Leaving aside scooters and mopeds, the motorcycle market broadly divides into these categories: sports bikes, sports tourers, trail bikes, street bikes, boulevard cruisers and grand tourers, writes Don Hall
Generally speaking, sports bikes are distinguishable for their "lean over the tank" riding posture and race-replica kit which includes sleek fairings, flashy paintwork and brain-breaking alphabetics. In this category also, though not of it, are the less aggressive lookalikes favoured by power-restricted learner riders.
This is the world of the Honda CBR, Yamaha YZF, Aprillia RSV Mille R, Ducati 988S, Suzuki GSXR, Kawasaki ZXR and so forth - pocket rockets worthy of a "handle with care" notice that come in a wide range of power bands up to and beyond that of many small family cars.
Here, too, are sports tourers such as the Suzuki Hyabusa and Yamaha FJR and TDM - bikes which lack nothing in terms of testosterone but are better designed for two-up touring with a slightly more upright riding posture.
Gaining in popularity is the tall trail bike - models such as Honda's Africa Twin and Valadero, the new-launched Suzuki V-Strom, Yamaha's XT600 and the more elegant BMW GS. Equally at home on smooth tarmac or mountain path, trail bikes are noticeable for their larger, spoked wheels, added ground clearance, under-engine protective plate and wide cow-horn handlebars.
While providing limited protection against wind and spray, they are becoming increasingly popular with commuters attracted by their excellent visibility, narrow body and "get up and go" responsiveness.
Street bikes represent the bread-and-butter of motorbike sales - bikes that are unsophisticated in terms of their engineering and equipment, yet deliver all that is expected of them in terms of performance and reliability.
This segment includes Yamaha's XJR, Diversion and Fazer models, the popular Suzuki Bandit, Kawasaki ZRX and Honda CB.
Talk to anyone about motorbikes and it won't be long before the name Harley Davidson is mentioned. Sometimes sneered at for their "won't go, won't corner, won't stop" characteristics (behaviour which one retailer attributed to older models), this king of boulevard cruisers is a most desired bike with its own unique clientele.
Evidence of the cult status which Harley Davidson enjoys can be seen in the number of "me too" models that have been developed to capture a share of the "sit-up-and-beg" market. These chrome covered creations, that many mistake for a Harley Davidson at first glance, include the attractive Honda Shadow, Suzuki Intruder and Yamaha V-Max, WildStar, DragStar and Virago models.
Last, but by no means least, come the big beasts - the long-distance tourers of which the best of breed includes the BMW LT and RT versions as well as Honda's Gold Wing and Pan European.
Powered by engines that eat up the miles, these are the bikes with the big boxes, plug in power points, heated hand-grips, on-board entertainment, protective sight screen and body-hugging fairings.
Like the Harley Davidson and a few others besides, big tourers are strictly for those with deep pockets. Generally, these are the born-again, greying-at-the-temples bikers - grown-up boys still in love with their toys. After all, obscured behind their helmets and visors, who is to say that they aren't?
• Don Hall is a public relations consultant. He rides a BMW R1100RT and an R850GS