Much like how people learn to drive in a small hatchback car instead of a Porsche 911, there are certain bikes that are seen at a motorcycle driving school more commonly than others.

Typically, well-balanced, easy-to-ride bikes such as the Honda CBR500R, the Suzuki SV560 or the Kawasaki Ninja 650 are best suited for people working towards an A2, A1 or full unrestricted A license, as they have limited power and do not complicate the basics.

However, there are a huge number of other, more unusual motorcycles you can attempt to ride, although in practice they are a complicated struggle for even seasoned riders.

Jaguar Leaper Motorcycle

Built as a tribute to the car and motorcycle manufacturer of the same name, the Jaguar Leaper is bizarre even by the lofty standards of custom bikes.

Besides the sheer strangeness of the design, the bike has a strange seated position behind the jaguar itself, the bike rides exceptionally low, although its top speed of 50 miles per hour probably helps riders retain some level of control over it.

Schilovski Gyrocar

Only technically a motorcycle by virtue of having two wheels, the Gyrocar was the brainchild of Count Peter Schilovski, a member of the Russian royal family, in 1912.

It could carry six passengers, balanced using a gyroscope system, which allegedly made it better for tackling difficult terrain, although he would ultimately never find out if he was right as the First World War and subsequent Russian Revolution caused him to flee to England.

Haleson Steam Motorcycles


During the early era of motorcycles, Haleson attempted to buck the trend of using petrol or kerosene and instead fitted a small steam boiler to a motorcycle leading to a truly surreal and presumably exceptionally hot running bike.

It ran using paraffin fuel, had a 200cc single-cylinder engine and no gearbox due to the nature of the engine.