The Evolution of the Motorcycle

By Mirage

It wasn’t too long ago that motorcycles were very simple machines - an engine, transmission, tires and rudimentary controls. That simplicity has changed dramatically over the years and is illustrated by the complex systems found on today’s bikes. This development of the two wheeled vehicle has transformed the motorcycle landscape forever.

At one time factory racing technology was off limits to street machines and the thought of integrating such systems could not be fathomed. However manufacturers have changed their ideology as they are now engulfed in a very competitive environment of producing motorcycles that not only outshines the competition but more importantly that the public wants to buy and makes a profit in the process. What this now means is that the same technology which was once exclusively used in the racing arena can now be enjoyed and used by us everyday riders.

If we break down what encompasses a motorcycle into the aforementioned parts it’s clear that what was once labeled “a cheap and simple means of transportation” has morphed itself into transportation that uses state of the art components.

First and foremost the internal combustion engine (ICE) has grown with its age. Sure, the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber but the parts used and the construction of the engine has changed substantially from the early days. Today’s engines are assembled with surgical precision and rarely do they fail to the same degree as in years past.  Using such exotic materials as titanium for valves, magnesium for engine cases and forged internals for pistons, crankshafts and other parts, engines are truly a work of art. Engineers spend countless hours using computer aided design (CAD) software to make sure that specific tolerances are met and the time spent here pays huge dividends for not only lowering maintenance costs via warranty claims but also displays the quality of the manufacturer to us, the riders.

Having a “state of the art” engine is only part of the equation though, as no matter how well your engine functions and is put together you need a mechanism that will transfer that power to the ground. Gone are the days of only manual transmissions (although most motorcycles still employ this type of technology) as now some motorcycles have blurred the line between being a true motorcycle and a scooter.

The standard manual transmission for a motorcycle has not changed much over the years as it still uses a clutch operated by a hand lever for regulating torque transfer from the engine to the transmission and a gear-shift operated by the foot. This design is still a staple in most motorcycles produced today but some now are equipped with continuously variable transmissions (CVT). A CVT transmission can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values verses a manual transmission that only allows a few different distinct gear ratios to be selected (normal motorcycle transmissions have 6 gears although some have 5).

This advancement in motorcycle transmissions not only opens the door to a whole host of new riders/consumers but also provides better fuel economy than other transmissions by enabling the engine to run at its most efficient revolutions per minute (RPM) for a range of vehicle speeds.

Now that we have an engine to produce power and a transmission to propel us forward the next piece of the puzzle is what connects us to the ground – tires. Tire technology has by far taken the biggest leap forward in terms of evolution. With manufacturers using the knowledge gained from racing, it's possible to obtain the best tire available for your intended application (e.g. Sport, Touring, Cruiser, Motocross, etc.). Tires are now constructed in such a way that depending upon which application you choose you can have a soft multi-compound tire that delivers the ultimate in grip, balance, and cornering ability or a tire that has knobby, deep treads for maximum grip on loose dirt, mud, or gravel.

At this stage we could technically say that a motorcycle has been created but one crucial piece is missing – the controls. I’m not referring to the handlebars or clip-on’s that we as riders use to control the motorcycle but rather the other devices that have made their way into and onto our beloved machines. Anti-lock brakes (ABS), traction control (this takes many forms but the basic principle is the same), slipper clutches, multi-mapped fuel engine management systems, “on the fly” throttle control and re-designed suspension systems (e.g. big piston front forks [BPF]).

All of these devices contribute to a motorcycle that while it resembles its brethren on the surface, beneath that exterior lies a platform that’s been highly modified. This raises the question of whether or not all of these systems are needed on a motorcycle. I suppose an argument could be made for not having these systems embedded into a motorcycle but I would have to disagree. I believe innovation, whether in safety, fuel consumption or any of the hundreds of components that are used to produce a motorcycle are beneficial to the rider.

So has the motorcycle reached a plateau of being improved upon? Hardly, as with electric motorcycles capturing the eyes of venture capitalists v3.0 of the motorcycle may not be that far into the future. Stay tuned...