bike - Motorcycle
Photograph by David 23on Flickr.
If carried past the point of recovery the resulting upset is known as an endo (short for end-over-end ), or looping the vehicle. Various features and accessories may be attached to a motorcycle either as OEM (factory-fitted) or after-market. These factors create a set of three basic postures. Important factors of a motorcycle s ergonomic geometry that determine the seating posture include the height, angle and location of footpegs, seat and handlebars.
One of the oldest such organisations, the British Motorcycle Action Group, was founded in 1973 specifically in response to helmet compulsion, introduced without public consultation. At the other end of the spectrum from the charitable organizations and the motorcycle rights activists are the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) is one example.
In the USA, registrations increased by 51% between 2000 and 2005. Around the world, motorcycles have historically been associated with subcultures. Motorcycle tyres have a large influence over handling. Motorcycles must be leaned in order to make turns.
Some organisations hold large international motorcycle rallies in different parts of the world that are attended by many thousands of riders. Whereas many social motorcycle organisations raise money for charities through organised events and rides, some other motorcycle organisations exist only for the direct benefit of others. catalytic converters are becoming increasingly commonplace. United States Environmental Protection Agency 2007 certification result reports for all vehicles versus on highway motorcycles (which also includes scooters), the average certified emissions level for 12,327 vehicles tested was 0.734.
With some exceptions, construction of modern mass-produced motorcycles has standardised on a steel or aluminium frame, telescopic forks holding the front wheel, and disc brakes. These are defined by the Provincial Court of Manitoba as: Any group of motorcycle enthusiasts who have voluntarily made a commitment to band together and abide by their organizations rigorous rules enforced by violence, who engage in activities that bring them and their club into serious conflict with society and the law . While people choose to ride motorcycles for various reasons, those reasons are increasingly practical, with riders opting for a powered two-wheeler as a cost-efficient alternative to infrequent and expensive public transport systems, or as a means of avoiding or reducing the effects of urban congestion. In the UK, motorcycles are exempt from the ÂŁ8 per day London congestion charge other vehicles must pay to enter the city during the day.
BACA assigns members to individual children to help them through difficult situations, or even stay with the child if the child is alone or frightened. In recent decades, motorcyclists have formed political lobbying organisations in order to influence legislators to introduce motorcycle-friendly legislation. The former is sometimes called a SMIDSY, an acronym formed from the motorists common response of Sorry mate, I didn t see you .
The same data show that 1.56 fatalities occur per 100 million vehicle miles travelled for passenger cars, whereas for motorcycles the figure is 43.47 – 28 times higher than for cars. Furthermore for motorcycles the accident rates have increased significantly since the end of the 1990s, while the rates have dropped for passenger cars. The two major causes of motorcycle accidents in the United States are: motorists pulling out or turning in front of motorcyclists and violating their rights-of-way and motorcyclists running wide through turns.
The courses, designed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), include a Basic Rider Course, an Intermediate Rider Course and an Advanced Rider Course. In the UK (except Northern Ireland) and some Australian jurisdictions, such as Victoria, New South Wales, it is compulsory to undertake a rider training course before being issued a Learners Licence. In Canada, motorcycle rider training is compulsory in Quebec and Manitoba only, but all provinces and territories have Graduated Licensing programs which place restrictions on new drivers until they have gained experience. In the United States, those states that have high-occupancy vehicle lanes also allow for motorcycle travel in them.
This lean is induced by the method known as countersteering, in which the rider steers the handlebars in the direction opposite of the desired turn. Likewise, if one looks at how many of the 2007 motorcycles tested were also catalytic equipped, 54% of them, 2,092, were equipped with a catalytic converter. The following table shows maximum acceptable legal emissions of the combination of hydrocarbon and nitrous oxides, as well as carbon monoxide, for new Class III motorcycles (280 cc or larger displacement) sold in the United States. The maximum acceptable legal emissions of hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide for new Class I and II motorcycles (50 cc–169 cc and 170 cc–279 cc respectively) sold in the United States are as follows: European emission standards for motorcycles are similar to those for cars.
Motorcyclists can anticipate and avoid some of these crashes with proper training, increasing their conspicuousness to other traffic, and separating alcohol and riding. The United Kingdom has several organisations which are dedicated to improving motorcycle safety by providing advanced rider training over and above what is necessary to pass the basic motorcycle test. The average Nox+Co End-Of-Useful-Life-Emissions for 3,863 motorcycles tested was 0.8531, for a difference of about 16%, not the claimed 10X factor.
As the engines became more powerful and designs outgrew the bicycle origins, the number of motorcycle producers increased. Until World War I, the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world was Indian, After World War II, the BSA Group became the largest producer of motorcycles in the world, producing up to 75,000 bikes per year in the 1950s. In the 1950s, streamlining began to play an increasing part in the development of racing motorcycles and the dustbin fairing held out the possibility of radical changes to motorcycle design. These actions, if performed on purpose, are known as wheelies and stoppies respectively.
Some of these subcultures have been loose-knit social groups such as the cafe racers of 1950s Britain, and the Mods and Rockers of the 1960s. It was designed and built by the German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Bad Cannstatt in 1885. If a two-wheeled vehicle with steam propulsion is considered a motorcycle, then the first was the French Michaux-Perreaux steam bicycle of 1868. In 1894, Hildebrand & WolfmĂĽller became the first series production motorcycle, and the first to be called, in German, a motorrad, that is, a motorcycle.
Motorcycles are also exempt from toll charges at some river crossings, such as the Severn Bridge, Dartford Crossing, and Mersey Tunnels. Within these types, there are many different sub-types of motorcycles for many different purposes. Street bikes include cruisers, sportbikes, scooters and mopeds, and many other types.
New motorcycles must meet Euro III standards, . Likewise, factors in a rider s physical geometry that contribute to seating posture include torso, arm, thigh and leg length, and overall rider height. A motorcycle is broadly defined by law in most countries for the purposes of registration, taxation and rider licensing as a powered two-wheel motor vehicle.
For motorcycles this figure is higher at 75.19 per 100,000 registered vehicles – four times higher than for cars. A motorcycle (also called a motorbicycle, motorbike, bike, or cycle) is a single-track, motor vehicle.
NSU and Moto-Guzzi were in the vanguard of this development both producing very radical designs well ahead of their time. Example motorcycle clubs include: American Motorcyclist Association, Harley Owners Group and BMW MOA.
These include the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Such accessories are selected by the owner to enhance the motorcycle s appearance, safety, performance, or comfort, and may include anything from mobile electronics to sidecars and trailers. In numerous cultures, motorcycles are the primary means of motorised transport.
Because it is counter-intuitive this practice is often very confusing to novices—and even to many experienced motorcyclists. Short wheelbase motorcycles, such as sport bikes, can generate enough torque at the rear wheel, and enough stopping force at the front wheel, to lift the opposite wheel off the road. Along with increased personal safety, riders with these advanced qualifications often benefit from reduced insurance costs. Motorcycle Safety Education is offered throughout the United States by organisations ranging from state agencies to non-profit organisations to corporations.
For example, a longer wheelbase provides more stability in a straight line. According to the Taiwanese government, for example, the number of automobiles per ten thousand population is around 2,500, and the number of motorcycles is about 5,000. Recent years have seen an increase in the popularity of motorcycles elsewhere.
Some other body parts, designed for either aesthetic or performance reasons may be added. Fuel cells and petroleum-electric hybrids are also under development to extend the range and improve performance of the electric motors. Different types of motorcycles have different dynamics and these play a role in how a motorcycle performs in given conditions.
Training course graduates may qualify for reduced insurance premiums. There are three major types of motorcycle: street, off-road, and dual purpose. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions. Motorcycles are the most affordable form of motorised transport in many parts of the world and, for most of the world s population, they are also the most common type of motor vehicle. The first internal combustion petroleum fueled motorcycle was the Daimler Reitwagen.
Eligibility for a full motorcycle licence or endorsement for completing a Motorcycle Safety course varies by province. An example is the 1958 Honda Super Cub, which went on to become the biggest selling vehicle of all time, with its 60 millionth unit produced in April 2008. Motorcycle construction is the engineering, manufacturing, and assembly of components and systems for a motorcycle which results in performance, cost and aesthetics desired by the designer.
Off-road motorcycles include many types designed for dirt-oriented racing classes such as motocross and are not street legal in most areas. Some cities, such as Bristol, allow motorcycles to use bus lanes and provide dedicated free parking.
A few are believed to be criminal gangs. Social motorcyclist organisations are popular and are sometimes organised geographically, focus on individual makes, or even specific models. Most countries distinguish between mopeds of 49 cc and the more powerful, larger, vehicles (scooters do not count as a separate category).
Other major manufacturers include Piaggio group of Italy, KTM, Triumph and Ducati. In addition to the large capacity motorcycles, there is a large market in smaller capacity (less than 300 cc) motorcycles, mostly concentrated in Asian and African countries. Other countries have similar policies. In Australia many toll roads are free of tolls for motorcycles, and in some Australian cities (e.g.
The following year, 1958, full enclosure fairings were banned from racing by the FIM in the light of the safety concerns. From the 1960s through the 1990s, small two-stroke motorcycles were popular worldwide, partly as a result of East German Walter Kaaden s engine work in the 1950s. Today, the motorcycle industry is mainly dominated by Japanese companies such as Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha, although Harley-Davidson and BMW continue to be popular and supply considerable markets. Dual purpose machines like the dual-sport style are made to go off-road but include features to make them legal and comfortable on the street as well. Each configuration offers either specialised advantage or broad capability, and each design creates a different riding posture. The motorcyclist s riding position depends on rider body-geometry (anthropometry) combined with the geometry of the motorcycle itself.
In the early period of motorcycle history, many producers of bicycles adapted their designs to accommodate the new internal combustion engine. United States Department of Transportation data for 2005 from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System show that for passenger cars, 18.62 fatal crashes occur per 100,000 registered vehicles.
Operating range and top speed suffer because of limitations of battery technology. A petrol powered engine typically consisting of between one and four cylinders (and less commonly, up to eight cylinders) coupled to a manual five- or six-speed sequential transmission drives the swingarm-mounted rear wheel by a chain, driveshaft or belt. Motorcycle fuel economy varies greatly with engine displacement and riding style Very high fuel economy equivalents can be derived by electric motorcycles.
Many jurisdictions include some forms of three-wheelers as motorcycles. In 2007 and 2008, motorcycles and scooters, due to good fuel efficiency, attracted interest in the United States from environmentalists and those affected by increased fuel prices. Other sources, however, claim that while motorcycles produce much less pollution in terms of greenhouse gases, a motorcycle can in some cases emit 10–20 times the quantity of nitrogen oxides (NOx) when compared to the NOx emissions of a car. The Canada Safety Council, a non-profit safety organisation, offers the Gearing Up program across Canada and is endorsed by the Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council.
