Off-Road Motorcycle Dealership
Some people buy a motorcycle to tour the country. Some buy them so they can race around at eye watering speeds. Others buy them so they can tackle trails and see the wilderness from the back of a bike. If you’re one of the latter, you’ve come to the right place.
Our off-road motorcycle dealership and DDRV.com is ready to get you onto the perfect off-road motorcycle. Adventure awaits, so read on to find out more about choosing off-road motorcycles, what your options are, and how we can help.
What Makes It an Off-Road Motorcycle?
Many people who visit our off-road motorcycle dealership already know what they want, and why they want an off-road motorcycle. But many are also brand new to the idea of tearing up the trails on the seat of a motorcycle. If you’re one of the latter, you might be wondering what even makes a motorcycle an off-road machine. Here’s what you need to know:
- They’ve got large, knobby tires. Off-road motorcycle tires are not smooth. They’re chunky and have large knobs that help the motorcycle to grip and climb on rough terrain.
- They’ve got a much higher seat position. In fact, everything is higher, because you’re going to need ground clearance! You don’t lean as much on an off-road motorcycle, so the center of gravity also doesn’t have to be as low as a sport bike.
- They’ve got higher, long-travel suspension. When you’re flying along the trails, there’s going to be bumps in the road, and the suspension of off-road motorcycles is made to take that in it’s stride.
- They’re light but have relatively powerful engines. This means that they can scamper up slopes that heavier road bikes would never be able to manage.
Many off-road motorcycles are not built to be ridden on roads at all, but many are also road legal. Which means you can ride them from your home to the start of a trail, up an actual mountain, and then back home on the asphalt.
Not ATVs
Another important thing to know about the off-road motorcycles we sell at DDRV.com and our off-road motorcycle dealership is that they’re not quad bikes or ATVs – although we sell those too.
Off-road motorcycles are classic two-week motorcycles, but with features that make them able to ride on rough terrain.
Engine Sizes for Off-Road Motorcycles
Off-road motorcycles come in a variety of engine sizes. At the bottom of the spectrum, there are some that are as small as 50ccs, but because of the power to weight ratio, they can still cope quite happily with adult riders.
Most people who want to take their motorcycle off road, however, will be looking for something in the 300 to 400cc range. That’s big enough to give you the power to climb nearly any slope, but not so much that you flip the motorcycle whenever you accelerate. Remember – high power to weight ratio is a double-edged sword!
Where Can You Ride Off-Road Motorcycles?
Technically, off-road motorcycles can ride anywhere your road bike can, as well as many other types of terrain.
Some people like to take them out on motorcycle friendly wilderness trails. Others put them on a trailer and take them into the mountains or to the desert. There are also purpose-built commercial motorcycle tracks, like they use in motocross, where you can test your skills in climbing hills and making jumps.
If you plan to ride your off-road motorcycle on the road, however, it’s important to remember that you need to have it licensed. There are big fines for riding unlicensed off-road vehicles on public roads.
Off-Road Motorcycle Safety
Many people worry that off-road motorcycles are more dangerous than other kinds of vehicles. However, if you pay attention to safety, that doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, at our off-road motorcycle dealership, we always advise the following:
- Make sure you maintain your off-road motorcycle properly. Get it inspected if you need to, and fix anything that’s loose or worn out before you hit the trail.
- Invest in proper gear. When you ride an off-road motorcycle, you need more than just a great helmet (although that’s a must too!) You will need heavy duty clothing, boots, and gloves to keep you protected in the event that you have an accident.
- If you need lessons, get them. Yes, even little kids ride peewee motorcycles in motocross, but they also need to be taught how to handle their bikes – and they’re a lot less powerful!
- Never hit the trails alone, and make sure you have some way to communicate if things go wrong. Some of the best trails are out of the way, but if you need to reach emergency services, you need a phone or similar.
With the right motorcycle, gear, and trail etiquette, riding off-road motorcycles can be safe as well as exciting. Visit our off-road motorcycle dealership to get the right bike too!