How Does
How Dirt Bikes Work
By Isaiah
eHow Contributing Writer
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Dirt Bike Basics
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Dirt bikes are motorcycles designed for off=road racing and recreation. Although they can be ridden on road, dirt bikes are heavily specialized for dirt riding and are not as stable as other motorcycles on the road. Dirt bikes include motorcross and supercross bikes designed for short, intense arena races, enduro bikes designed for long outdoor races and supermoto bikes that race on a mixture of light off-road and paved courses. The dirt bikes that people use for casual off-roading are usually motorcross bikes.
Dirt Bike Design
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Dirt bikes are designed for difficult climbs, high jumps and loose dirt. They have knobby, low-pressure tires that grab the dirt, absorb shock and resist puncture. They also have a lot of suspension travel to allow them to absorb the shock jumping and riding over broken terrain. They are small, lightweight and maneuverable, with short nearly vertical forks and a short wheelbase.
Performance On the Road
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The same characteristics that make dirt bikes at home off road make them unstable and difficult to ride on the road. Most road bikes are heavier, with a longer wheelbase and less vertical fork than dirt bikes. This makes them more stable at high speeds and less prone to swerving. In addition, road bikes have tighter suspensions and higher pressure tires designed for the small bumps of pavement. The low-pressure tires and loose suspensions of dirt bikes make them bounce and wobble a lot on the road. For these reasons, dirt bikes are mostly used for off-road racing and recreation.
eHow Article: How Dirt Bikes Work
