Motorcycle
Two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by handlebars from a saddle seat.
A motorcycle is a two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar from a saddle-style seat. Motorcycle designs vary greatly to suit purposes such as long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport, and off-road riding. Motorcycling also involves related social activities like joining clubs and attending rallies.
- global_sales_2021
- approximately 58.6 million new motorcycles sold worldwide
- top_producers_2022
- Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki
- us_fatality_rate_2024_per_100_million_VM
- 28.00 for motorcyclists, 1.05 for passenger car occupants
Lore & Background
It had zero degrees of steering axis angle and no fork offset, relying on outrigger wheels to remain upright. The inventors called it the Reitwagen, intended as a testbed for their new engine.
Reader's Guide
Motorcycles have been a significant mode of transport globally, with 58.6 million new motorcycles sold in 2021 compared to 66.7 million cars. They are classified into three major types: street, off-road, and dual purpose, each with many sub-types. The first internal combustion motorcycle, the Daimler Reitwagen, is widely credited as the world's first motorcycle, though some authorities exclude steam or electric vehicles from the definition.
Did You Know?
- In 2021, approximately 58.6 million new motorcycles were sold globally, compared to 66.7 million cars.
More in Transportation 1-24
Elsewhere in the Transportation universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record