Motorcycle

Two-wheeled vehicles powered by combustion engines , comprise motor cycles, motor scooters and mopeds. These are all similar in principle. The motor cycle comprises four main sections: the frame, the engine with gearbox and drive components (chain or drive shaft), the road wheels, and the petrol tank. The frame is of tubular pressed steel construction. The most important components of the frame are the springs for absorbing the jolts caused by the irregularities of the road surface or other obstacles encountered. There are various kings of springing for motor cycles: (1) parallelogram suspension, which is a somewhat clumsy system because the whole mass of the front wheel and fork participates in the oscillation; (2) telescopic front forks in combination with short swinging arm, in which arrangement the oscillating mass is reduced; (3) telescopic front forks in combination with long swinging arm : more resilient than the foregoing, but involving great oscillating mass (the same principle is applied to the rear wheel suspension). The telescopic suspension system used in types (2) and (3) has the advantage that it can undergo considerable compression in conjunction with only small oscillating masses. By these or similar means it is possible to achieve very efficient suspension conditions, so that the saddle springing can be dispensed with on modern motor cycles. A foam-rubber seating cushion is usually sufficient, especially on racing machines. Spring elements in combination with oil- filled cylinders provide the necessary shock-absorbing function.

Two-stroke and four-stroke engines are used as power units for motor cycles. The power is transmitted to the rear wheel through the gearbox and thence through sprockets and chains or through a drive shaft. Transmission through a shaft , the shaft being neatly accommodated in the swinging arm of the rear suspension. Motor cycles and mopeds have wire-spoke wheels, whereas scooters generally have solid wheels like those of a car.

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