Custom motorcycles may look similar to choppers or they may be complete customizations of an existing bike, or ground-up builds of new designs using off-the-shelf and custom made parts. It's sometimes possible to get a custom from a regular manufacturer but most come from shops being paid to take an owner's ideas and create a unique bike to fit him or her only. National TV shows such as The Discovery Channel's Biker Build-Off series and the American Chopper series have brought a whole new audience to the love of choppers and customs. Even I have joked about the popularity of these shows. => Back to Page 3: Touring Bikes, Trikes, and Classics
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© 2018 Walter F. Kern. All rights reserved.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
