The motorcycle is at the heart of a lot of different riding styles. Its very name implies motorisation and its earliest versions used small internal combustion engines to replace the pedals of the bicycle, giving the rider somewhere to sit.
Motorcycles have high engine power output for their weight, and can accelerate very quickly compared to cars. They aren’t particularly aerodynamic, however, and the combination of exposed wheels, messy engine airflow and rider sitting out in the breeze creates a large amount of drag compared to the streamlined designs of modern cars. This doesn’t matter so much at low speeds, but as you increase in speed it becomes increasingly important to minimise drag and maximise the amount of power available for forward motion.
In the post-WWII era, motorcycles became much more commonplace as people began to consider alternatives to driving a car for getting around town or for longer distance trips. They’re cheaper at the outset, take up a fraction of the space a car needs and require far less maintenance.
They’re also a whole lot more fun than driving your average car. Riding a bike feels more dynamic and involving because you’re not just operating the machine, you’re actually an integral part of it. It’s easy to get thrown off balance if you turn too fast, for example, but it takes practice and discipline to learn how to make the most of the vehicle’s capabilities. In the end, it’s about the joy and freedom of riding a bike that draws many new riders to the sport.