3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue 1 & 2 Jan - Apr 2 3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue | Page 74

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
chopper may have raked-out forks, small fuel
tanks and high handlebars. Choppers were
popularised in the Peter Fonda film Easy Rider.
Being designed primarily for visual effect,
choppers will not usually be the most efficient
riding machines.
Related to the chopper motorcycle is the
bobber which is created by “bobbing” a factory
bike by removing dead weight and bodywork
from a motorcycle to reduce mass and increase
performance. A common element of these motor-
cycles is a shortened rear fender that creates a
“bobbed” look. A distinguishing feature between
a chopper and a bobber is that bobbers generally
reuse the factory motorcycle frame, whereas
choppers generally use custom frames with
increased rake. The more conservative steering
geometry of a bobber will in most cases lead
to superior cornering performance relative to a
chopper.
Power cruiser is a name used to distinguish bikes
in the cruiser class that have significantly higher
levels of power. They often come with upgraded
brakes and suspensions, better ground clearance,
and premium surface finishes, as well as more
exotic or non-traditional styling.
Sport
Sport bikes emphasize top speed, acceleration
braking, handling and grip on paved roads,
typically at the expense of comfort and fuel
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economy in comparison to less specialized
motorcycles. Because of this, there are
certain design elements that most motorcycles
of this type will share. Sport bikes have
comparatively high performance engines resting
inside a lightweight frame. Inline-four engines
dominate the sport bike category, with V-twins
having a significant presence, and nearly
every other engine configuration appearing
in small numbers at one time or another.
The combination of these elements helps
maintain structural integrity and chassis rigidity.
Braking systems combine higher performance
brake pads and multi-piston calipers that clamp
onto oversized vented rotors. Suspension
systems are advanced in terms of adjustments
and materials for increased stability and
durability. Most sport bikes have fairings,
often completely enclosing the engine, and
windscreens that effectively deflect the air at
very high speeds, or at least reduce overall
drag.
Sport bikes have high footpegs that position
the legs closer to the body to improve ground
clearance when cornering, and a long reach to
the hand controls, which positions the body and
center of gravity forward, above the fuel tank.
The rider leans forward into the wind, the force of
which can comfortably support the rider’s weight
at speeds near 100 mph (160 km/h), but at lower
speeds leaves too much weight on the arms and
wrists, causing fatigue.
Vol 4 | Issue 2 |Mar - Apr 2019