Motorcycles

Dirt bikes are also known as off-road bikes. They are designed specifically for riding off the paved road. Many people enjoy them. Let’s take a closer look at these amazing motorcycles.

Some people believe that all motorcycles were dirt bikes in the late 1800s. That’s when motorcycles first came into use. There were no paved roads. So by the strictest sense of the phrase, everyone was riding off-road. Early motorcycle races took place on flat oval tracks. But these were not paved. They were covered with cinders or dirt. So in a sense motocross and off road racing were there from the earliest days.

1959 saw the beginning of dirt bikes in America.  That’s when a man by the name of Honda opened up a tiny bike shop in Los Angeles, California.  Bikers were thought to be criminals.  No self-respecting person would ride a motorcycle.  Nobody had heard of an off road bike.  Honda had a brain storm.  His slogan was you meet the nicest people on Honda.  People all over the country heard the slogan.  The ad campaign included images of smiling ladies and tiny bikes riding along trails.  Thus was born the trail bike.

Today mini dirt bikes are becoming popular. People love them because they’re small and they cost a fraction of what normal sized bikes cost. They can be found from as little as $850-$1000. Now everyone who has wanted a bike can afford it. These bikes reach speeds of up to 80 miles an hour. That’s not bad.

People ride dirt bikes in many activities.  Thus a number of different bikes exist.  One of the most well-known is motocross.  This is a race on an off road track that includes ramps.  Motocross bikes stay light by carrying only a tiny amount of fuel.  They are not road legal.  They feature excellent suspensions.  The engines are tiny.

Another type of activity for dirt bikes is Enduro. This is long distance racing through forests or trails. These bikes have a larger fuel capacity than motocross bikes.

Track racing bikes are dirt bikes. Track racing is very high-speed. It takes place on an oval track, generally covered with dirt. These bikes have no breaks. Because the track is smoother than in motocross they also have no suspension. Generally these dirt bikes have two gears. They burn methanol and aren’t street legal.

So next time you think of dirt bikes, you’ll know there’s a lot of variety in the name.

Many people are thinking about alternative energy. They look at gasoline powered cars and think about ways to not only protect the environment but to quiet down the roadways. An electric dirt bike can accomplish this.

One company that produces these is Zero Motorcycles. Zero electric dirt bike is quiet, and performs well. Zero Motorcycles produces one of these.  The electric dirt bike they make is quiet and runs very well.  They couldn’t handle all the orders in 2008.  Of course only 45 had been produced by that time.  Their goal is to produce 2000 in 2009.  They will also introduce an electric street bike.

An electric dirt bike is great for riding in areas around the house.  These are areas like forest preserves or trails.  Normal bikes would draw the anger of neighbors.  They’re very loud.  But the electric version makes hardly any noise.  That’s why it’s becoming popular.

One negative of the electric dirt bike might be price.  They’re generally more expensive than comparable gasoline powered dirt bikes.  These bikes have a short range.  A charge is good for 40 miles.  That’s good for about two hours.  People enjoy riding for the whole day.  They won’t find a socket out in the wild.

Some veteran off-road riders see the electric dirt bike as a novelty. They don’t think it will last. One rider, also an editor of a motorcycle magazine, said “this is a good second bike, but not something most enthusiasts would want to own as an only bike.” But other people call them sexy and fun.

The founder of zero said he became interested in building an electric dirt bike in about 2002. He was formerly an aerospace engineer, but later became a motorcycle designer. He disagreed with people who think electric cycles are slow and boring. He dislikes off-the-shelf parts so many of the parts on his bikes are custom designed.

The big problem with an electric dirt bike is the battery.  Lithium ion batteries get very hot.  Zero needed an insulator around the batteries.  It’s a $4000 system that lasts for a little less than 6 years.  A full charge takes only 2 hours.  That’s not bad.  The motor has 23 hp and can go from zero to 30 in under two seconds.  Many riders like that performance.

Speaking of costs, the zero is about $7,000, this electric dirt bike also costs $300 to ship. They’re only sold online.  The overall goal for the company is to become big..

The electric dirt bike may be here to stay.