Which dirt bike is best? There is no universal “best” motorcycle that will suit everyone. The choice depends on your goals, experience in driving a two-wheeled horse and the conditions where you will test it.
We will tell you which bike to choose for a beginning off-road conqueror, and what to look for for those who are looking for a motorcycle for country rides or off-road motorcycle tourism. We will also recommend equipment for fans of hardcore racing through forests, sand and mud.
Cross
These beasts are designed for heavy off-road and specially difficult trails. They are distinguished by a durable frame and indestructible suspension. Their original purpose was motocross racing. Therefore, they are suitable for professional sports and experienced riders. Motocross requires the bike to operate at maximum speed, so their engine is tuned to realize its full potential at the top. The motorcycle is as lightweight as possible and does not have lighting, turn signals or an electric starter.
A nice bonus for owners of cross-country racing cars - they do not require registration with the traffic police. Officially, bikes in this category are classified as sports equipment. Accordingly, driving them on public roads is prohibited. These motorcycles are designed for 100% off-road use.
Conclusion: motocross motorcycles are fast animals, have a narrow scope of use and are suitable for those who are already experienced in off-road riding and are ready for extreme sports. Of course, anyone can purchase them. But without sufficient experience, you are unlikely to have fun fighting the explosive nature of the cross-sac. A cross-country motorcycle will not make even an experienced motorcyclist bored.
If you are choosing a cross bike, then pay attention to the KAWASAKI KX450F. The ultimate racing bike with lots of advantages. Four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. Kawasaki is famous for its good handling, and this model is no exception.
SUZUKI RM-Z450. If you want a controlled and quiet 450cc motocross bike, then this is the option for you. The powerband is suitable for the intermediate rider. It's not particularly fast, but if you're not looking to set world records, you'll appreciate its easy-going nature.
HONDA CRF250R. Unlike the previous version, this bike is explosive and sharp. It has a high torque, due to this the motorcycle accelerates easily and quickly, and turns smoothly. Good low-end traction is complemented by a lightweight suspension.
Difference in engine cooling systems
On motocross motorcycles there is no need to use an additional cooling fan, since due to the high speed, the incoming air flow is sufficient for effective cooling. In enduro, a fan is as necessary as air. If there is no such thing, the engine will boil at the first obstacle. And by the way, like a headlight, installing a fan on a motocross motorcycle is just as problematic due to a weak generator.
Enduro
The next type of SUV is suitable for both beginner motorcyclists and those who want to turn off city roads onto dusty country roads. In general, enduros are often confused with motocross motorcycles, since they have a lot in common. Here are some similarities: the ground clearance of a classic enduro is about 30 cm, long-travel suspensions (average 280 mm), 21-inch spoked wheels at the front and 18 or 19 inches at the rear.
What distinguishes an enduro from a motocross motorcycle is the presence of light optics, a mount for a license plate, and a less powerful engine. The enduro engine is designed for quiet, “pull-up” driving off-road. Therefore, the motor has high torque at low and medium speeds. The suspensions are softer than on cross-country ones, which provides a more comfortable ride over rough terrain. Typically, enduro bikes have an electric starter. This makes it easy to get out if you stall in a deep rut or on a steep climb.
Conclusion: enduro motorcycles are more flexible than their cross-country motorcycle racing counterparts. They have a soft ride and are easier to control. Suitable for long distance driving in different road conditions.
This type of bike is divided into several subcategories. Therefore, among the variety of enduro, you can choose a motorcycle for riding on asphalt roads, off-road, forest potholes, for country rides and even extreme tricks. It’s also worth taking a closer look at them if you want to join the ranks of off-road motorcycle tourism enthusiasts.
Classification:
- Soft enduro
- Hard enduro
- Tour-enduro
Soft or civilian enduro bikes are suitable for city and off-road driving. Lightweight (up to 130-140 kg), volume from 200 to 650 cc, single-cylinder four-stroke engines (about 30 hp for 250 cc and 40 hp for 400 cc), soft suspension.
Their engines are highly wear-resistant, the motorcycles are strong and unpretentious. The simplicity of the design ensures their reliability and makes enduro bikes suitable for long trips.
The big advantage of soft enduro is that they are also suitable for use in the city. Lightweight, maneuverable, easy to control - they can compete with road motorcycles. They have a number of advantages over the latter: they can jump onto the curb, go around a traffic jam in the forest or off-road, and playfully overcome potholes, ruts and pits.
But if you are planning long, long trips on asphalt, you will soon realize that you cannot sit on the narrow seat for long. However, on off-road they are more organic - there the rider covers kilometers in a standing position.
YAMAHA WR250R Liquid-cooled engine, electric starter, reliable suspension, good frame. The safety margin of this bike is enough for years and hundreds of thousands of kilometers. On one gas station it travels up to 175 kilometers.
SUZUKI DJEBEL 200 - belongs to the subclass of “mountain” software. Lightweight, small-capacity enduro with a high-torque engine and short gearbox. It is designed for conditions where there is only one direction from the road. Suitable for climbing mountains, riding through mud and jumping over logs.
A soft-enduro motorbike will allow you not only to get far into the forest, but also to return back without any problems. They are reliable, easy to maintain, have a calm character and high cross-country ability. Ideal for beginners - suitable for comfortable driving around the city, regardless of the quality of the roads. At the same time, they are designed to hone your off-road driving skills.
Hard enduro - motorcycles for extreme riding. Requires special skills in extreme control of a two-wheeled horse. For those who want to test themselves and their technique, improve their skills, or try their hand at sports.
These motorcycles have a short lifespan and high specific power. Lightweight, agile. Designed to conquer artificial obstacles on competitive tracks. They can also cope with the most difficult natural obstacles: mountain streams, fallen trees, rocky climbs.
Anyone who decides to switch to a hard bike will have to master the correct technique of jumping and overcoming obstacles, learn the intricacies of balance and distribution of body weight along the axes of the motorcycle, depending on the situation.
KTM 250 EXC Two-stroke, with long-travel suspension, high ground clearance and elasticity of the engine. . The bike is designed so that it is suitable for a wide variety of sports disciplines: rally, enduro, cross, trophy and triad. Every component and assembly of the motorcycle is reliably protected. This makes it possible to cross mountain streams and knead mud in impassable wilderness. This motorcycle is suitable for you if riding on dirt roads and potholes is already too boring and monotonous for you.
Drivetrain Differences
Again, long gears are important on motocross motorcycles, since during the race, gears are practically not used. The cross bikes have five gears. The star ratio is set to high speed. In enduro, the gears are shorter and there are usually six of them. The star ratio is selected taking into account the fact that the best traction is needed.
Tour-enduro
These motorbikes are distinguished by increased comfort, heavy weight (from 200 kg) and large fuel tanks. They are designed for long, multi-hour trips. They can travel 300 kilometers or more on one gas station. The touring-enduro has a straight seat, ground clearance of 25 cm and soft suspension travel. All this allows you to cover kilometers of roads without paying much attention to the quality of the road surface.
Tourist wheels are usually spoked, the front wheels are 21 or 19 inches. This ensures a smooth ride and ease of control on poor surfaces. Tour-enduro engines range from 600 to 1200 cubic centimeters, most often two-cylinder. They are reliable, simple and unpretentious. After all, “tourists” were created for long trips and must withstand the road with or without any surface.
KTM 1190 ADVENTURE Conquers offroad like a real “combat” enduro. It is powerful, heavy and has confident maneuverability.
BMW R1200GS Fans of motorcycle trips go on long trips and even circumnavigate the world on this beauty. Equipped with an opposed two-cylinder engine, the manufacturer puts a lot of electronics on it. The presence of a cardan eliminates the hassle of tightening and lubricating the chain. This horse is heavy, high-torque, powerful and fast. Therefore, a lot of people around the world choose it for travel.
A properly selected off-road motorcycle will bring you a lot of excitement and invaluable experience from conquering impassable trails.
Electric starter
On motocross motorcycles, the engine starts only at the beginning of the race, so there is no great need for an electric starter. In addition, an electric starter is extra weight. In enduro, the presence of an electric starter is a very desirable option, especially for four-stroke engines. In order to start a four-stroke from Kickstarter, especially if it’s upside down and flooded, you need to make a fire, get a dragon’s claw and a polar owl’s feather, and jump on Kickstarter for a long, long time. In general, you understand))
Final decision
Touring enduros can be divided into two types. The former feel great in off-road conditions and cope excellently with any conditions on the road, but are less comfortable when driving on the highway. The latter, on the contrary, are comfortable, but can fail in difficult areas.
There is always some dualism in choosing such a motorcycle. As a rule, almost any route consists mainly of driving on the highway, and only some, although often the most beautiful places, will have to be driven off-road, which may turn out to be quite passable under normal weather conditions. Therefore, you should decide what is better: to endure inconvenience during the main route, but easily pass difficult places, or to drive comfortably along the highway and “sweat” through difficulties.
However, there is a third option: traveling with a large group. The optimal option is 5-6 people, including a backup driver.
