The Cheetah is no doubt one of the fastest animals in the world. However with the recent technological advancement which the world has seen, I’d like to pose a question, that is, is the cheetah more powerful than a motorbike? Well, a proper investigation is required on the topic: in this article, I will share with you a research that was published in the Guardian newspaper. The research was done on cheetahs and the subject was the same as that of my article today. Let’s, first of all, see some of the characteristics of a cheetah.

Characteristics of a Cheetah


The cheetah is considered one of the fastest land animals the world has seen. The cheetah has a unique ability to reach a speed of up to 110 kilometers in a span of just 2 seconds. A cheetah can have a stride of 7 meters provided it is at its peak performance. The body of a cheetah is very different from other cats that exist in this world today.  The unique bone structure and the slim and fragile looking body of this beautiful feline allow it to reach top speed within seconds.


The identification of an adult cheetah is that it can be recognised by its black spots all over the body. The front and the color assist the cheetah in its hunting endeavors. The cubs have mantle down their back; this mantle serves as a camouflage for them.

The cheetah has a reputation as a speed demon

Claws and Feet

Compared to other cats, the foot pads of cheetahs are less rounded and harder. These pads are the animal’s equivalent of tire treads and are the important part which increases traction. However, without going into technicalities, the claws of cheetahs are more like those of dogs.


A cheetah has a very flexible spine and it is due to this flexibility that a cheetah can extend a lot while running. The shoulder blade of a cheetah is not attached to the collar bone which makes the movement very easy. Due to their flexible spines, cheetahs can extend up to 7 meters. A cheetah can complete 4 strides per second.


A cheetah’s tail basically provides a type of counter balance to its body, and this counter balance provides a cheetah with the ability to take sharp turns. The tail also serves as a signaling device for a cheetah. The tip of the tail may differ according to each animal.


Like many other animal species, cheetahs are also facing extinction. The number of cheetahs in the world has decreased seriously and the cause behind this fact include things like Illegal wildlife, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict.

Motorbikes are now equipped with engines with enough horsepower to zoom at top speed

Cheetah vs. Motorbike: Is The Cheetah More Powerful?

The power output of a cheetah can be four times higher than an athlete especially when they are sprinting to catch their prey. According to Alan Wilson, the lateral accelerations of a cheetah can be greater than a motorbike. Wilson and his team attached tracking collars on five different cheetahs of Botswana.  The team found out that the top speed of a cheetah can reach 58 mph, which makes them the fastest animal on earth.

Wilson found out that cheetahs have the ability to accelerate by 3 meters per second. Similarly, they can slow down by 4 meters per second. At its top speed, a cheetah can produce a power output as high as 100 watts per kg. This power output is four times greater than the power output produced by Usain Bolt when he made his world record of 9.58.

With so many abilities within themselves, it could be said that cheetahs have more power and speed than a motorbike, however, this is a subject that will require some serious research. Though a cheetah can have high speed, they usually lack in stamina which is something in which a bike with its continual supply of fuel is way ahead in comparison to the cheetah.


Though bikes and cheetahs can be compared, this is a subject that requires more research. The work is already under progress and I think that soon we will hear something on this subject. If you are fond of wild life and if you are keen to know more about cheetahs then check out this informative page on Wikipedia. Apart from Wikipedia, you can find countless documentaries on this animal from the internet. Similarly, plenty of videos can be sourced on YouTube.