by Phil Zertisky
The whine of the engine, the thrill of the race, and plumes of dust flying everywhere – it’s a dirt bike race and it’s so exciting! But what are dirt bikes and where do they come from? What makes them different from street-legal motorcycles and why do the boys go crazy for them?
Motorcycles started out as bicycles with an internal combustion engine strapped to them in a way that would turn the wheels. Unlike the more complicated trucks and cars of the early days, motorcycles were not hard to make. As more roads were made and became paved, some motorbikes were geared towards street driving while others continued to be used in fields for personal reasons. These were the first dirt bikes.
A helmet should always be worn on either a motorcycle or a dirt bike. However, more than just personal safety is involved in making a bike safe for street use, or ’street legal’. Motorcycles have important instruments, lights, a horn and other things that dirt bikes don’t have. This is to make them safer to ride around people. A dirt bike needs to be safe just for the person who will be riding it.
It’s not that hard to turn a dirt bike into a street legal machine. With a few attachments, dirt bikes can easily adapt to the streets. That’s an important thing to be able to do, since they are so popular. But it’s the things that can’t be changed or rather, won’t be changed that appeal to the real dirt bike enthusiasts.
The suspension that a dirt bike requires is going to be very different than what a motorcycle will need for traveling on streets. Dirt bikes are used on more rugged terrain than motorcycles are, and the suspension will be what keeps the bike intact as well as makes the ride endurable for the rider. Whether it’s a muddy field or a sandy desert, a dirt bike has to endure a good deal of bouncing and landing. Suspension makes all the difference in this regard.
Dirt bikes also have very little bodywork to them. Their design is simple and hardier than with motorcycles. Ground clearance is important because of the difficult terrains a dirt bike might have to cover. Where a motorcycle can be stylized for looks and leisure, a dirt bike is all about taking a beating and getting back up. Dirt bikes often end up rolling over or falling to their sides, hopefully without pinning their drivers to the ground.
Dirt bikes can be used in many different ways. A rally race or ‘rallies’ require the cyclist to travel long distances on a bike that is street legal or nearly there. Fuel tanks on rally bikes will be bigger than on other types of dirt bikes. Motocross races will use bikes that have no lights or indicator instruments, and riders will run a course that includes many jumps. Track racing is usually done in an oval track and bikes will have no brakes, no real suspension and two gears at the most. Trials will push a rider’s ability to balance and ride with precision, rather than pushing the limits of a bike’s speed. Each of these race types has its own style of bike it uses.
Dirt bike enthusiasts follow the sport with glee. Riders often seem like daredevils, even if they are typically well padded and geared and guaranteed at least some level of safety in the sport they choose. Dirt bikes are not like motorcycles, though they aren’t a far cry from the easy riders or choppers one sees on popular television. The sport of dirt biking is intended for a different breed of human and requires a thrill seeker, someone ready to challenge the abilities of their vehicle.
Are you looking for a fun hobby? Look into purchasing a dirt bike for that hobby. There are many types of dirt bikes to look at online. Head online today and find out more.
