Different Types Of Motorcycles & Their Uses In India & World

Do you want to know about the different types of motorcycles available in India and the world?

If your answer is yes then you are reading the right article. In this article, I will tell you how many types of bikes are there and what are their uses.

Not only this but I will also tell you which is the best type of motorcycle for a beginner. So if you are looking to buy a new motorcycle, you will be able to make an informed decision.

Table of Contents

Are There Different Types Of Motorcycles?

Yes, there are different types of motorcycles available in the world. These motorcycles are basically made to be used for different purposes.

Before we look into the various types of motorcycles, the first question that arises is: Are there different types of motorcycles? Or just the one that has two wheels and an engine?

Well, there are multiple kinds of motorcycles available in India and in the world. They all have two wheels and an engine but they are built to do different things.

How Many Types Of Bikes Are There?

There are more than 20 types of bikes available around the world. However, they can be mainly divided into 7 major types.

As discussed, there are various motorcycle types around the world. So the question that arises is: how many types of motor bikes are actually there?

Well, there is a bike type for basically every need.

If you want to race then there is a particular type of motorcycle, if you want to go on tours then there is another. And if you want to commute in the city then there is one more type.

So there are as many kinds of motorcycles available as many types of needs are there i.e. 20+. However, you can mainly divide these needs and motorcycles into 7 major types.

What Are The Different Types Of Motorcycles?

The 7 major types of motorcycles are:
1. Sports
2. Naked
3. Adventure
4. Commuter
5. Retro
6. Dirt
7. Cruiser

Let me now tell you about these and their usage in brief one by one.

Sports Motorcycles

Sports motorcycles are the most popular motorcycles in the world. As their name suggests, they were originally made for sports i.e. racing. Examples of this kind of motorcycle are Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R, Ducati Panigale V4, Yamaha sR1, Suzuki Hayabusa, Yamaha R15 V4, KTM RC 390, etc.

These are made with only one goal in mind, which is to go as fast as possible. And this is the reason these bikes are used in MotoGP.

They are also known as faired motorcycles because their entire front is covered with panels. This is basically done to improve the aerodynamics of the motorcycle for better air cutting. The better the aerodynamics of the bike the faster it can go.

However, there are some drawbacks to these types of motorcycles. They have a very committed riding position as a result you can not ride them for long hours. Also, they require higher maintenance as compared to other motorcycles. And in case of a crash, their repair cost is very high because of all the fairing.

Almost all the bike manufacturing companies in the world make this type of bike. In India, you will even find sports motorcycles under 1.5 lakh rupees.

Naked Motorcycles

The next type of bike is the naked bike. As its name suggests, they are the naked version of the sports motorcycles.

Naked bikes also offer great performance like sports bikes but without any fairing. Faired bikes were made to be used on race tracks. However, naked bikes are meant to be used in the city streets.

Therefore, they offer quite comfortable and upright seating positions. As a result, you can drive them easily in the city traffic. They are great handlers as well.

When it comes to their negatives, they do have some. Like the sports bikes, naked bikes maintenance is quite high as well. And since their focus is also on performance therefore they generally heat up when ridden in bumper-to-bumper city traffic.

Almost all the prominent bike manufacturers in the world make naked bikes. And examples of naked bikes are KTM 390 Duke, Yamaha MT 15, Suzuki Gixxer, Honda CB650R, etc. You can get good naked motorcycles under 3 lakhs in India.

You can also watch my video below in case you don’t like to read the article.

Adventure Bikes

Adventure motorcycles are made for adventurous people. They are not made to go fast but they are made to tackle the badest of the roads. These are for people that like to explore roads less traveled.

You can ride them on the road as well as off the road without any worry. Their suspension travel is quite long and they offer a very relaxed riding position.

These types of motorcycles can also be used to do long trips as well.

However, they come with their own set of drawbacks. They are very big in size and their weight is also on the higher side. Therefore riding them in the city is a painful task. Also, the seat height of adventure motorcycles is quite high. As a result, short riders can have a hard time riding them.

Adventure bikes used to come with higher displacement engines but now you can have these as 300cc bikes in India.

Examples of these types of motor bikes are BMW G310 GS, Royal Enfield Himalayan, KTM 390 Adventure, etc.

Commuter Bikes

These are the most basic kind of motorcycles. Commuter motorcycles are mainly made for the daily city commute.

Since they are made to be ridden in the city traffic, therefore, they are very small and lightweight. And it is very easy to maneuver them in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

These motorcycles have a low displacement engine. And their main focus is not on returning a great performance but on returning a great mileage. They also don’t demand costly maintenance.

When it comes to their drawback then I think looks is their only drawback. Examples of this type of motorcycle in India are Hero Splendor, Honda SP125, Bajaj Pulsar 125, TVS Raider 125, etc. You can have the best commuter motorcycles under 1.3 lakhs in India.

Retro Motorcycles

Retro bikes as the name suggests have the old-school charm. They are generally made of all metal parts and their weight is on the heavier side.

Retro bikes are not performance oriented and they have less power and more torque on offer. The seating position of these bikes is very relaxed. Therefore you can also do long tours on them.

However, since they have heavyweight, therefore, riding them in the city traffic is a cumbersome task.

Royal Enfield Classic 350 is the king of the retro segment in India. And now more bike manufacturers have started rolling out their retro bikes in the market. Retro bikes are one of the best 400cc motorcycles in India.

More examples of retro motorcycles are Honda H’ness CB350, Jawa 42, Benelli Imperiale 400, etc.

Dirt Motorcycles

Dirt motorcycles are meant to be ridden purely off-road. If you want to explore a desert or want to follow a trail in the mountains then a dirt bike is what you should choose.

They are very slim in looks and their suspension travel is quite long. Dirt bikes are also used in different motorcycle races like motocross, supercross, and other motorcycle sports.

If you don’t know how many types of motorcycle sports are there in the world then you can watch my video below.

Dirt bikes are not very popular in India and you will not see many dirt bikes on the road. The closest example of a dirt bike in India is Hero XPulse 200 4V.

Cruiser Bikes

Cruiser bikes as the name suggests are the types of motorcycles that are meant for long highway cruising.

If you love to go on long trips on a motorcycle then you need to have a cruiser motorcycle. These motorcycles are generally very big in size and offer the most comfortable riding position out of all the motorcycles. You will feel like you are seating on a sofa. As a result, you can cover long distances without feeling fatigued.

Cruiser bikes can further be divided into various other kinds of motorcycles. Out of which bagger motorcycles are the most luxurious ones. They are equipped with luxury features like a mini fridge, stereo speakers, baggage, etc. And because of these luxurious features, the price of these bikes is generally more than a car as well.

Due to their big size and heavy weight, these types of bikes are not at all meant to be ridden in the city. And also their prices are on the higher side therefore not everyone can afford them.

The cheapest cruiser bike in India is the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, then you have the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650. Not many options are available in India right now and if you need to buy a ultra-luxury cruiser bike then you will have to import one.

Which Is The Best Type Of Motorcycle?

Naked motorcycle is the best type of motorcycle because it offers a complete package. It offers good performance, you can ride it in the city, and you can take it on long tours as well.

So we have looked at almost all kinds of motorcycles that are available in India and around the world. If you are looking to buy a new motorcycle then you must be wondering: Which is the best type of motorcycle for a beginner, right?

Well, the best type of motorcycle is the one that allows you to do most of the things. Because I know not everyone can buy multiple bikes to fulfill different needs. And we always look for the most value for money, right?

Therefore the bike should:

Offer good performance
It should be easy to ride and handle in the city
You should also be able to enjoy it on the race tracks
It should also be able to do some off-roading
And it should have a low price as well

And the type of motorcycle that fulfills all these criteria is the naked motorcycle. Therefore I think, a naked bike is the best kind of bike.

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FAQs

What Type Of Motorcycle Should I Get?

You should get a naked motorcycle if you want an all around package.

What Is The Best Type Of Motorcycle For Beginners?

Naked motorcycles are the best type of motorbike for beginners.

Which Type Of Motorcycle Is Safest?

Cruiser bikes are the safest type of motorcycle.

Which Type Of Bike Is Best For Long Drives?

Cruiser bikes are the best for long drives.

Which Type Of Bike Is Good For Daily Use?

Commuter and naked bikes are the best for daily use.