A motorbike or motorcycle is a two-wheeled, single-track motor vehicle powered by an engine. Types of motorbike depend on the task for which they are designed, for example long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, racing, cruising etc. In many countries, it is among the least expensive and most widespread form of motorized transport.

Two German inventors, namely Wilhelm MayBach and Gottlieb Daimler were the first to design and build a motorbike in the year 1885 in Bad Cannstatt. However, if we consider a steam operated, two wheel motorbike, then the first such motorbike could be an American one that was built by Roxbury, Massachusetts-based Sylvester Howard Roper in 1867.

Hillenbrand & Wolf Muller became the first motorcycle available for purchase, in 1894. Then as the engines became more powerful and the designs outgrew the bicycle origins, the number of motorbike producers increased. Till the First World War, the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world was Indian. By 1920, this honor went to Harley-Davidson and in 1928 DKW took over. After the Second World War, BSA Group became the largest producer. And from 1955 until the 1970s the German company NSU Motorenwerke AG held the position .Today, the Japanese manufacturers, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha dominate.

The design, production, and assembly of the various large and small components create the bike of the designer's vision. Today's assembly line crafted motorcycle generally has a steel or aluminum body, disc brakes, and adjustable forks holding the front wheel. Its engine has from one to six cylinders and is fueled by gas.

Motorbikes having short wheelbase, such as sport bikes, can generate enough torque at the rear wheel and enough stopping force at the front wheel which will lift the other wheel off the ground. These actions are known as wheelies and stoppies respectively. And if it is carried past the point of recovery it results in upset which is known as "looping" the vehicle.

You should also be aware that the fuel efficiency of motorbikes stems from the small size and mass of the vehicle, especially when compared to other vehicles and passengers and the engine displacement. The riding style of the motorbike operator also plays a significant role on fuel economy. Some riders claim being able to double their fuel economy by making use of low acceleration and lower speeds. This however, tends to be the extreme case.