A motorcycle (also called a motorbike, bike, moto or cycle) is a two or three wheeledmotor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task they are designed for, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.

 

Motorcycles are one of the most affordable forms 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.There are around 200 million motorcycles (including mopeds, motor scooters, motorised bicycles, and other powered two and three-wheelers) in use worldwide, or about 33 motorcycles per 1000 people. This compares to around 590 million cars, or about 91 per 1000 people.

 

Most of the motorcycles, 58%, are in the developing countries of Asia – Southern and Eastern Asia, and the Asia Pacific countries, excluding Japan – while 33% of the cars (195 million) are concentrated in the United States and Japan. In 2006, China had 54 million motorcycles in use and an annual production of 22 million units. As of 2002, India, with an estimated 37 million motorcycles/mopeds, was home to the largest number of motorised two wheelers in the world. China came a close second with 34 million motorcycles/mopeds.

 

Chopper (motorcycle)

A chopper is a type of motorcycle that was either modified from an original motorcycle design ("chopped") or built from scratch to have a unique hand-crafted appearance. The main features of a chopper that make it stand out are its longer frame design accompanied by a stretch front end, or increased rake angle. To achieve a longer front end, while the frame is being designed, the fabricator will tilt the neck of the frame at less of an incline and install a longer fork. Another unique aspect of a chopper design is that there is usually no rear suspension meaning the frame of the motorcycle will extend from the neck (or front of the frame) all the way to the rear wheel. This can make handling the motorcycle more challenging and the ride a bit more "bumpy". These attributes may seem radical to some but are necessary for the look that is desired. One look that is becoming more popular with chopper designs is a low frame to ground clearance or a low-rider look. Well known examples of chopper designs are the customized Harley-Davidsons, the "Captain America" and "Billy Bike", seen in the 1969 film Easy Rider.

 

Top Selling Motorcycle Brands:

 

•  Honda - 24,024 / +4.1% 

•  Yamaha - 20,152 / -1.7% 

•  Suzuki - 13,671 / -7.3% 

•  Kawasaki - 9745 / +3.2% 

•  Harley-Davidson - 6427 / +5.8% 

•  Polaris - 4854 / +24.1% 

•  KTM - 4812 / -4.2% 

•  Triumph - 3078 / -3.8% 

•Kymco - 2795 / +18.2% 

•  Husqvarna - 1930 / +19.6%