Dirt Bikes - Dare To Hit The Dirt
The dirt bikes are motorcycles that have been sturdily designed for cross-country riding across uneven roads, rough surfaces and bumpy tracks.
Want to head out into the wilderness? Raring to hit that long winding mountain trail But don't like the idea of trudging through miles of rough terrain well that is why you have the dirt bikes to do the roughing for you.
What are Dirt Road Bikes?
Dirt road bikes, also known as trail bikes, are lightweight motorcycles that are meant for riding on rough and uneven track. This particular kind of bikes are especially ideal for cross-country riding wherein you have to encounter unpaved roads, rocky and steep slopes and need a motorcycle that would withstand all the hammering and battering on its parts.
Since they have to take upon themselves a lot of pounding, dirt road bikes come with rugged tires and a suspension for a lot of travel. The tires are also made knotty so as to give the maximum grip on the surface you are biking on, be it dirt, mud, sand or pebbles. These bikes have quite high ground clearance, aided all the more by its featherweight.
These dirt road bikes are basically robust machines, but do not come with the same engine power as the conventional street bikes. In fact, the engines on the typical dirt road bikes don't even amount to 500 cc. The engine is placed high up to avoid hitting rocks, pebbles and other obstacles on the ground. The gas tank in the dirt road bike is fitted in the middle portion for the optimum balance.
Cross-country riding is a popular leisure and competition sport and hence the demand for good quality dirt road bikes is never on the wane. It is no wonder that the big shots like Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki are constantly coming up with newer and improved versions of the machine.
How To Care For Dirt Road Bikes?
1. Dirt road bikes are engineered to be robust and long lasting. But just to ensure that your bike remains in peak performing condition at all times, it is imperative that you know the How-To of taking care of your dirt bike. The following routine should suffice admirably:
2. A little bit of prodding and probing will help you ascertain the actual state of your bike. So don't hesitate to go in for regular replacements of the brake pads even if they seem to be in pristine condition. Most often, dirt, soap suds and other chemicals get wedged in the pads and lead to the friction material degrading.
3. Keep a regular lookout for the bearings. Put the bike on a stand so that the front wheel is lifted above the ground and then try to move the forks back and forth. If you detect any movement other than the suspension travel, then you can be rest assured that it's time for new bearings.
4. Your bike safety hinges to a large extent on the engine. With two-stroke engines, be wary when you hear slapping sounds. In all probability, it's the piston that's crying out to be tended to. If it's a four-stroke engine, then smell a rat the moment you hear it rumbling from the bottom and rhythmic noises from the top of the engine motor.
5. The tires of your dirt bike also need regular care to ensure that they maintain their hold over the riding surface and you don't slip and slide while you ride. What you need to do is check the tread of the tires after every ride and make sure that they are not smooth.
The dirt bike is your passport to hours of wanderings and taking the rough with a smooth.
