Types of Motorcycles: Dirt Bikes

Dirt bikes are quite different from street bikes and other types of motorcycles. This is because, unlike other bikes, dirt bikes are specifically designed to handle the harsh elements for off-road riding. They are suitable for use on rough, unpaved terrain and for racing and competitions.

Features of a Dirt Bike

Off-road riding involves mud, sand and other harsh conditions which can damage the engine, explaining why dirt bikes are made with a higher lift than other street bikes and have knobby tires to grip dirty roads. Their tough frames and wheels with built-in shocks are meant to absorb the impact of jumps.

Dirt bikes have no brake lights, headlights, and mirrors. They have, small gas tanks, small engines and stiff suspensions to give you the soar you need over jumps and allow you to move through a trail with little impact on your spine or bones. Young riders who want to learn can go for tiny ones (50cc) sizes designed for them.

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Different Types of Dirt Bikes

Dirt bikes come in various styles and formats to suit different uses. In this respect, we have 8 different types of dirt bikes which despite their common ground, have unique features to level your experience in whatever kind of ride you want to do.

Motocross

These are considered the high-performance dirt bikes in the list. They have bigger engine sizes and modified frames because of the jumps and corners. Motocross dirt bikes have engine sizes ranging from 125cc to 450cc.

Trail

These kinds of dirt bikes are the most common ones. Their engines can range from 125cc to 450cc. Trail dirt bikes have larger gas tanks than motocross bikes, giving them the capability to cover medium to longer riding distances.

Enduro

Just like motocross and trail bikes, Enduro bikes are made for tough terrain, distance, and speed. In addition to this, Enduro bikes are made to tackle water, wooded areas, and rocks, and have more technology for maximum performance to handle tough tasks like climbing over fallen trees and hills. Engine sizes vary from 125cc to 360cc and 195cc to 650cc for single-cylinder 2-stroke and 4-stroke respectively.

Important to note is that a larger engine size for an Enduro bike does not necessarily mean better performance.

Dual Sport

This kind of dirt bike is suitable if you are looking for a street-legal bike that can also go off-road in case you need some adventure. Dual sport bikes have all the components of a motorcycle, including a larger engine size, larger gas tank, and headlights.

Trails

This can sometimes be confused with a trail bike.  The big difference is that trails are used to test the abilities of a rider, they have no seats and have small gas tanks. The frame is also light to make moving around easy.

Supermoto

Supermoto dirt bikes are uniquely made to have all the components of regular dirt bikes and have slick street ties in addition. These bikes are used for racing on tracks made of dirt and even tar.

Hill Climb Dirt Bikes

These bikes are specifically made for climbing hills. A hill climb bike will have an extended swing arm to prevent you from flipping over when riding up the hills. Like trails, they are made with light frames to make it easy to move around. Their back tires are usually made with very large knobs for finding traction.

Flat Track

A Flat track bike looks like a cross between a motocross and a supermoto bike. They are made with speed and to go without slipping on the dirt. They are also equipped with high-performance parts for maximum racing capabilities.

Some Common Dirt Bike Questions

The following are the commonly asked questions on dirt bike you may want to know.

Where Does one Ride a Dirt Bike?

Dirt bikes being off-road bikes are rode on areas with jumps and obstacles to give the rider build some riding skills and have some fun. However, some countries allow people to ride dirt bikes on special tracks. Some dirt bikes, like dual-sports, are legally allowed to be used on streets. Therefore, you have to check your state laws to find out the legal places in which you can ride your dirt bike.

What is Motocross?

Motocross is an outdoor sport where dirt bikes ride over tough terrains. it usually covers 1 to 3 miles. The indoor version of the sport is called supercross.

What are the Types of Dirt Bike Riders?

Most dirt bike riders start out as children to gain riding skills on smaller cc bikes. Dirt bike riders are categorized according to their riding skills. They include casual riders, professional and motocross racers.

Final Thoughts

If you have an interest in dirt bikes, be sure to check the details of the above types and choose one that will work well for you. Have some fun!

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