“Ever since Siochiro Honda first introduced Americans to the world of small, affordable motorcycles in 1959, we’ve become enthralled with the idea of taking motorcycles off road.”
As we continue on down the path of what is a motorcycle I’m going to jump around a bit and cover the off-road class. I know, I know, you’re probably wondering why I’m not going in chronological order as laid out in my original article but with motocross season in full swing I’ve been geeking out on the Speed channel every weekend and I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk about one of my favorite types of motorcycles. Who among us didn’t drool over the old Honda scramblers and Yamaha enduros as a kid, longing to go tearing up trails and jumping over creeks.
Ever since Siochiro Honda first introduced Americans to the world of small, affordable motorcycles in 1959, we’ve become enthralled with the idea of taking motorcycles off road. In the mid 1960’s Americans were buying these small bikes by the truckload. They started appearing on the backs of RVs and in campgrounds around the country as people started using them to get around the trails and carry them to their favorite watering holes.
By the late 1960’s Japanese motorcycle companies began challenging the European manufactures for supremacy in the motocross world. In 1972 the first stadium motocross event was held at the Los Angeles Coliseum and in 1975 a 125cc world championship was introduced. During the late1970’s and early 1980’s the world of off road motorcycles experienced major leaps in technology with the typical two stroke, air cooled, twin shock rear suspension giving way to water cooled, single shock rear suspension bikes. The 1990’s brought along the first four stroke dirt bikes striving to become more environmentally friendly in the face of ever increasing pressure from the government and new environmental regulations.
Like countless others I was introduced to the founding fathers of the off road riding and racing world by what has often been called the most important motorcycle documentary ever made, On Any Sunday. Even though it was made before I was even born it is a living tribute to the legends of dirt like Steve McQueen and Malcolm Smith. Now thanks to DVDs and streaming video companies like Netflix it will continue to be available for generations to come. Thank god since my trusty old VHS copy was just about worn out.
“Like countless others I was introduced to the founding fathers of the off road riding and racing world by what has often been called the most important motorcycle documentary ever made, On Any Sunday.”
The greatest thing about the modern dirt bikes is the variety of sizes and styles. With sizes ranging from 50cc models complete with optional training wheels for the youngest of riders all the way up to 1000+ monsters in the newly emerging adventure touring class of motorcycles that allow you to enjoy the highways as well as the back roads and trails once you reach your destination. Todays off road motorcycles cover all of the needs of those of us who love to go play in the dirt. From motocross dirt bikes, to dual sports, to even what many of us would consider the ultimate adventure touring bikes like the Triumph Tiger Explorer, there is no limit to where you can go no matter your age or experience level.
From all the way back to the Christmas morning when my parents got me the Evel Knieval model bicycle with the handle bar mounted rev up motorcycle sound machine to my first mini-bike I’ve always loved the freedom of taking my 2 wheels off the pavement and into the world of off road adventures. I will continue to look forward to the future of off road motorcycle innovations and hope there will always be places to ride them.
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SpeedShifter69
Contributor to Dillon Brothers
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