Dirt Bike Trivia
If you’ve ever witnessed a dirt bike rider exploring off the beaten trail or racing on a course, you may have daydreamed of experiencing that thrill firsthand on a dirt bike of your own. Here at Honda® of North Carolina, we love to serve dirt bike enthusiasts like you, which is why we have put together this list of interesting dirt bike trivia.
A Glimpse Into Dirt Bike History
1. Dirt Bikes Originated In The United Kingdom
The now-defunct British company known as Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited (BSA) was heavily involved in metalworking and produced various goods, including firearms and tools. The company’s most enduring legacy was undoubtedly its work producing the very first dirt bike models. The company may be gone today, but a new manufacturer still produces bikes under the BSA name.
2. Dirt Bike Racing Is Older Than You Might Think
What would eventually become modern dirt bike racing first got its start in the United Kingdom in the years leading up to World War I. Many point to the Auto Cycle quarterly trial event held in 1909 as the very first event. The 1920s saw dirt bike racing events popping up throughout the U.K., and it wouldn’t be until the 1950s that the sport made its way to the U.S. This culminated in 1972 when the L.A. Colosseum hosted the world’s first stadium race.
3. Dirt Bikes Are Big In Japan
Japan might well be called “The Land of Dirt Bikes.” Four major dirt bike manufacturers call the country home, and by some estimates, their output represents one-fourth of the total motorcycles sold.
Dirt Bike Design
1. Limited Engine Power
Dirt bike engines range in power from 50cc up to 500cc. For context, some of the more powerful commercially available chainsaws can have engine power of 100cc or more. In other words, your chainsaw might have more engine power than your dirt bike! Part of the reason why dirt bikes don’t boast much engine power is that they only need enough to get over bumps and hills. Once they get to the top, gravity can do the rest.
2. Dirt Bikes Are Lightweight
Dirt bikes are designed to be as light as possible. Light yet strong materials like aluminum and plastic are commonly used, while manufacturers do what they can to eliminate unnecessary parts. This helps make dirt bikes impressively fast despite not having much horsepower.
To shop our selection of dirt bike models, visit Honda® of North Carolina in Granite Falls, North Carolina. We also offer servicing and parts ordering, and we’re proud to serve communities like Newton and Hickory, North Carolina.