What we have called “motorcycles” should actually be called “enginecycles”. Also, the engine on enginecycles is a four-cycle engine.
What we have called “motorcycles” should actually be called “enginecycles”. Also, the engine on enginecycles is a four-cycle engine.
To your point, “engine” at one time referred specifically to an electrically driven device, and “motor” referred to something combustion driven.
Etymologically, engine means “mechanical device” and motor originates in Latin meaning “mover”.
I do agree with OP that a 2 wheel contrivance with any kind of motor/engine is a motorcycle (motorized cycle) from a regulatory perspective, though I’d never call one a motorcycle.