What’s the Difference Between a Motorcycle and a Dirt Bike?

If you take a look at a motorcycle and a dirt bike side by side, you would see that they are quite similar to each other in terms of their appearance. However, behind their looks are the aspects that actually make them different from each other, and these aspects are the bikes’ materials, weight, and frame. Here are the differences between a motorcycle and a dirt bike.

Frame

Because a dirt bike is mainly used for off-road racing and stunts, its frame is typically much more lightweight and smaller compared to the one found in common motorcycles. Because of its lighter frame, the rider will be able to control the biker much easier in rocky or muddy terrain, and it would also be easier for him or her to make a jump over ramps. On the other hand, motorcycles have a heavier frame in order for them to have a smoother ride since it will stay on the ground much better. In addition, the heavier and bigger frame allows the motorcycle to have a more customizable appearance since the frame is able to carry multiple aesthetic pieces without compromising its performance.

off-road dirt bike

Parts

In order to fully utilize the frame’s lightness, most dirt bikes have plastic parts that add little to no weight to the frame. In addition, dirt bikes have fairly simple construction, so the parts that are installed in most of them are for utility purposes only without any bells and whistles. As for motorcycles, since they are mainly used for showing off their looks other than for transportation, they would typically have accessories that would be deemed “unnecessary” for dirt bikes, which are stereo systems or GPS devices. The extra accessories on motorcycles have almost no effect on their performance since their frame is able to withstand heavy parts.

Tires

The tires found on motorcycles are wider and slicker in appearance than the ones on dirt bikes, as the wideness contributes to the stable ride while the slickness of the tires is to make the ride much smoother. For dirt bikes, their tires are narrower for better control, and they also have studs to make them grip better on rough terrain. To understand how the studs work for the tires of the dirt bike, let us imagine that we have a pair of outdoor running shoes. These shoes, which are also known as trail shoes, would usually have lugs on their outsole that is not found on almost all common running shoes, and that is because the lugs would work better on rougher terrain that has soil, mud, or rocks since the lugs would allow the runner to run more smoothly without slipping on those areas. The same mechanics also applies to the tires of dirt bikes.

parked motorcycle

Suspension

Without suspension, the lightweight frame and the fragile plastic parts of a dirt bike will get destroyed after a couple of jumps, which is why most of its weight is allotted to its advanced suspension system that provides protection against impacts on the racecourse. The advanced suspension system found in most dirt bikes would have spring shocks and hydraulics that can repel or absorb impact between the tires and the terrain. For motorcycles, riders would usually have the option to install advanced suspension systems for their ride, especially if they own a luxury motorcycle, although powerful suspensions are not really needed if the rider would only take it on smooth roads. But, most motorcycles would have basic suspension systems just in case they deal with impacts on the road.

Seat

The seats on dirt bikes are relatively smaller to be more lightweight, and they are also facing a bit forward to allow the rider to stand up quicker for stunts or jumps. Also, the forward-facing seat will enable the rider to have a better grip on the handlebars since they are closer to the position of the seat. On the other hand, the seat on motorcycles is wider and bigger to make it more comfortable during long rides. In addition, the position of the seat for motorcycles is farther from the handlebars since the gap between them is much more comfortable for riders. While dirt bikes seat is also comfortable, they are actually not built for comfort but for utility.

Those are the five main differences between a motorcycle and a dirt bike. Both of these two-wheeled vehicles serve different purposes, although dirt bikes are mainly used for motorsports while motorcycles are much more common since they are built for the road. Knowing the differences between the two will make you realize that you shouldn’t use a dirt bike on the road because of its fragile parts and its frame that is too light for it to have a stable ride on cement, and you should also not use a motorcycle on rough terrain since they are not build to ride on rocks, soil, and mud.