๐ Inventions and machines ๐ On land
Motorcycles
๐ In short
A motorcycle is a vehicle with two wheels, sometimes three, driven by a petrol engine between the wheels. It's more powerful than a bicycle and much faster, and people ride it to get around, for sport and for racing.
๐คฉ Did you know?
- Light motorcycles weigh between 68 and 110 kilograms.
- Medium motorcycles weigh between 110 and 230 kilograms.
- One of the first motorcycles was made in Germany about 140 years ago.
- A motorcycle uses less fuel than a car.
๐ Find out more
๐ How is it ridden?
The rider sits on the seat and holds the handlebars with both hands, turns the right grip to speed up, brakes with hand and foot, and changes gear with their foot.
๐ Many kinds
There are light motorcycles for getting around town, powerful ones for long journeys, special ones with knobbly tires for dirt tracks and jumps, and very fast racing bikes.
๐ก Balance
A motorcyclist keeps their balance by moving. When turning, they lean their body and the bike into the bend, just as you do on a bicycle.
๐ฏ Helmets are a must
The rider and passenger must wear helmets, gloves and tough clothing, because a motorcycle doesn't protect its riders like a car does.
๐ธ More pictures
๐งฉ Test yourself
1 What does a motorcyclist wear to protect their head?
2 How many wheels does a motorcycle usually have?
3 One of the first motorcycles was made in Germany about ?? years ago.
4 Which picture shows โMotorcyclesโ?