Love riding, it's fuel efficient and fun. Doesn't help at *all* with traffic jams around my area; they don't let you go between the lanes (legally anyhow).
There are a few different "types" of motorcycles:
1. Cruiser/traditional type (relaxed seating position)
2. Sportbike
3. Scooter
4. Dual-purpose (streetable dirt bike, basically)
I ride a large scooter (400cc) and it's pretty good. Scooters are often the only bikes with storage space under the seats; some other bikes have bags on the side for storage. My scooter has a large topcast on the back too for additional storage space.
I think scooters are often touted as the most utilitarian of the M/C's, that's why I bought one. They're almost always automatic transmission too (just about every other type of M/C is manual), usually utilizing a belt-driven
CVT.
If I were to replace my scooter with anything else, I'd probably go for a larger bike, possibly one of those sport/dual-purpose fusion type of implements (BMW makes one, and so does Suzuki) due to the fact that I like to ride on dirt/gravel roads in the mountains sometimes. (They're hell on my scooter's suspension)
Sportbikes obviously go the fastest, but that forward seating position..... ick. I've heard it's not really as bad as it looks but I couldn't see myself getting used to it. The traditional type (often without a windshield or fairing), scooters and the dual-purpose bikes have an upright seating position.
There are also "Sport tourers," which are uber expensive and are basically huge sportbikes with a more upright seating position and a lot of conveniences (hard bags on the side, heated grips, electrically adjustable windshields, some have different vents for routing radiator heat to your legs or away from them, etc)
mmm...motorcycles. God, I miss bikers
SO sexy....
