Choosing dirt bikes or quad bikes
Dirt bikes and quad bikes are both great ways to get a quick injection of adrenaline and are excellent fun for racing around off road. For someone with a large plot of land, or a nearby plot that they can use, either can be a great pastime and a whole lot of fun. But how do you choose which is for you? Bellow is a short description of both dirt bikes and quad bikes to help you decide which to go for.
Quad Bikes: Quad bikes are also known as ‘ATVs’ (all terrain vehicles) as well as four wheelers and simply ‘quads’. These are motorised vehicles with strong and flexible suspension shared across three large tyres to give a (relatively) smooth ride across all kinds of terrain. The large surface areas of the wheels means that they are more useful for certain terrains as the pressure is spread across the bike. For this reason they are great for riding across sand and mud, and many holiday companies provide rides on quad bikes through deserts and beaches. The powerful suspension also makes them great for large jumps and hills. The extra wheels also give the rider more stability meaning that they can balance more easily and are less likely to fall off. This also makes them more suitable for the bumpier terrain and makes them more accessible for less experienced users (and also means that the rider is required to wear less protective gear). Quad bikes normally come with engine sizes ranging from 49 cc to a maximum of around 1,000 cc. Quad bikes are not road-legal in most states of America and there are no large competitions to or races to enter, though they can be modified for motocross, woods racing, desert racing, ice racing, speedway, tourist trophy, drag racing etc.
Dirt bikes: Dirt bikes are a form of off road motorcycle that are specialised for driving across mud or performing jumps and tricks. They look like ordinary motorcycles but are far more light weight with smaller engines and better suspension. This simple rugged construction means they can be pushed around and subjected to a lot of punishment which makes them the more common vehicle for motocross and allows them to be pushed up hill when necessary. The thin frame allows them to be driven through thinner gaps etc too and makes them excellent for weaving between trees making them superior also for wood racing etc. Finally their light structure makes them great for ‘trials’ where the competition is based more on balancing and precision where the rider performs stunts and tricks in a manner similar to skateboarding or BMXing (these bikes normally come without seats). Dirt bikes tend to range from 250cc to 450cc (though rally bikes are more commonly higher going up to 660cc).
In short then there is no obvious winner, but it depends largely on your intended use. For Motorcross or woods racing, dirt bikes are probably the better bet. Similarly they allow more impressive tricks etc and are lighter and easier to store. With a quad bike however you have the extra sturdiness reducing risk of injury and a more evenly spread pressure for desert or beach terrain.
A popular first motor bike for off road riding are 125cc dirt bikes. It is similar with quad bikes, where people like a small to mid range bike to learn on.
