Different Motorcycle Types Explained: Roadsters, ADVs, Cafe Racers and More

We get to see so many motorcycles everyday, ever wondered how many formats of motorcycles are there for sale in India? And how do you choose the perfect one for yourself?

Don't worry we have got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about the formats of motorcycles with their ideal use cases.

Commuter

A commuter is a bike that is light-weight, manoeuvrable and fuel-efficient with a very comfortable riding position, primarily designed for use in the urban environment. These bikes are generally very reliable, easy-to-ride and are very pocket-friendly to run. Some newer commuter motorcycles do come with sporty designs, more sophisticated underpinnings, slightly more performance and more modern features, which can make commuting fun too. In our Indian context, the Hero Splendor is the best example of what a commuter is, while the TVS Raider is a sporty commuter. 

Roadsters or Naked bikes

A naked or a roadster is a bike that strikes a balance between comfort, agility and performance, while having the traits of a sporty motorcycle. These bikes generally have a good power-to-weight ratio and are comfortable to ride too. They also have minimal to no fairings. The perfect examples of this format of motorcycles are the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 and the Triumph Speed 400.

Streetfighters

These bikes are essentially naked bikes but with less focus on comfort and generally have a very aggressive riding position and stance. These bikes can be called “athletic sprinters”. These motorcycles have good agility, peppier engines for quick acceleration and are more performance focused. The best example of a street-fighter is the KTM Duke 390.

Neo-Retro/Classic

Can you think of a motorcycle that reminds you of the old times? The Royal Enfield Classic 350 would be the answer for most. The RE Classic 350 is the perfect example of neo-retro bikes. It gets a design that has been in production close to a century now while still having modern technology integrated into it. Some other examples of neo-retro motorcycles are the Honda CB 350 and the Jawa 42.

Sportsbike/Supersports

These are motorcycles that are designed for maximum performance. They get a very aerodynamic profile thanks to full fairing, with a very committed seating position that prioritizes control and agility over comfort. The best example of these bikes is the Yamaha R15, KTM RC series and also premium offerings like the BMW S1000RR and the Ducati Panigale V4.

Sports Tourers

These bikes are generally built on the same principles of a sportsbike but get a little bit comfortable seating position, aerodynamic fairing for wind deflection and ability to travel long distances. These bikes get a suspension setup with a slightly longer travel than supersports. The best examples of a sports-tourer are the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 and premium offerings like the Kawasaki Versys 1100.

Hypersport

Essentially sportsbikes, with emphasis on aerodynamics and designed for outright performance and agility. Most of these bikes are not road legal and are meant to be ridden in safe, enclosed environments like the racetrack. The most popular example is the Kawasaki Ninja H2R, while some of the road legal ones are the Kawasaki ZX-10R and BMW M1000RR 

Cruisers  

Cruisers are motorcycles with a long wheelbase, low seat height, forward set foot pegs and are designed for travelling longer distances comfortably over tarmac. These bikes are generally very easy to ride with great straight line stability and emphasis on comfort rather than outright performance. But their comfort is limited to smooth roads only as their low stance and heavy weight means they generally have stiff suspension with lesser travel. The best example on sale in India today is the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650.

Adventure/ADV

In a country like India, adventure motorcycles make a lot of sense. The adventure motorcycles come equipped with long travel suspensions, bigger wheels for offroad purposes and also a very comfortable riding position. The bikes are generally heavily built with a lot of low-end torque and also get cruising abilities for long rides. Although some have decent off-road abilities, their main purpose is travel, or rather ‘travel anywhere’. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and the KTM 390 Adventure are the best examples of adventure motorcycles.

Scooter

I think scooters are the most sensible formats of two-wheelers India has ever got. These small vehicles are generally built for utility and convenience rather than comfort and performance. They have automatic transmissions, with storage spaces and smaller capacity engines and are the perfect tool for urban mobility. The Honda Activa is a scooter that has been ruling the streets of India for quite some time now. Scooters also come in various types: maxi scooters like the Yamaha Aerox, and sleek and sporty scooters like the TVS NTorq too.

Dual Sport

Bikes that are designed for use on tarmac as well as offroad get long travel suspension setups, are lightweight and maneuverable. They are called ‘Dual-Sport’ motorcycles. The best example is the Hero Xpulse 210 that was launched recently. These bikes do get features that are similar to off-road bikes and they are also road-legal.

Cafe Racers

These motorcycles were just figments of imaginations of motorcycle enthusiasts that were brought to reality. These retro-styled motorcycles had long single piece seats, a semi-fairing at the front for improved aerodynamics and low set handlebars for a more committed riding position. These bikes were originally meant to be raced over short distances i.e. from one cafe to the other (hence the name). The best example of a cafe racer is the Royal Enfield’s Continental GT 650.

Scrambler

Scramblers are essentially road bikes fitted with long-travel suspension, dual purpose tyres, upswept or high-mounted exhausts and very clean designs. Scramblers can do offroad stretches when needed but are not built for hardcore off-roading. The best example of a scrambler you can buy is the Triumph Scrambler 400X.

Enduro or Motocross

These bikes are meant to be ridden on offroad terrains and are usually not road legal. They have lightweight construction, long-travel suspension and knobby tyres for hardcore offroading. These bikes are designed for the most extreme terrain known to man and some examples of these bikes are the Kawasaki KX250 and the KTM 350 EXC-F.