10 Facts You Might Not Know About Dirt Bikes
There are few motorcycle variants more unique than dirt bikes. These lean machines are built for one purpose: to take you where other motorcycles just can’t. Dirt bikes are nimble and capable of navigating the great outdoors’ most unpredictable, roughest terrain, delivering the perfect adrenaline rush in the process.
Because these vehicles are so different from their cousins, there are some interesting facts you may not know. We here at Crossroad Powersports have put together some of our favorites—but if you’re looking for more, or you’re just hoping to browse our selection, contact our store in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will work with you to make sure you find what you need.
The History Of Dirt Bikes
There are few better places to go looking for trivia than history, and dirt bikes have some fascinating chapters in theirs.
1: Dirt Bikes Are From The United Kingdom
What you think of as a dirt bike can trace its ancestry back to the British-made BSA model. This off-road motorcycle soon jumped the pond to the United States, where it became the most popular model of dirt bike as soon as motocross became popular.
2: Dirt Bike Racing Is Over A Century Old Now
Motocross itself is thought to have evolved from the United Kingdom’s 1909 Auto Cycle quarterly trial event. During the roaring 20s, dirt bike racing events spread across the United Kingdom like a wildfire. The trend crossed the Atlantic in the 1950s, and a few decades later in 1972, the first stadium race was held in the LA Coliseum.
3: Japan Wasted No Time Entering And Dominating The Market
Starting in the 1970s, the United Kingdom’s dominance in the dirt bike manufacturing industry waned. In its place, Japan became the leading designers and manufacturers of dirt bikes—and they still are today! The leaders of the industry now include Yamaha®, Honda®, Kawasaki®, and Suzuki®.
Dirt Bike Designs
The history of dirt bikes is a fun one, but some of the strangest things about dirt bikes are in their design.
4: Some Chainsaws Are More Powerful Than Your Dirt Bike
As strange as it may sound, the average dirt bike engine is somewhere between 50 and 500cc. These lightweight, low-powered engines serve dirt bikes well, helping them maintain control and stay maneuverable. Meanwhile, chainsaw engines are between 30 and 120cc, which means the largest chainsaw engine is over twice as powerful as the smallest dirt bike engine! But that’s fine. Dirt bikes need only enough power to get over bumps, hills, rocks, and other obstacles, and that’s a much lower bar than cruising down the freeway.
5: As Mentioned, Dirt Bikes Are Lightweight
Dirt bike designs tend to be fairly minimalistic, utilizing lighter and fewer materials in order to minimize weight so that those smaller engines can still get the job done. Most models are lighter than 200 pounds thanks to things like aluminum frames and wheels, plastic fenders and panels, and so on. These materials are also more flexible, helping dirt bikes disperse the shock of their bumpy domains.
6: Dirt Bikes Are The Easiest Motorcycle To Customize
These are, as we’ve mentioned, lean machines. That’s more than a fun rhyme, it’s the truth—dirt bikes are stripped down to require as few materials as possible for their weight. This means that it’s much easier to add to or modify what’s there with aftermarket accessories. Since these aren’t on the road often, you don’t need to worry about street-legality, either.
7: Dirt Bikes Are Lean But Tall
Despite the minimal profile, dirt bikes are some of the tallest motorcycles. This is because they have between 12 and 13 inches of both front and rear suspension, boosting their suspension travel and improving the ride’s smoothness. Landings and riding in general will generate less force that reaches you, the rider, making them an easier ride on rough terrain.
The Experience
History and design are fun, but little of that translates directly to something you’ll experience. So what’s strange about riding dirt bikes?
8: They’re Not Normally Street Legal
Dirt bikes just aren’t safe on the road, lacking headlights and brake lights, rearview mirrors, turn signals, etc. They produce a lot of exhaust, so they don’t meet most emission standards. If you want your dirt bike to be highway-capable, you’re going to need some serious modifications and a special permit.
9: Full-Body Workout
Forget the gym and go explore nature! Your dirt bike is an incredible workout, burning calories, strengthening muscles, and improving your posture.
10: Impressive Feats
These machines are designed for adrenaline seekers, so it’s no surprise they’ve made and broken some incredible records, like:
- Caleb Wyatt landed the first dirt bike backflip in 2002.
- Ryan Capes holds the record for highest jump—78 feet.
- He also holds the record for furthest jump—390 feet and 4 inches.
If your interest is piqued, then you know who to call! We here at Crossroad Powersports are ready to help you get involved in the amazing dirt bike community. We proudly serve the people of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware—let us serve you today!