Quick Dirt Bike Trivia
If you’ve seen a picture of a dirt bike kicking up sheets of sand or dirt behind the rider, you’ve probably become swept up in daydreams of conquering the toughest of trails on an ultra-fast bike. For newcomers and old hands alike, the dirt bike enthusiasts at Tracy Motorsports have put together this list of their favorite dirt bike trivia.
A Glimpse Into Dirt Bike History
1. Dirt Bikes Originated In The United Kingdom.
The modern dirt bike is descended from the early models produced by the now defunct Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited (BSA). A British company that manufactured a variety of goods including firearms, tools, and many different kinds of metalworking, dirt bikes are almost certainly their most enduring legacy, and the motorcycles are still produced by a different company under the BSA brand name.
2. Dirt Bike Racing Is Older Than You Think
While it may be strange to imagine people participating in motocross before and between the World Wars, the modern sport is thought to have evolved from the United Kingdom's Auto Cycle quarterly trial event held in 1909. Throughout the 1920s, dirt bike racing events sprung up throughout the U.K. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the trend found its way to the United States. The LA Coliseum had the honor of hosting the first stadium race in 1972.
3. Big In Japan
Japan usually conjures up images of cherry blossoms rather than dirt trails and trial courses, but the country might well be called “The Land Of Dirt Bikes”. Starting in the 1970s and continuing to this day, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers have been the leaders of the dirt bike industry. Four major dirt bike manufacturers, including Yamaha®, Honda®, Kawasaki®, and Suzuki® all call Japan home.
Dirt Bike Design
4. Chainsaws Are Sometimes More Powerful Than A Dirt Bike.
Dirt bike engines range from 50cc to 500cc at the largest. Meanwhile, 50cc is the upper limit for a domestic chainsaw, with professional models going up to 100cc. As strange as it sounds, a chainsaw having more engine power than a dirt bike is not unheard of. Dirt bikes can make do with less powerful engines because off-roading only requires enough power to push over bumps and hills. Though dirt bikes would struggle on a straight, flat highway, they have absolutely no problem navigating a course.
5. Dirt Bikes Are Lightweight.
Despite and in fact because of their small engines, dirt bikes are very fast by virtue of being extremely light. Materials that are lightweight but still very strong keep many models under 200 pounds while still allowing them to withstand the rigors of off-roading.
6. Dirt Bikes Are Often The Easiest Motorcycle Type To Customize.
The need to be as light as possible leads to designs that strip out any unnecessary parts. This simplicity of design means that dirt bikes are among the easiest motorcycles to customize with aftermarket accessories.
7. Dirt Bikes Are Taller Than Other Motorcycles.
Many dirt bike models have 12-13 inches of front and rear suspension, making them taller than other motorcycle types. This provides a host of benefits, including more suspension travel, smoother riding, better shock absorption on landing, and overall makes riding easier on both the motorcycle and the rider.
The Dirt Bike Riding Experience
8. Off-road, Not On-road
Though they excel at off-road maneuvering, dirt bikes should never be driven on a street or highway. There are a couple of reasons for this, most notably the lack of important safety features, like headlights, brake lights, rearview mirrors, and turn signals. Dirt bikes also usually do not meet emission standards.
If you want a dirt bike that can be driven on the road, you will have to heavily modify your dirt bike and get a permit. It may be simpler to buy a dual-sport cycle, which is essentially a dirt bike designed to have the necessary modifications built-in.
9. Dirt Bike Riding Is A Great Workout.
While outsiders might think that the bike does all the work, dirt biking does require a degree of athleticism, especially when you are talking about higher level competitions like motocross. Properly controlling a motorcycle off-road requires conscious effort by the rider. A good dirt bike ride burns calories, strengthens muscles, and improves posture.
We hope you enjoyed this dirt bike trivia. If you are interested in learning more or test driving some dirt bikes, visit Tracy Motorsports at our dealership in Tracy, California. We are proud to serve the central California area, and we welcome guests from cities like Stockton and Livermore.