| The evolution of off-road motorcycles, commonly | | | | due to the fact that they are the largest motorcycle |
| called dirt bikes, is a long and complicated story. The | | | | manufacturer in the world. They were joined by |
| first motorcycles were actually nothing more than | | | | other manufacturers over the years who would |
| modified bicycles with attached gasoline engines. | | | | eventually become household names as well. Suzuki |
| These powered bicycles were amazing inventions in | | | | produced their first motorcycle in 1954, Yamaha in |
| their day. Unreliable, but amazing methods of | | | | 1955, and Kawasaki in 1960. Although dirt bikes were |
| transportation, these motorcycles began captivating | | | | still far in the future for the big four, this was the |
| people across the globe. Since paved streets were | | | | beginning of the onslaught of a motorsport unlike any |
| not quite the norm at the time, motorcycles generally | | | | other. Dirt bikes and dirt bike racing would eventually |
| could be considered dirt bikes right from the start. No | | | | become one of the most popular motorsports in the |
| single person or company has been credited with the | | | | world. |
| invention of the dirt bike. Off-road motorcycling is | | | | After a mix of both two stroke and four stroke |
| really an evolution of many years, with better tires, | | | | motors in various models through the years, Honda |
| better suspension and seats, stronger frames, and | | | | finally designs and builds a competitive two stroke |
| better control features being credited to many | | | | motocross motor in 1972. It reached the USA in 1973 |
| individuals who were essentially modifying their own | | | | and is called the Elsinore CR250. It immediately |
| bikes for better off-road use. Triumph motorcycles | | | | becomes the fastest production off-road race bike in |
| did however design a motorcycle specifically built for | | | | its class and placed Honda alone at the top of the |
| dirt riding in 1914, although this model is not actually | | | | heap in regard to motocross racing. In the 1970's, |
| credited with being the first dirt bike. | | | | motocross racing would finally do what motorcycle |
| Motocross racing seems to have had it origins in | | | | manufacturers hoped it would. Off-road motorcycling |
| Europe, very possibly France with these early | | | | would become a recreational activity not unlike |
| motorcycles being raced through wooded trails or | | | | bicycling with its popularity exploding among the |
| racing to the top of a mountainous road for publicity. | | | | general public. The big four Japanese manufacturers |
| Many of these early races were not races of speed | | | | would eventually produce a full product line of dirt |
| but races against time where riders simply competed | | | | bikes in a variety of sizes for various racing classes |
| against each other on an individual basis. Racing | | | | and ages. Children's dirt bikes would become available |
| expanded as did the production of motorcycles to | | | | for those early starters and dual-use motorcycles |
| include scrambles and cross country events which | | | | would also become available with dirt tires and |
| excited and entertained spectators. Incidentally, the | | | | suspension along with street-legal features. Other |
| word motocross was derived from the words | | | | manufacturers also joined the specialized dirt bike |
| motorcycle and cross-country. The races would | | | | market including Maico, Gas Gas, and KTM. |
| eventually be moved to a shorter, closed track for | | | | To this day, dirt bikes continue their evolution with |
| easier viewing by the spectators and better | | | | almost constant improvement in weight reduction, |
| monitoring of the racers themselves. With the world | | | | suspension, engine reliability, and overall performance. |
| at war and the Great Depression, off-road | | | | They are used as weekend recreational vehicles by |
| motorcycles may not have been a priority concept | | | | millions of people around the world. The world of |
| with people for many years but the interest in dirt | | | | motocross racing has become more popular than |
| racing wasn't about to go away. Then Soichiro Honda | | | | ever before thanks to dirt bike riding basically |
| came along in 1946 with his idea to produce cheap | | | | evolving into an art form. Freestyle riding and stunt |
| transportation for people after the second world war. | | | | riding are captivating more young riders every year |
| Honda became the most predominant name in | | | | and the manufacturers continue to respond by |
| motorcycles and dirt bikes in particular, undoubtedly | | | | producing high quality, cutting edge dirt bikes. |