Over the years, improvements in motorcycle technology have allowed the extreme sport of dirt biking to evolve. Commonly referred to as motocross, the sport of dirt biking often takes place on carved-out racing tracks. Since the invention of motocross in the early 1920s, the sport has changed to include such disciplines as freestyle and arena cross.
Early Years
In the earliest years of the sport, off-road racing was the only discipline of dirt biking. According to Freestyle Motocross, the first motocross event took place in Surrey, England, in 1924. Throughout the 1930s, the motocross race track evolved to include jumps. Competitors utilized street motorcycles to navigate the sharp turns of the racing course. As the need for improvements increased, avid dirt bike riders began to modify their motorcycles. The smooth street tires were soon replaced with knobby tires that provided increased traction.
Bike Improvements
As early competitors looked for new ways to increase the speed of the dirt bike, technology began to improve. The 1950s gave way to the swinging-arm suspension of the dirt bike. The swing-arm suspension helped to absorb the force of high-impact maneuvers. The bulky 500 cc engine of the primitive dirt bike was soon replaced by the lightweight yet powerful 250 cc engine. Throughout the 1960s, the Japanese company Suzuki improved the design of the dirt bike with specialized alloy components.
Safety Gear
As the capabilities of the dirt bike improved, the danger of motocross increased. Early motocross safety gear did not have the ability to prevent serious injury during a high-speed crash. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, motocross companies began to improve the design of the safety helmet by using new and more durable materials. Top-rated models of the motocross helmet feature a hard outer shell made from fiberglass. As of 2011, motocross outerwear is now equipped with technical features. According to "Transworld Motocross" magazine, the best motocross outerwear features internal pads for increased protection.
Freestyle Motocross
The development of freestyle motocross is perhaps the most dramatic change to have taken place in the sport of dirt bike riding. Rather than racing around oval-shaped tracks, freestyle dirt bikers focus on aerial tricks. According to ESPN, professional freestyle motocross riders have the ability to execute tricks over 80-foot gaps. And rather than the natural dirt ramps used by early racers, FMX riders use inclined ramps made from steel and aluminum. The freestyle dirt bike features specialized handles for tricks that involve floating above the seat.
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