An Intro To Off-Road Biking Two wheels and fresh soil have been dear friends for decades. Even in the earliest stages of motorcycle production, engineers and independent garageaholics adapted motorcycles for off-road use, racing them in what were called scrambles. But it wasn’t until the early '60s that we began to see a stalwart push for trail thumpers and track racers. Of course, Steve McQueen helped propel the sport of off-road motorcycling with his famous jump on a modified 1961 Triumph TR6 Trophy Bird in The Great Escape, and a man named Mr. Soichiro Honda was in the midst of a motorcycle revolution. By the '70s, two-wheeled off-road machines began to morph into dedicated track monsters, festooned with plastic bodywork, more powerful engines and long travel suspension. Dirt warriors like the Husqvarna GP 250, Maico 250 Qualifier and Bultaco 370 jumped the Eastern pond while an omnipotent force was being conjured on the Western shores. The fab four of motorcycles — Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha — were churning out tuned-up motorcycles and solidifying their place as the legendary force that would rule the off-road realm.

Today, most pro motocross races are dominated by the red, green, yellow, and blue, and off-road motorcycle technology has progressed radically. Now is the time to take up the sport. What gear do we start in? Most people are intimidated by the tainted reputation that plagues off-road motorcycles. Travis Pastrana and company have not been the best role models for teens tooling around in their local gravel pits. Dirt biking is usually something that incites amazement or fear; there’s usually no middle ground. We’re here to tell you that there’s nothing to shake in your boots about. Off-road riding is one of the most therapeutic hobbies on the planet. Nothing comes close to etching a set of knobbies into a berm before slamming a set of whoops and launching off of a daunting double to the finish line. Wait, what the hell are we rambling about? See, even the language is gnarly. But first, what exactly constitutes an off-road motorcycle?Dirt bikes are a breed of their own. With up to a foot of suspension travel, it’s obvious that these unruly beasts are crafted for hellish terrain.

As a result, dirt bikes are generally taller than regular motorcycles, as the seat height can reach a demanding 36 inches on larger displacement machines. Rather than smooth tires with tread patterns, dirt bikes rely on knobby rubber studs to claw into the dirt for optimal traction. The art of "roosting" is attributed to the dirt, rocks and debris kicked up by knobby tires, and many riders wear chest protectors when riding in groups or racing. Another defining characteristic of a dirt bike is its plastic bodywork with pronounced front and fear fenders to ward off as much projectile earth as possible. This way, it’s much cheaper to fix a chip or crack in plastic after an inadvertent spill. Usually, dirt bikers fork off into two different camps. There are the motocross titans who spend most of their time and hard-earned pay on a racetrack, and then there are the relentless woodsmen, who grind through labyrinths of trails, narrowly avoiding close encounters with large trees. Enduro bikes are usually categorized as having large-displacement engines, high-capacity gas tanks and additional bike armor to shield the rider from Mother Nature’s henchmen.

The motocross rider is all about speed, agility and huge air. Large jumps called "doubles," washboard sections referred to as "whoops" and banked corners known as "berms" can be found on a motocross track and with enough practice can be the most electrifying obstacles in the two-wheeled world.motorcycle dealers woodbridge vaOur introduction to off-road motorcycling continues next. dirt bikes for sale tucson azWhat type of bike should you get?honda xrm for sale in the philippines Top 10: Modern Adventurers We Sampled The World's Toughest 24-Hour Race (And, It's Hard) Health & Sports News Trending News: This Crazy Guy Successfully Rowed Non-Stop For 209 Straight Days From San Francisco To Australia

20 Things That Separate Great Couples From Good Ones Start Saving Your Galactic Credit -- Star Wars Themed Lands Opening 2019Motorcycle racing is some of the most exciting, thrilling competition you’ll ever see, a far cry from team orders, radio conversations and the procession of Formula One. These skilled racers are the last gladiators, athletes who risk serious injury or worse to become champion. They are part of the bike; both the machine and rider have to work in harmony. Sometimes it’s poetry in motion, graceful, a stunning ballet of rider and machine while at other times it’s sheer grit, determination and bravery while wrestling a 210mph-plus race bike without a safety cage. You can witness the action up close and see the effort the racers are putting in when the bikes are leant over so far the riders drag their elbows on the track. Bike racing worldwide is worshipped by many, but if you’re new to it here is our simple guide to the 2013 season. The pinnacle of bike racing, comparable to Formula One.

The bikes are prototype machines, pushing the boundaries of what is achievable. This is where the manufacturers get to show their muscle and push technology forward, which makes Moto GP the fastest form of two-wheeled racing and attracts the best riders from around the world. Thirteen teams travel the world to 18 destinations starting at the Losail Circuit in Qatar this weekend, and finishing in Valencia, Spain, on November 10 to determine the 2013 world champion. Jorge Lorenzo was crowned world champion last year on board a Yamaha M1, ahead of fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa and his Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner. Two times world champion Lorenzo will be back to defend his title this year, which is shaping up to be one of the most exciting championships in years. Crowd favourite Valentino Rossi, whom many describe as the greatest racer of all time, has left the uncompetitive Ducati team and is back with Yamaha as a factory rider and will be pushing team-mate Lorenzo all the way.

Young star Marc Márquez has joined Repsol Honda, replacing the retired double world champion Stoner, and is showing signs of brilliance in pre-season testing. His team-mate, the experienced Pedrosa, who always seems to be the bridesmaid and never the bride, will be as strong as ever and a bookies favourite. But what has got British fans’ hearts racing is the chance of home-grown success from Coventry-born Cal Crutchlow, who rides for Monster Yamaha Tech 3. Crutchlow took podiums last year, was quickest in the last pre-season test and nobody fights as hard as the charismatic Briton. Taking the Moto GP title will be extremely hard work on a semi-factory Yamaha, but race wins are a possibility – which we’ve not had since Barry Sheene in 1981. To add to the British excitement Crutchlow is joined by compatriot Bradley Smith, who stands an outside chance of a podium in his first season. Moto GP calendar April 7 – Qatar, Doha/Losail April 21 – Americas, Austin Texas May 5 – Spain, Jerez May 19 – France, Le Mans June 2 – Italy, Mugello June 16 – Catalunya, Catalunya June 29 – Netherlands, Assen July 7 – Germany, Sachsenring July 21 – United States, Laguna Seca August 18 – Indianapolis, Indianapolis August 25 – Czech Republic, Brno September 1 – Great Britain, Silverstone September 15 – Italy

, Misano September 29 – Spain, Aragón, Motorland October 13 – Malaysia, Sepang October 20 – Australia, Phillip Island October 27 – Japan, Motegi November 10 – Spain, Valencia World Superbikes The machines are production-based race bikes, like the ones you can buy. On the surface they look very similar to the sport bikes you’ll see on the road yet underneath the skin they are very different. You can think of Moto GP like F1 and world superbikes as similar to touring cars; However, in the four-wheel world the difference between F1 and touring cars is huge, whereas the difference between Moto GP and WSB is less pronounced. Despite WSB bikes being production based, top speeds aren’t much slower and lap times are only a second or so slower than the prototype Moto GP machines. What makes WSB exciting is that riders have to race twice in a single day, the grids are usually larger than Moto GP and the racing more closely fought. In the Nineties WSB was dominated by Ducati, with its rider Briton Carl Fogarty taking four world titles and becoming a household name.

Since then we’ve been graced with more champions in the form of Neil Hodgson in 2003 and James Toseland in 2004 and 2007. For 2013 we have six potential British winners; Leon Camier, Chaz Davies, Jonathan Rea, Leon Haslam, last year’s runner-up Tom Sykes and the current joint leader after one round, Eugene Laverty. World Superbike calendar February 24 – Australia, Phillip Island April 14 – Spain, Aragon April 28 – Netherlands, Assen May 12 – Italy, Monza May 26 – UK, Donington June 9 – Portugal Portimao (STC) June 30 – Italy, Imola July 21 – Russia, Moscow Raceway August 4 – UK, Silverstone September 1 – Germany, Nurburgring September 15 – Turkey, Istanbul September 29 – USA, Laguna Seca October 6 – France, Magny Cours October 20 – Spain, Jerez November 17 – India, Buddh International Circuit British Superbikes This is very much like a domestic version of WSB, but with slight rule changes such as a ban on electronic rider aids, controlled tyres and a control ECU to reduce the costs.

British superbike racing is seen as one of the most competitive worldwide and attracts an international audience and a plethora of talented national and international riders. Former WSB and Moto GP racer Shane Byrne took the 2012 title on a Kawasaki. This year he has fierce competition from Japan’s Ryuichi Kiyonari, whose Samsung Honda team-mate Alex Lowes has also shown promise in winter testing. Tyco Suzuki will host an international team with last year’s runner-up Aussie Josh Brookes and American P J Jacobsen. James Ellison, returning from Moto GP heads the Milwaukee Yamaha team, and is joined by Australian Josh Waters. It’s going to be an exciting BSB championship which is happening on your doorstep – nothing beats watching bike racing live; the noise and the sound can’t be bettered. British Superbike calendar April 7 – Brands Hatch Indy April 14 – Thruxton May 6 – Oulton Park June 16 – Knockhill July 7 – Snetterton 300 July 21 – Brands Hatch GP August 11 – Oulton Park August 26 – Cadwell Park September 8 – Donington Park GP September 22 – Assen (Netherlands) October 6 – Silverstone GP October 20 – Brands Hatch GP