The Complete Guide To Different Types Of Motorcycles

Being spoiled for choice is a good thing for motorcyclists, or so you’d think. With hundreds of motorcycles on sale in the United States, choosing the right one can feel confusing and, for beginners, overwhelming. Pick the wrong one, and you’re out a few thousand dollars and disappointed with the sport. That’s the paradox of choice.

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So, how do you choose the right kind of bike? Start by understanding the types of motorcycles, then narrow it down to the one that best suits your lifestyle and riding style. There are at least 15 to choose from, but don’t worry; we’ve broken down the popular types of motorcycles sold in the US from the most popular to more niche categories, complete with pros, cons, and plenty of examples.

Cruisers

Cruisers are the most popular type of motorcycle in the United States, and in many ways, synonymous with American motorcycling culture. Designed for long highway stretches, they typically use big, torquey engines that prioritize low-end grunt over high-RPM performance. V-twins remain the favorite, though metric cruisers now use everything from singles and parallel twins to boxers, inline triples, and V4s.

Most cruisers feature heavy frames, low centers of gravity, and relaxed steering geometry for excellent straight-line stability, though this comes at the expense of cornering clearance. Ergonomics are similarly laid-back, with low, plush seats, feet-forward controls, and pulled-back handlebars. Many are pillion-friendly, while their stripped-down, low-slung silhouettes offer timeless style and a blank canvas for modifications. That mix makes them easy to live with on open roads.

Today, the segment spans nearly every price and performance bracket, from bobbers, classics, and performance and power cruisers to factory-custom choppers and lite-touring models. Prices start at $5,000, while big-twin cruisers typically cost between $15,000 and $25,000; special editions, like the Ducati Diavel for Bentley, can reach $70,000. This range makes the category broad enough for both entry-level and premium buyers.

Examples: Harley-Davidson Fat Boy and Low Rider ST; Indian Chief Vintage; Ducati Diavel V4; Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650; BMW R 18 and R 18 Classic; Honda Rebel 1100

Touring Motorcycles

For many of us, a cross-country American road trip is the dream, and touring motorcycles are built for that. These mile-munchers offer top-class luxury and amenities, including couch-like comfort with heated seats and grips, infotainment with speakers, extensive wind protection, and, on the Gold Wing, even an optional airbag. They are made to turn long miles into an easy ride.

Their hardware is equally purpose-built for touring, with massive engines tuned for smooth power delivery, reliability, and enough grunt to carry the bike, rider, pillion, and luggage with ease. Heavy-duty frames provide highway stability under full load, while standard luggage cases let you overpack for cross-country adventures.

While sports tourers are covered separately, traditional touring bikes generally fall into two types: baggers, which prioritize solo riding and use rear side cases, and full-dressers, which add a top case that often doubles luggage capacity compared with their bagger variants while also serving as a pillion backrest. Prices typically range from $25,000 to $30,000, with factory-custom models reaching $55,000.

Examples: Honda Gold Wing and Gold Wing Tour; Harley-Davidson Street Glide, Road Glide, Road Glide Limited, CVO Street Glide ST; Indian Challenger, Chieftain, Roadmaster; BMW K 1600 series

Sports Bikes

Also known as crotch rockets, sportbikes are a major type of motorcycle, popular worldwide and among the most aspirational. These are designed for circuit performance, so they trade in comfort for sharp handling and high-revving power, though some remain relatively comfortable. They feature high-strung engines, with the most popular kind being inline-fours and V4s, some pushing well over 200 horsepower.

Elsewhere, their aggressive steering geometry, stiff suspension, compact wheelbase, and committed riding position make them the weapon of choice for attacking twisties or the track. At the same time, the full fairing protects the rider from windblast. High-performance models also feature premium hardware, like Brembo monobloc calipers and electronic suspension, with flagship bikes borrowing tech directly from racing that eventually trickles down to smaller models.

Sportbikes span beginner-friendly small-displacement models, practical middleweights, razor-sharp supersports, liter-class superbikes, and unhinged hyperbikes. Prices range from around $5,000 to $50,000, while limited editions like the Ducati Superleggera V4 Centenario can exceed $160,000.

Examples: Kawasaki Ninja H2 R, Ninja ZX-10R, Ninja 650; Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP; Suzuki Hayabusa; Ducati Panigale V4 R; Aprilia RSV4 Factory; KTM 990 RC R; BMW M 1000 RR

Adventure Bikes (Or ADVs)

ADVs are the SUVs of the bike world, so it’s no wonder they’re so popular today. Designed to handle everything from highways to technical off-road terrain, they feature long-travel suspension, tall wheels, dual-purpose tires, high ground clearance, and robust frames and bodywork with protection to handle off-road abuse, tip-overs, and intercontinental adventures.

They’re also comfortable, thanks to upright ergonomics and wind-protecting fairings and windscreens, while punchy engines prioritize mid-range grunt for tackling tricky terrain. Most also offer luggage mounting points or enough space for luggage and a pillion. The downside is that they’re typically tall and heavy, especially for newer riders. That trade-off is part of the package.

ADVs are broadly split into enduro ADVs, which focus on off-road performance, and adventure tourers, which prioritize long-distance comfort while retaining light off-road ability. They come in three weight classes—light, middleweight, and full-size—with prices ranging from around $5,000 to $30,000. However, they are generally not as expensive as factory-custom tourers or homologation-spec sportbikes.

Examples: BMW R 1300 GS; Honda Africa Twin, Transalp E-Clutch; Yamaha Tenere 700; Royal Enfield Himalayan 450; KTM 890 Adventure R Rally; Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally; Aprilia Tuareg Rally 660

Naked Motorcycles

Also known as standard bikes, naked motorcycles are what many people picture when they hear “motorcycle”. These are essentially stripped-down sportbikes without fairings, focusing instead on comfort and practicality with upright ergonomics and wide, tall handlebars. Most remain performance-minded but are designed for commuting and city riding, making them among the easiest bikes to learn on. They don’t tour very well, though.

The engines are usually sport-bike-derived but tuned for stronger mid-range punch and tractability. They still retain relatively aggressive geometry and sporty hardware, making them easily flickable and capable of hard cornering on mountain roads. Some higher-end models pack race-derived technology, too, including 200+ horsepower engines, functional winglets, and top-spec components.

The segment ranges from beginner-friendly small-displacement bikes and versatile middleweights to liter-class and hypernaked models that push performance to the extreme while retaining upright ergonomics. Prices generally start around $4,000 and reach $30,000 for premium European super nakeds.

Examples: Honda CB1000 Hornet SP; Kawasaki Z H2 and Z1100; Suzuki SV650; KTM 390 Duke and 1390 Super Duke R EVO; Triumph Street Triple and Speed Triple series

Sports Tourers And Crossovers

While sports tourers are technically part of the touring segment, they approach touring with sporty intentions and hardware, earning them their own place here. These bikes combine sporty engines and hardware with long-distance comfort and ergonomics. That makes them the go-to motorcycle if you want to go far and have fun along the way, as long as you don’t plan to do any off-roading.

These bikes are usually based on sportbike-derived platforms and engines, though some models can still feel very mild-mannered. Even the suspension and other hardware are balanced for sporty riding and long-distance stability. Comfort comes from a relatively relaxed riding triangle and spacious saddles suited for two-up touring. They’re also well-equipped, often featuring standard hard saddlebags and luggage racks, high-end rider aids, and much more.

Sports tourers come in two varieties: traditional, fully faired sport tourers that prioritize sporty handling over upright ergonomics, and ADV-like crossovers that offer upright ergonomics and a taller stance. Despite the ADV-like look of crossovers, they are designed for pavement-only performance. Prices range from $10,000 to $20,000, but some premium models, like the Multistrada V4 RS, can exceed $40,000.

Examples: Yamaha FJR1300ES; Kawasaki Ninja 1100 SX and Versys 650; Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ and GSX-S1000GX+; BMW M 1000 XR; KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

Retro Roadsters

Retro roadsters are a hot motorcycle segment today, combining old-school-cool designs with modern technology and performance. Unlike many other motorcycles, retro bikes prioritize design, with much of their function following form. They draw inspiration from iconic motorcycles of the past, using simple designs and timeless styling rooted in classic models.

Underneath the old-school bodywork, however, modern retro bikes feature contemporary technology such as electronic fuel injection, ABS, LED lighting, and more. Most are relatively understressed, but recent years have also seen a surge in high-performance retros that combine sportbike-like performance with old-school designs. Ultimately, though, retros are all about capturing the essence of why you ride.

Retros come in all varieties, including standard roadsters, sporty cafe racers, and timeless classics. Pricing ranges from $5,000 to $20,000 for premium heritage motorcycles.

Examples: Honda CB1000F; Royal Enfield Bullet 350, Interceptor 650, and Continental GT 650; BMW R 12 nineT; MV Agusta Superveloce; Triumph Bonneville and Speed Twin series; Kawasaki Z900 RS

Scramblers

Scramblers are a retro-motorcycle variant with enough hardware differences to stand apart. They draw inspiration from specialized dirt bikes of the 1950s and 1960s. In essence, they capture the character of old-school enduro bikes while being based on standard retro models, adding knobby tires, dirt protection, high-mounted exhaust, and, in some cases, taller suspension and 19-inch wheels.

These are still style-first motorcycles, and despite what the brochure might have you believe, they are best suited to on-road riding, with only mild off-road capability. Their dirt-focused hardware also compromises on-road performance. That makes them a good choice for riders who want a stylish, characterful bike but don’t prioritize practicality or true versatility.

Scramblers are a niche segment today, but there are still enough buyers for brands to keep making them. Cheap ones start at $5,000, while expensive ones go for over $15,000.

Examples: Triumph Scrambler 400, 900 and 1200; Royal Enfield Bear 650; Honda SCL500; Ducati Scrambler

Dual Sport Motorcycles

As the name suggests, dual-sport motorcycles are dual-purpose machines that bridge the gap between road-going commuters and true dirt bikes. Unlike adventure bikes, they are much lighter, which gives them much better off-road performance. They also feature long-travel suspension, a lightweight frame and plastics, and dual-purpose tires, allowing them to handle serious dirt.

While comfort isn’t a focus here, their light weight, narrow build, and tall stance make them excellent commuters. Power usually comes from small-displacement single-cylinder engines, but big-bore thumpers remain a popular choice for experienced riders. It’s best to think of dual sports as lightweight dirt bikes with lights, mirrors, and license plates. Instead of hauling your dirt bike in a truck, you can ride it there.

Dual-sport motorcycles come in three major varieties: beginner-friendly commuter dual-sports, high-performance 450-class models, and old-school yet torquey 650-class models. Pricing ranges from $3,000 to $14,000, depending on the weight class and manufacturer.

Examples: KTM 500 EXC-F, 390 Enduro R, and 690 Enduro R; Ducati Desmo450 EDS; Honda CRF450RL, CRF300L, and XR650L; Suzuki DR-Z4S; Kawasaki KLX300

Supermotos

Yet another niche category is supermotos, which sacrifice comfort and practicality in favor of one thing only: maximum fun. These are essentially dirt bikes or dual-sport bikes fitted with street wheels and tires, suspension, and brakes. They combine the torque of single-cylinder engines, the fast side-to-side transition of a dirt bike frame, and the grip of street tires, making them exceptionally fun to ride. Supermotos can turn even the most sedate riders into hooligans.

While designed for tight tracks, these bikes feel just at home on dirt roads, kart tracks, and congested streets, making them excellent picks for messing around in a parking lot, dragging knees on a mountain road, and lane filtering during rush hours. They are, however, far from comfortable, given their slim, flat seats and aggressive upright riding position. Since they are based on dirt bikes, they have decent crash-resistant durability, so riders need not worry about dropping one while stunting.

Like the dual-sport bikes they are based on, supermotos come in a few varieties, including small-displacement lightweight models, torquey 650-class thumpers, competition supermotos, and a couple of twin-cylinder examples. Pricing is similarly broad, ranging from $5,500 to over $15,000 for high-performance models.

Examples: Ducati Desmo450 SM, Hypermotard 698 Mono, and Hypermotard V2; KTM 450 SMR, 690 SMC R, and 390 SMC R; Kawasaki KLX230SM; Suzuki DR-Z4SM