Two-wheeled vehicles come in a wide range of shapes and sizes to suit the tastes of a wide range of riders. Whether you’re looking to get onto a motorcycle for the first time, or your needs have recently changed, or you’re just after a different experience on the road, it’s worth taking a look at your options. Here, we’re going to do exactly that, by running through the different categories of motorbike.

Scooters and Mopeds

These are small, practical vehicles that suit city commuters nicely. These bikes are the most cost effective in all the range, as moped and scooter insurance is far cheaper because the likelihood of a severe accident tends to be much lower than in the case of other bikes. The difference between the two comes from size; a moped sits below 50cc, while a scooter can be far more powerful than 50cc. Since they’re low risk and usually come with automatic transmission, they’re great for beginners.

Roadsters

A roadster is a general-purpose street bike that ticks a lot of boxes. The rider sits in an upright position, with footpegs just below them. If you don’t yet know what you’re looking for in a bike, then the roadster is a good place to start – its versatility allows you to do just about everything. You might hear these bikes referred to as ‘standards’ or ‘naked’ bikes, since they lack fairings.

Sport Bikes

A sport bike is something that’s built for speed on a track. It’ll come with high-performance engines, a lightweight chassis, and powerful suspension – but they don’t tend to be all that comfortable, especially if you’re going to be in the saddle for a long while.

Cruisers

It’s in this category that we find classics like the Harley Davidson. You’ll get a low seat, a big engine, and plenty of exposed chrome pipes, with not such a bit emphasis on aerodynamism. The reclined seat position gives them a casual, effortless feel that makes them prized among biker groups. A lightweight cruiser is a great point of entry into the world of bikes, especially if you aspire to work your way up to a Harley Davidson.

Tourers

If you’re travelling long distances, then you need a tourer. This bikes come with plenty of luggage space, so you can pack a change of clothes for when you get to the other end of the trip. After all, you might not want to spend the evening in your leathers. The more expensive models also come with heated seats, infotainment systems, ABS, and other mod-cons.

Motocross/Dirt

A motocross bike is built to tackle dirt tracks and huge ramps. It’s extremely lightweight, and built to absorb punishment. But they’re not built for street use, so if you’re considering them, you’ll need to be looking for a specific kind of thrill.

There are more niche categories of motorbike, however, so much choice can be intimidating as a novice. These are some basic categories to help you understand what you might be looking for.