In this article, we talk about the different types of dirt bikes that are available on the market for any rider.
Short answer is:
There are 9 types of dirt bikes that you can ride off-road:
- Supercross Dirt Bike
- Motocross Dirt Bike
- Cross Country Dirt Bike
- Enduro Single Track Dirt Bike
- Kids Dirt Bike
- Street Legal or Dual sport Dirt Bikes
- Trials Dirt Bike
- Electric Dirt Bike
- Pit Bikes
Let’s dive into all the different types of dirtbikes that are available today.
Table of Contents
Supercross type dirt bikes
Supercross dirt bikes are what you see on TV and these types of dirt bikes have a stiffer suspension, gearing, and engine that is tuned for this type of riding.
Built for this type of dirt bike riding they generally do not do very well in the other types of dirt bike riding.
In contrast to other dirt bikes, such as those used for enduro, trail riding, or standard motocross, Supercross bikes must excel in a unique, closed-off, stadium-like environment where the audience is up close, and the action is fast-paced.
While other off-road bikes are designed with versatility in mind, adaptable to various types of terrain and longer endurance events, Supercross bikes are honed for short, intense bursts of speed, precision control, and high-flying agility that define the thrilling spectacle of Supercross racing.
My recommendation for Supermoto Bikes:
2024 KTM 690 SMC R– New model of Supermoto Bike from KTM with 690cc, powerful bike for every dirt biker who wants to experience new suspension and new features of Supermoto Bikes.
2024 Husqvarna FS 450– Lightweight design for incredible off-roading, this new Supermoto Bike allows you to experience off-roading like no other bike. Perfect for someone who is looking for a new upgrade in their collection.
2024 Kawasaki KLX 300 SM– The New Kawasaki Supermoto bike has rapidly gained popularity because of the new game-changing features of the previous model. With a 4-stroke single engine, this Supermoto is the top choice in the off-roading world.
Motocross type dirt bikes
Motocross dirt bikes are the same as supercross dirt bikes. They also have a stiffer suspension, gearing, and engine that is made for motocross racing.
Just like supercross, motocross dirt bikes are not performing well in the other types of dirt bike riding.
Motocross bikes are, without a doubt, engineering masterpieces tailored for the grueling demands of competitive off-road racing. These machines are a testament to the perfect synergy of speed, agility, and resilience.
As someone deeply entrenched in the world of dirt biking, I can attest that every single aspect of these bikes, from their roaring engines to their precision-tuned exhaust systems, robust chassis, cutting-edge suspensions, and high-grip tires, is meticulously crafted to conquer the challenging terrain of motocross tracks.
Top 3 Motocross Bikes in the market
2024 GasGas MC 450F– New Ergonic Motocross from GasGas is new era of dirt biking.The 2024 GasGas MC 450F stands out as a top-tier motocross machine, blending power, agility, and innovative engineering.
2024 Kawasaki KX450– The new Motocross by Kawasaki is engineered to dominate motocross tracks, offering a thrilling ride that’s both powerful and refined.
2024 Honda CRF450R– The Honda CRF450R is designed for those who are fast and fervent, offering the pinnacle of race-ready engineering and technology.
Cross Country Dirt Bike Type
Closely related to its motocross brother with suspension, gearing, and engine tuning set for riding in the wide-open desert types of riding. Typically this is the best all-around do it all type of dirt bike. These dirt bikes come with an electric start and an 18″ rear tire. While not built specifically for motocross riding these cross country dirt bikes are close enough cousins that you can ride a motocross track without very many changes. You can also ride these types of dirt bikes on singletrack in a more technical types of riding.
This is the reason the cross country dirt bikes tend to be the do it all dirt bikes.
(Closed Course Race Bike)
The Best Cross Country Dirt Bikes for 2024
2024 Yamaha YZ450FX– The new upgraded model of Yamaha is the perfect Cross Country Dirt Bike for everyone who wants to explore the most challenging Dirt Bike trails with excellent off-road performance.
2024 Kawasaki KX 250X– New model offers a lightweight ergonomic design for better performance in every trail. With 4- stroke single cylinder this cross-country dirt bike is racer friendly.
2024 Husqvarna TX300– This Husqvarna cross country dirt bike ensures remarkable versatility, with cutting-edge technical innovations and top-tier components.
Enduro Dirt Bike Type
In the past, an enduro dirt bike usually meant that it was street legal. However, with the rise of competitive hard enduro racing, we have seen a HUGE resurgence in the 2 stroke market with these offroad hard enduro dirt bikes. Made for technical single track riding they come with an electric start, grunty motor, and 18″ rear wheel.
Also under this is trail dirt bikes these are dirt bikes that are more detuned than its hard enduro race brothers.
(Closed Course Race Bike)
Top 3 Enduro Dirt Bikes
2024 Beta RR 125- This new Enduro Model has with innovative design and performance. This is the perfect Enduro for experts with new cutting-edge technology.
2024 KTM 350 EXC-F- The 2024 KTM 350 EXC-F sets the standard for dual-sport excellence, blending KTM’s renowned performance with unmatched versatility and agility.
2024 Yamaha WR450F– The new design of the Yamaha WR450F is lighter and slimmer for better performance on most uneven trails.
Street Legal Dirt Bike Type
Closely related to its enduro cousins these are dirt bikes that have all the safety and emissions required in order to ride your dirt bike on the street. Every Dirt bike is able to ride on off-road trails but with so many upgrades on the bike, you can make your dirt bike street-legal. These dirt bikes must have mirrors, horns, and DOT-approved tires.
Today we have many options for dirt bikes, enduro, and many more. Those dirt bikes with proper upgrades and registration MIGHT be street-legal. The legality of dirt bike usage varies significantly based on your location, as rules often change from one place to another. Navigating these regulations can be challenging, especially with the added complexity of specific laws that may be imposed by local county, town, or city governments. It’s important to diligently research and understand these rules, although it might require a considerable amount of time.
Kids Types of Dirt Bikes
Everyone has been there, right?
The safest way if your child is interested in the off-road world is to start with a youth dirt bike.
Dirt Bikes designed for kids also are manufactured by the same companies as other dirt bikes like Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, and many more. A kids’ dirt bike offers a scaled-down, beginner-friendly version of adult models, providing young riders with a thrilling introduction to off-road biking, emphasizing safety, manageable power, and lightweight design for ease of handling and confidence-building.
Top 3 Youth Dirt Bikes
2024 KTM 50 SX- Boasting top-tier features akin to full-sized motocross models, unmatched quality, and unique height adjustability, this is the elite 50cc motocross bike on the market, as reviewed by an expert.
2024 Honda CRF50F– Idea size, 4-stroke engine perfect for beginners in off-roading.
2024 Yamaha PW50– Powerful youth dirt bike with perfect size and automatic transmission.
Trials Dirt Bike
These are unique types of dirt bikes. Specifically built for trial dirt bike riding or racing. They typically are lightweight and have no seat. Ideal for acrobatic-like maneuvers over rocks, boulders, logs, stumps, and even man-made obstacles. Their max speed is 45mph. One important thing to remember is choosing the right tires for this trial bikes. Powerful brake and suspension system.
The Best Trial Dirt Bike for 2024
2024 GasGas TXT GP 250- Lightweight design with robust frame for navigation. Also important to mention is the Shock Absorber for more consistent shock performance on uneven terrain.
2024 Beta EVO FACTORY 300– The lineup is rounded off with precision-engineered triple clamps, a hydro-formed aluminum chassis, a tubeless rear wheel setup, and meticulously calibrated carburetion and ignition systems for peak performance.
2024 Montesa COTA 301RR– Trial Bike with 229cc, innovative design, powerful engine and robust frame.
Disclaimer: Toni Bou won the World FIM World Championship with this Trial Bike.
Electric Dirt Bike Type
When buying an E Dirt Bike must know a few things. They are more expensive than traditional ones, they need better maintenance, and battery capacity is also a thing to consider. We are starting to see electric types of dirt bikes. KTM has started making electric dirt bikes.
E-dirt bikes gained popularity over the past years. Today we have many options on the market with different performances, battery life, and design.
The Best E-Dirt Bikes
Stark Varg– Powerful Dirt Bike with excellent battery life. With full recharging in 1-2 hours and over 6 hours ride on easy terrain.
Sur-Ron X– Lightweight design ideal for beginners in dirt biking. Fully charging in 4 hours. Powerful battery with up to 30 miles range.
Segway Dirt eBike X260– Electric Dirt Bike with Lithium battery and perfect lightweight design.
Dirt Bike History of 2-stroke vs 4-stroke
For a long time, the 2 stroke dirt bike held the highest honors as the top racing dirt bike. At that time most of the 4 strokes were air-cooled and not nearly as powerful or fast as the 2 strokes.
Per CC a 2 stroke makes more horsepower than a 4 stroke!
Dirt bikes come in all sorts of sizes and styles. It’s important that you choose the right type of dirt bike for the type of dirt bike riding you plan on doing.
Luckily for use, the dirt bike manufactures have spent the research dollars and have come up with a dirt bike for any rider and any rider skill.
You have dirt bikes for kids, teenagers, Young Adults, Adults, and Older Adults.
Now there really is only 2 type of engines when it comes to dirt biking.
- 4 Strokes
- 2 Strokes
At that time the 4 stroke still was not as good as the tried and true 2 stroke dirt bikes. Four strokes were heavy and had a lower power to weight ratio.
But the manufactures decided that they did not want all their research dollars to go to waste so they started forcing all of their professional dirt bike riders onto 4-strokes. They worked hard on telling the dirt bike consumer that 4strokes were better than 2 strokes.
This almost killed 2 stroke dirt bikes and did in the supercross and motocross area.
Luckily, In the mid-2000s a major offroad/enduro resurgence started for form and this started to breathe new life into the 2 strokes.
You see, a 2 stroke dirt bike is better at going slow with the right 2 stroke motor and gearing versus a comparable 4 stroke. Two-strokes are lighter, cheaper to maintain, and do not flame out.
However, fast forward to today and in supercross and motocross racing you see really powerful and lightweight 4 stroke dirt bikes. The offroad and enduro racing world is dominated by modern 2 strokes.
Interestingly enough the offroad dirt bike world has become the leader in dirt bike sales.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are a few different types of dirt bikes out there but you really can only choose a 2 stroke or 4 stroke dirt bike. Keep in mind a motocross dirt bike is completely different than a closed course hard enduro dirt bike.
You need to make sure you are getting the right dirt bike for the type of riding you plan on doing. If you plan on doing a bit of everything I would recommend getting a cross-country dirt bike. Almost all the major dirt bike manufacturers make cross-country dirt bikes.
As of 2024, we have updated our selection to include the latest models of every type of dirt bike, ensuring that enthusiasts and professionals alike have access to the most advanced and suitable options on the market. Almost all leading dirt bike manufacturers now offer state-of-the-art cross-country models, catering to riders seeking a versatile, all-encompassing off-road experience.
FAQ About How Many Types of Dirt Bikes Are There?
How many different kinds of dirt bikes are there?
There are several main types of dirt bikes, each designed for specific off-road disciplines. The primary categories include motocross (MX) bikes, enduro bikes, trail bikes, dual-sport bikes, and trials bikes.
What type of dirt bike is the fastest?
Among the various models, 450cc 4-stroke motocross bikes are often considered the fastest due to their powerful engines combined with advanced suspension systems and high-tech components, enabling them to achieve remarkable speeds in off-road conditions.
Is 2-stroke or 4-stroke faster?
Generally, 4-strokes tend to offer more controllable and sustained power, which can translate to faster speeds on longer or more technical tracks.
What are street-legal dirt bikes called?
Street-legal dirt bikes are commonly referred to as dual-sport bikes. These motorcycles are equipped to handle both off-road trails and paved roads legally.
