Today, we’re doing a deep dive on the street legal dirt bike class. If you’re like us, you grew up riding a dirt bike. It was your first love. Your first sense of freedom, and your gateway drug to the motorcycling addiction that cripples your financial picture today. While they were certainly a blast in the corn fields, I would always find myself ripping by little 50cc dirt bike wide open down the country road I lived on. Often, I’d find the local county sheriff not too far behind, because of course, it was illegal to operate on the road. But, did you know you could have the best of both worlds?
What makes a dirt bike street legal?
While there are a variety of different styles, all street-legal dirt bikes share a few common parts that differentiate them from their off-road only counterparts and allow them to be legally registered for use on public roads. An odometer must be installed and functional in order to document mileage. The dirt bike must have all of the proper lighting, including a headlight, taillight, and turn signals. Your state will likely require at least one rear-view mirror. There must be somewhere to mount a license plate prominently, along with a license plate light for nighttime riding. To ward off the cagers, it needs a working horn. And while all dirt bikes have tires and exhaust, street-legal dirt bikes must have a particular type that comply with road-use regulations. The tires must be of a certain speed rating and the exhaust within a particular noise range.
Are all dirt bikes street legal?
The short answer is no. In fact, most dirt bikes are not street legal. Nowadays, the easiest way to get a street legal dirt bike is simply to buy one that was factory built with a street legal title. While technically a dirt bike, these bikes are titled as if they are your standard street bike or cruiser. You’ll literally hold a motorcycle for it.
However, it is possible to convert a regular dirt bike over to be street legal. After you’ve installed all of the required parts and equipment (see above) the process from that point varies by state. Most states will require you to go through a vehicle inspection process before you obtain the title. Just make sure you read up on your state’s guidelines and procedures before diving in and ordering parts!
Now, let’s dive into the different styles of street legal dirt bikes.
Dual Sport Motorcycles
It’s pretty much baked into the name. A dual sport motorcycle is essentially just your regular dirt bike’s more sophisticated city cousin. It’s great off-road, on the trails, and in the mud – yet has enough manners to behave on the road. While you’re not going to jump on one and win a motocross championship anytime soon, a dual sport is going to feel more or less like your standard issue dirt bike, but with all of the government required bells and whistles.
Tall, with knobby tires, dual sport motorcycles are meant to be taken straight from the office parking lot to your favorite trail after work. You’ll typically be working with a single-cylinder, four stroke engine somewhere between 300cc and 600cc in size. They are geared toward low speed trail riding, but most are also capable of cruising 60-65 mph pretty comfortably on the road.
What is a Supermoto dirt bike?
Supermoto bikes (often referred to as sumo’s) look very similar to dual sport models at first glace. However, they are typically equipped with 17 inch inch wheels, inverted front suspension, and big brakes. The 17″ wheels facilitate the fitment of street tires – another key element of the supermoto. These bikes generally have a stiffer suspension than a standard dual sport bike. Overall, the supermoto will feel like a sportier, more agile dual sport dirt bike. They’re an absolute blast on pavement, and can hold their own in the dirt.
Around here, we’re huge supermoto fans. They’re arguably some of the most fun you can have on a motorcycle. But for purposes of clarity, let’s be honest about the downside: they’re not much good for long-distance riding. Unless you’re still young (I’m talking 20’s here), you’re going to have a bad time trying to ride a sumo on a long trip. Rest assured — it’ll be loud, your eyeballs will feel like they’re vibrating out of place, and your bum will be numb.
The Enduro Street Legal Dirt Bike
Some call them adventure bikes. Others call them enduro’s. Call it what you will. It’s just another type of street legal dirt bike, but more catered toward long-distance travelers. While obviously heavier, you can pack a bit of cargo, and even comfortably carry a passenger on most of these bikes.
Enduro motorcycles are known for their larger engines with a taller geared transmission capable of traveling long distances at higher speeds, without the reliability issues of your common dirt bike. They have more creature comforts, like cushy seats and windshields.