7 Types of Dirt Bikes and their Purposes Explained!

The market is filled with dirt bikes. However, with all the different kinds of dirt bikes available that are available, it can be challenging to decide on one.

Dirt bikes include dual sport, motocross, Supermoto, trail, enduro adventure, and dirt. Each has its function and style, so you must remember the basics when deciding which dirt bike to choose.

The choice of what you want depends on the purpose you plan to use it for. While some are road-compliant, others are designed specifically for off-road. And while sure are intended for rough and rocky terrain, others are designed for more gentle trails.

However, some are to test your skills and capability to conquer the obstacles that appear impossible using ordinary dirt bikes.

What should you be expecting? In this article, I will thoroughly explain the seven significant kinds of dirt bikes, provide the most effective recommendations for each instance, and as an additional bonus, I’ll offer the top brands to consider when purchasing your dirt bike.

Let’s get started!

Are you in a hurry? Below is a list of the most popular types of dirt bikes and their primary purpose.

Different Types of Dirt Bikes and their Uses

Dirt Bike Type	Purpose
Dual Sport Dirt Bike	Road compliant but can also go off-road
Motocross Dirt Bike	Racing in supercross and motocross races
Enduro Dirt Bike	Riding long distances on obstacles and rocky trails
Trail Dirt Bike	Used for trail riding and are not road compliant
Super Moto Dirt Bike	They are excellent for the road
Adventure Dirt Bike	Road compliant and taking long freeway rides
Trial Dirt Bike	For trial events. They are for testing the rider’s ability and skill to roll over technical obstacles

Different types of Dirt Bikes

Below are the various kinds of dirt bikes available on the marketplace currently:

a) Dual Sport Dirt Bikes

Dual dirt bikes for sport are prevalent and are excellent performers on the roads (on the dirt trail) and in the roadway (in the street). If you’re seeking a bike that can take you to the highways but ride on trails, it is legal and road-safe.

However, they tend to be more off-road than on-road. This means that this bike is not a model you can compare to. These are made to provide the rider comfort for extended periods.

Dual-sport dirt bikes are light and feature 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, with a capacity of 700cc to 125cc. As we will learn later, the motor runs more silently than its enduro and Motocross counterparts, meaning they’re environmentally friendly (they conform to the requirements of all EPA rules for road regulations).

Another advantage of dirt bikes is that they’re ideal for novices. If you want to try this out, it’ll best suit your needs since the maintenance costs are also low.

Here are some top twin sport dirt bikes that you should take into consideration:

Yamaha XT250
Honda CRF450RL
Kawasaki KLX300

b) Motocross Dirt Bikes

Motocross dirt bikes, also called MX dirt bikes, have become used in supercross or motocross races. Therefore, don’t be tempted to look past the motocross bike when you need a fast and competitive motorcycle to go over shutters, berms, or leap high.

They’re high off the ground and feature rigid suspension and extended travel that helps absorb the impact and shocks when landing after a significant leap.

These bikes’ narrow gear ratios help you achieve fast speeds as you take off. But they are very noisy.

Because of this, they’re not road legal.

They’re not designed for comfort but for speed. And you’re likely to ride them standing. That’s the reason they only have a tiny space for seating.

In terms of the tires, the motocross dirt bike tires have deep treading, which allows you to dig deeper into mud and dirt to give you the best tire grip. You can pick their 4-stroke or 2-stroke engines.

The best examples of dirt bikes designed for motocross include:

KTM 450 SX-F
Husqvarna TC 125
Kawasaki XK Series

c) Enduro Dirt Bikes

The term “enduro dirt bike” is named after endurance, which is the term used to describe it. They can tackle challenging terrain, making them ideal for rough and rocky trails, and traverse the river bed without hassle.

They are compelling and speed and can travel longer when riding at high speeds. If you like to ride at night, the enduro dirt bike includes a headlight on the front to help illuminate your trail.

They are available as 4-stroke or 2-stroke engines, and their range of motors is 125cc to 600cc.

If you think this bike is for you, take a look at these enduro-style dirt bikes:

Yamaha WR450F
Husqvarna FX350
KTM 300EXC TPI
Honda CRF450Rx

d) Trail Dirt Bikes

Trail bikes are among the most well-known dirt bikes out there. Perhaps you’ve seen it before. The dirt bikes focus more on novice riders than on the more experienced ones.

They have a lower seat that allows you to place your feet on the floor and are more accommodating when you make a mistake.

They are also simple to maintain since they are stocked with only the bare essentials and do not require complex technology for their products, making them affordable.

Another exciting aspect of dirt bikes is as you improve and develop techniques for handling, you can alter the bike to give it more force. For instance, because they are equipped with a light and simple Brake, which is only suitable for smoother trails, You can modify it to have a more powerful one.

The engine is available as 4-stroke or 2-stroke; their sizes vary between 250cc and 300cc and therefore aren’t intended for long or speedy rides.

But since dirt bikes on trails aren’t street legal, you’ll require a trailer or truck to transport your bike across the road to get to the track.

The Best choices in this category are

Kawasaki KLX 300R
Yamaha TTR230
Honda Trail 125 ABS

e) Super Moto Dirt Bikes

The Supermoto meets that criteria should you buy an all-road dirt bike. They are equipped with modified gears that let you ride at high speeds as road bikes can.

Compared to other road-compliant dirt bikes, the Super moto is fast, light, and smooth road tires.

Suppose you have an enduro dirt bicycle and want to convert it into a road dirt bike. In that case, it is possible to transform your enduro into a supermoto bike with just some minor modifications.

Their engines are available as 4-stroke or 2-stroke choices. If you’re like me, and you like to ride faster and require extra power, then the 4-stroke engine with a capacity of 600cc is a fantastic choice.

A few examples of great super dirt bikes for supermoto are:

KTM 690 SMCR
Suzuki DR-Z400SM
Husqvarna SM450R

f) Adventure Dirt Bikes

The Adventure Dirt bikes do precisely as they sound – designed for adventure. They are typically used for long-street rides; however, it is possible to use them off-road in some instances.

One thing to note about the bikes is that they are equipped with various comfort features, including the extra-large seat and multi-purpose tires, and the tank for fuel is large for long-distance rides.

But they’re the most weighty alternatives on this list which is why they’re not suitable for those looking to try them out.

They also have special features, such as the side saddle bag, which can hold everything you need, and a giant screen to reduce wind.

Some examples of good dirt bikes for adventure are:

Yamaha Tenere 700
Suzuki V-STROM 1050XT
Honda Africa Twin

g) Trial Dirt Bikes

Trials bikes aren’t just an abbreviation for trail dirt bikes, which we have previously covered. They serve a different use – trials.

These bikes test riders’ skills and ability to overcome the technical challenges (like rocks or logs) that appear impossible riding regular bikes.

They’re unique and easy to recognize. This is because they come without a seat and contend with obstructions while standing.

Their tires are knobby and have a shorter wheelbase. Since dirt bikes are not designed for speed, they come with an enlarged gas tank and are a bit smaller and light (mostly between 150 and 160 pounds). Also, they come with either a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine with power ranging from 250cc to 300cc.

The best choices in this category are

Yamaha TY80
Yamaha TY-E