Types of Motorcycles

Beginner: Look for safety tech (ABS, traction control) and a modest engine size. Between 300 and 400cc is ideal. Most manufacturers sell an entry-level motorcycle that looks like a race bike, but it will only have a 400cc single-cylinder engine. These are fast enough to handle highways, yet easier to maintain and less expensive than more complex setups. The major Japanese manufacturers (Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha) do this type of motorcycle especially well.

Standard/Retro: This is a catch-all category for motorcycles that have a mostly upright riding position and minimal add-ons. Most don’t come with windshields or fairings, those aerodynamic pieces of plastic that cover the front portion. The engine is usually a two- or three-cylinder design, between 600 and 900cc. These are excellent all-around bikes for beginner and intermediate riders who need a compact frame to navigate cities but also want comfort on highways. Non-retro Standard or “Naked” motorcycles usually have the performance of race-looking superbikes, but with a more comfortable seat position and less conspicuous appearance. Triumph’s Street Triple, Yamaha’s MT-09, and Ducati’s Monster are all excellent examples of do-anything motorcycles.

Adventure (ADV): Tall, with big engines and fuel tanks, these are built for long, far rides, mostly on-road—and through gravel, mud, and sand, so long as they have the right tires. Most have engines around 700cc, though others go up to 1,200cc. Done right, these are the bikes that should make you want to quit your job and ride around the world. (For asphalt-only riding, Sport Touring motorcycles are closer to the ground, more aerodynamic, and lighter than a typical ADV).

Cruiser: You’ll remember seeing these: High handlebars, loud exhaust, slouched riding position, and big engines. The cruiser (or “bagger,” for the saddlebag storage available on most models) is specific to the United States’ abundance of long, straight, flat roads. Harley-Davidson is to cruisers what Heinz is to ketchup. But competition from Indian and Japanese manufacturers like Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha are legitimate alternatives.

Superbike: If you’ve been passed by an idiot going 150mph on a whining motorcycle, he was probably on a superbike. These have race bike aerodynamics and big engines but also safety tech that can save you from unintentional wheelies and burnouts. If you can live with not having the most powerful, expensive model in a manufacturer’s lineup, mid-tier super bikes (around or less than 1,000cc) are both thrilling and daily drivers.

Supermoto: We thank the few manufacturers that still produce this style of bike. The design principle is simple: Fit a dirt bike with small, smooth road tires, and tweak the power slightly to make it work on roads instead of trails. The result is a tall, narrow, light motorcycle that is the most fun way to navigate anywhere urban. The wind and vibrations at sustained highway speeds can be unpleasant, but tolerable and worth it so long as the majority of your riding happens at lower speeds and in a dense city or town.

Electric: Instant torque. No heat. No vibration or changing gears (assuming you consider those benefits). Maintenance requirements: Keep air in the tires, maybe check the brake fluid. Same as electric cars, they’ve been quietly increasing their range to roughly 100 to 120 miles, while hotels and parking structures have been adding fast-charging stations. However, same as cars, electric motorcycles are still more expensive than gasoline alternatives, and riding one requires you to be deliberate about how and where you ride. However, if you have a predictable commute, access to fast chargers, and at least $20,000 to spend, electric bikes make a ton of sense.