There are car manufacturers world-renowned for making exciting, four-wheeled products. They make cars which are snapped up left, right and centre, and provide mobility for thousands of people across the globe.
However, many of these firms also turn their attention to motorbikes – and you may not know which ones have taken things onto two wheels, as well as four. Let’s take a look.
BMW
BMW is one of the biggest carmakers around, but it is also well-versed in making motorbikes every bit as capable as its road cars. It has a long history of all things two-wheeled, having first created a motorcycle back in 1921.
Now, it creates a range of impressive and versatile motorbikes, ranging from go-anywhere adventure bikes to razor-edged track monsters.
Suzuki
While most people when they think of Suzuki will imagine cars such as the Swift, Vitara and Jimny, to many others it’ll throw up images of motorcycles such as the GSX-R or V-Strom. As well as its road cars, Suzuki offers a wide and varied line-up of motorcycles, too.
In a similar vein to BMW, Suzuki has a rich and varied history when it comes to all things two-wheeled, having created its first motorcycle back in 1952.
KTM
KTM is a name that’ll be familiar to most motorcycle riders. It creates some capable dirt bikes, as well as tourers and adventure bikes. In short, it has pretty much all bases covered when it comes to motorcycles.
But KTM creates cars too. Well, just one; the X-Bow – a track-ready sports car which looks almost as extreme as the company’s motorcycles. An all carbon-fibre construction means it’s exceptionally light, while a 2.0-litre petrol engine ensures it’s punchy, too.
Ariel
Ariel, the UK-based sports car manufacturer, has already made an impact with its mid-engined Atom; a stripped back, lightweight sports car capable of outperforming and out-accelerating even the most powerful of supercars.
But as well as the Atom and off-road Nomad, Ariel has turned its attention to bikes too. It makes the Ace, a sports bike just as wild as its road cars. And, like its cars, it utilises a Honda-sourced powertrain, too.
Honda
Honda creates motorised products of nearly every type; boats, generators and even high-powered jets feature the famous red branding. But, though Honda is renowned around the world for its cars, the manufacturer actually started things off with motorcycles, back in 1949.
Today, it continues to create two-wheeled products, alongside its ever-expanding range of road cars.