Evolution

• The motorcycle has evolved from a very literal interpretation of the word to a vehicle far more complex and distinguished. Despite the alterations from a basic motorized bike to the more artistic and technical designs seen in the modern era, a number of features have long been at the core of what makes these vehicles tick. These features are a dual wheel design, strong and multifaceted chassis, transmission and, of course, the engine.
  
  

Engine

• Motorcycle engines differ in weight, size and horsepower, with each motorcycle's design placing a priority on one or the other. Usually, new engine designs are implemented every few years, but depending on the manufacturer, a particular core engine design can have a run of easily more than a decade.
  
  

Transmission Systems

• There has to be a reliable method of transferring the energy and power created by the engine to the wheels, and this is the purpose of the transmission. The transmission relies on the clutch to work with the crankshaft to allow for this transfer of power, and the exact methods by which this transfer occurs depends on the type of transmission being utilized. This isn't a question of automatic versus manual, but rather if the system is a shaft, belt or chain drive system. Each has their set of advantages, with the belt and shaft systems often providing more long-term reliability, though also needing constant lubrication.
  
  

Frame

• The chassis is the frame of the motorcycle, and includes a number of components, including but not limited to the brakes, wheels and suspension. The function of the brakes is most obvious, and the pedal allows for the back break to be used, while a front hand level activates the front break. Hydraulic pressure-based disc brakes are the norm in today's motorcycles. The squeezing power of the pressure associated with these breaks causes the motorcycle to slow down.
  Springs are at the core of what comprises the motorcycle's suspension system. The springs cushion the ride, and the swingarm rear suspension design can help keep the ride very smooth.