WHAT IS DIRT BIKE
The Evolution of the Dirt Bike
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| WHAT IS DIRT BIKE |
The evolution of
off-road motorcycles, commonly called dirt
bikes, is a long and complicated story. The first
motorcycles were actually nothing more than modified bicycles with attached
gasoline engines. These powered bicycles were amazing inventions in their day.
Unreliable, but amazing methods of transportation, these motorcycles began
captivating people across the globe. Since paved streets were not quite the
norm at the time, motorcycles generally could be considered dirt bikes right
from the start. No single person or company has been credited with the
invention of the dirt bike. Off-road motorcycling is really an evolution of
many years, with better tires, better suspension and seats, stronger frames,
and better control features being credited to many individuals who were
essentially modifying their own bikes for better off-road use. Triumph
motorcycles did however design a motorcycle specifically built for dirt riding
in 1914, although this model is not actually credited with being the first dirt
bike.
Motocross racing seems
to have had it origins in Europe, very possibly France with these early
motorcycles being raced through wooded trails or racing to the top of a
mountainous road for publicity. Many of these early races were not races of
speed but races against time where riders simply competed against each other on
an individual basis. Racing expanded as did the production of motorcycles to include
scrambles and cross country events which excited and entertained spectators.
Incidentally, the word motocross was derived from the words motorcycle and
cross-country. The races would eventually be moved to a shorter, closed track
for easier viewing by the spectators and better monitoring of the racers
themselves. With the world at war and the Great Depression, off-road
motorcycles may not have been a priority concept with people for many years but
the interest in dirt racing wasn't about to go away. Then Soichiro Honda came
along in 1946 with his idea to produce cheap transportation for people after
the second world war. Honda became the most predominant name in motorcycles and
dirt bikes in particular, undoubtedly due to the fact that they are the largest
motorcycle manufacturer in the world. They were joined by other manufacturers
over the years who would eventually become household names as well. Suzuki
produced their first motorcycle in 1954, Yamaha in 1955, and Kawasaki in 1960.
Although dirt bikes were still far in the future for the big four, this was the
beginning of the onslaught of a motorsport unlike any other. Dirt bikes
and dirt bike racing would eventually become one of the most popular
motorsports in the world.
After a mix of both two
stroke and four stroke motors in various models through the years, Honda
finally designs and builds a competitive two stroke motocross motor in 1972. It
reached the USA in 1973 and is called the Elsinore CR250. It immediately
becomes the fastest production off-road race bike in its class and placed Honda
alone at the top of the heap in regard to motocross racing. In the 1970's,
motocross racing would finally do what motorcycle manufacturers hoped it would.
Off-road motorcycling would become a recreational activity not unlike bicycling
with its popularity exploding among the general public. The big four Japanese
manufacturers would eventually produce a full product line of dirt bikes in a
variety of sizes for various racing classes and ages. Children's dirt bikes
would become available for those early starters and dual-use motorcycles would
also become available with dirt tires and suspension along with street-legal
features. Other manufacturers also joined the specialized dirt bike market
including Maico, Gas Gas, and KTM.
To this day, dirt bikes
continue their evolution with almost constant improvement in weight reduction,
suspension, engine reliability, and overall performance. They are used as
weekend recreational vehicles by millions of people around the world. The world
of motocross racing has become more popular than ever before thanks to dirt
bike riding basically evolving into an art form. Freestyle riding and stunt
riding are captivating more young riders every year and the manufacturers
continue to respond by producing high quality, cutting edge dirt
bikes.
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