Why do people call their motorcycle a bike?

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NewTime
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18 Aug 2016, 11:40 pm

Shouldn't they call it a moke?



UnturnedStone
Deinonychus
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19 Aug 2016, 12:13 am

Because a motorcycle / motorbike is a bike?

Merriam Webster wrote:
bike
noun
Definition of bike
1: bicycle
2: motorcycle
3: motorbike
4: stationary bicycle
http://www.dictionary.com/ wrote:
bike
[bahyk]
noun
1. Informal.
a bicycle.
a motorbike.
a motorcycle.



Lantylam
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19 Aug 2016, 3:09 am

bi-cycle means two wheels. As motorbikes / motorcycles have two wheels they are commonly just referred to as bikes. The fact they have an engine to propel them is incidental.