Motorcycle

For other uses, see Motorcycle (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Motocycle. For the song by Poppy, see Zig (album).

A classic Norton motorcycle
1955 NSU Lambretta 150 scooter

A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or, if three-wheeled, a trike) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar from a saddle-style seat.[1][2][3]

Motorcycle designs vary greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport (including racing), and off-road riding. Motorcycling is riding a motorcycle and being involved in other related social activities such as joining a motorcycle club and attending motorcycle rallies.

The 1885 Daimler Reitwagen made by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Germany was the first internal combustion, petroleum-fueled motorcycle. In 1894, Hildebrand & Wolfmüller became the first series production motorcycle.[4][5]

Globally, motorcycles are comparable numerically to cars as a method of transport: in 2021, approximately 58.6 million new motorcycles were sold around the world,[6] while 66.7 million cars were sold over the same period.[7]

In 2022, the top four motorcycle producers by volume and type were Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki.[8]

According to the US Department of Transportation, the number of fatalities per vehicle mile traveled was 37 times higher for motorcycles than for cars.[9]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference definitions was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Motorcycle". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Code of Federal Regulations, 49 CFR 571.3 — Definitions". govinfo. 1 October 2010. p. 239. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020. Motorcycle means a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.
  4. ^ "Motorcycle Timeline – Evolution of Motorcycles". bicyclehistory.net. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Hildebrand & Wolfmuller Motorcycle, circa 1894 – The Henry Ford". thehenryford.org. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Global Motorcycles Market – Data & Fact 2022". Motorcycles Data. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Global car sales 2010–2021". Statista. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  8. ^ "List of Motorcycle specifications database in the world". motorcyclespecs.us. January 2023. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Traffic safety facts, 2008. Report no. DOT HS-811-159" (PDF). NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis. 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.