David Armentrout - Dirt Bikes

David and Patricia Armentrout

2006 Rourke Publishing LLC

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

www.rourkepublishing.com

PHOTO CREDITS: Suzuki

: Some riders seem to spend more time in the air than on the ground.

Editor: Frank Sloan

Cover and page design by Nicola Stratford

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Armentrout, David, 1962

Dirt bikes / David and Patricia Armentrout.

p. cm. -- (Motorcycle mania) Includes index.

ISBN 1-59515-453-1 (hardcover)

1. Trail bikes--Juvenile literature. I. Armentrout, Patricia, 1960- II.

Title. III. Series.

TL441.A74 2006

629.227'5--dc22

2005010411

Printed in the USA

CG/CG

www.rourkepublishing.com

Post Office Box 3328, Vero Beach, FL 32964

Motorcycles built for off-road riding are often called dirt bikes. They are lighter and easier to handle than their street-legal cousins.

Dirt bikes are built to handle rough trail riding.

Dirt bikes go where no other motorcycles dare.

Dirt bikes dont have fancy accessories or big, comfortable seats. One thing is for sure: Dirt bikes are built for fun!

Dirt bikes are well-designed machines built for a specific purposethey are not just stripped down versions of road bikes. Some are designed for racing, while others are designed for trail riding. Most dirt bikes, however, are not legal for street use.

Street legal motorcycles must have equipment such as lights, mirrors, turn signals, and a state-issued license or tag.

Fat, knobby tires are perfect for off-road riding.

Dirt bikes are classified by the size of their engines. The bigger the engine, the more power it has. Bigger engines, however, are not always better. Some riders choose bikes with smaller engines. They are lighter and can be easier to control on jumps and curves.

Dirt bike engines are measured in , or ccs. Standard engine sizes include 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc.

Young riders gain experience riding 50cc bikes.

Full-size dirt bikes weigh less than 220 pounds (100 kilograms). But they have to be strong to handle the abuse of rough trails. Special systems soak up the bumps, so the rider doesnt have to.

Riders love to learn tricks and get air off big jumps.

Riders shift their weight in order to maintain control on bumpy terrain.

Knobby tires grab the trail and provide traction in slippery mud. Powerful engines have to be quick and dependable, even after being submerged in water or covered in several inches of mud.

If you plan to be a dirt bike racer, enduro racing is a great place to get started. Enduros can be long and challenging. Enduro races test the riders skill and endurance. Races range from a few miles to 150 miles (241 kilometers) long. An Enduro course takes riders through woods, across streams, and over dusty trails.

Riders are judged on their ability to maintain measured speeds over rough terrain. Enduro bikes are dirt bikes, but unlike most off-road motorcycles, they must be street legal.

No matter what kind of motorcycle you ride, it is important to wear proper safety gear such as an approved helmet and tough boots.

Enduro racers must keep a steady pace as they tackle difficult terrain.

motorcycle racing.

Dirt bike racers must wear full-faced helmets and body armor to protect themselves in an accident.

Motocross tracks are made up of hills, jumps, and tight turns.

Supercross is similar to motocross, but the races are held inside on man-made tracks. The track is shorter, ranging from 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 kilometers) long. Racetrack designers use up to 800 tons of dirt to build steep, gut-wrenching jumps, . Skill isnt enough to get riders through these amazing courses. It also takes a lot of nerve.

Football stadiums, large arenas, and domes are the only places large enough for supercross events.

A lightweight frame and heavy-duty suspension give a racer an advantage on a tight indoor course.

Dirt bikes are not just for racing. They are used for work, too. Some roads and trails are too rough for cars or trucks. Sometimes there are no roads or trails at all. This is when dirt bikes and their riders are most at home.

Horses, dogs, and dirt bikes are ranchers best friends.

Dirt bikes are used by cowboys to round up cattle and by rangers to monitor forests. Loggers, miners, hunters, and many others use dirt bikes wherever ordinary vehicles just cant make it.