What's more fun, street riding or dirt riding?

wanaride

~SPONSOR~
Jul 18, 2003
492
0
I did a search on this and couldn't find anything in the first 4 pages, so...

For those of you who ride on street and dirt, which type of riding is more fun for you and why? I know this group is likely biased, but I'm curious anyway.

I've always thought that street riding was more dangerous because of the morons coming at you in their 2-ton missiles, but a buddy started street riding last year and loves it. Now I wonder if I'm missing out.

I'm asking because I'm torn between getting a street bike and keeping my KDX200, or just upgrading from my KDX200 and staying off the street. I can do one, or the other, but not both. My wife thinks both plans are bad. :)

Thanks!
 

Papakeith

COTT Champ Emeritus
Damn Yankees
Aug 31, 2000
6,695
50
RI
I used to ride both. I'm strictly dirt now. Contrary to popular belief, trees and boulders don't jump out at you like some lady doing her makup in a Volvo.
 

_JOE_

~SPONSOR~
May 10, 2007
4,697
3
Why not get a dual-sport? I'm afraid of idiot drivers so I stay off-road. I have friends who do both and say dirt is more exciting. I have tossed around the idea of a street legal KTM or XR, but I love my CRF and couldn't put her out like that. Maybe if I hit the lotto so I can have both!
 

Aryain

!!!!!!
~SPONSOR~
Feb 13, 2007
171
0
Papakeith said:
I used to ride both. I'm strictly dirt now. Contrary to popular belief, trees and boulders don't jump out at you like some lady doing her makup in a Volvo.

:)

Yea, I have ridden my dads Harley a couple of times and it scares the heck out of me knowing that someone not paying attention could obliterate me.
 

Krabill

Member
May 10, 2006
48
0
Dual sport is the way of the future. Don't fight it. Sell the kdx and pick up a klx250s. Best of both worlds, woohoo!

For the record, I prefer the dirt, but since getting a career, a wife, a mortgage, some kids, and all that goes along with it, I just don't have time to load gear, drive to a riding area, unload, ride, pack everything back up, drive home, unload all the gear, wash the bike, etc, etc that I used to, so I bought a KLR. I ride it to work daily, and it is the best load-it-up-with-camping-gear-for-a-weekend-of-trail-riding bike I can think of. It's a pig in the tight, rough stuff, but it does two-track trails like no other. The little 250 doesn't do the highway as well as my big bike, but they are awesome in the woods and street legal to boot.

Truth be told, though, I am missing my old yz. I've been thinking of picking up a WR450 and plating it for d/s.
 

olderndirtmom

Member
Apr 28, 2007
424
1
Papakeith said:
I used to ride both. I'm strictly dirt now. Contrary to popular belief, trees and boulders don't jump out at you like some lady doing her makup in a Volvo.

Or some nutjob in his pickup who needs to show off his Y chromosome.

I own a small dualsport and a small dirtbike. I find it hard to get away to ride dirt. It makes me a little nutty and edgy. Even if I have the time, guilt keeps me home. A bigger dirtbike that I still couldn't get away to ride would just make me crazier.

It's a lot easier all around to just step out the door and ride on the street. So, I ride the dualsport. The family is happy because I am riding and not unbareable to be around, but not gone for half a day or more to places they have no clue as to the location of. I'm happy because at least I'm riding... even if not improving my dirt handling skills. It keeps me sane.

However, I'd vote against you getting a dualsport to satisfy your road yen. My recommendation would be to keep your kdx200 and buy a street bike for the job. You don't need a dual sport if you already have a bike you like but don't get to use enough anyway. I'm already ready for a bigger street bike, but a long long time away from a bigger dirt bike. I bought my enduro, however, with the idea that it might be my "move up" bike off road, and the daughter gets the ttr. I'm not so sure that will be how it plays out though.

One note: I live in a less populated part of the country with exquisite cycling roads. I'm not sure I'd make this same recommendation if you live in an area like Chicago or LA. I feel I am in less danger on my street motorcycle riding the same roads I also ride my LOOK bicycle. Once I get out of town, my chances of being killed by an inattentive driver are less on the cycle because they aren't passing me for the most part.

In town, death is nearly even on odds for bike or motorcycle. Nobody said life was risk free. Bad drivers are pretty much everywear. Good to be on the defensive and alert at all times.
 
Last edited:

Steve St.Laurent

Mi. Trail Riders
Member
Feb 6, 2006
255
0
Depends on the individual really - here's my $.02. I've ridden on the street for 22 years. I road raced back in the 80's and LOVED it (had to retire when I broke my back and did some brain damage in a RR crash). The thing I loved about racing was the 100% mental and physical focus necessary - every ounce of me was focused on the task at hand. I rode on the dirt then but it was just for training for my road racing (learning to be comfortable sliding the front tire mostly). After road racing I exclusively rode on the street - about 8,000 miles a year (from April-Oct, our street riding season). A friend had been trying to talk me into trail riding for years but I kept telling him he was nuts riding through trees, etc. A year and a half ago I traded a poker table for a couple play bikes to play around in the yard in winter - the non riding season from Nov-Mar drove me NUTS! I was having so much fun riding those that I decided to get a bigger bike to ride on the trails - my friend and the guys he rides with ride off road year round. So at first the idea was to off road to get me through the long winter. Well, I had SOOOOO much fun doing it that I now ride the bike year round - and am entering my first enduro this weekend.

I still ride my street bike a lot but if it had to come down to selling one or the other (I hope it NEVER comes down to this) I'd sell the street bike. The thing I enjoy about trail riding is that 100% mental and physical focus that I used to get when I was road racing - but I'm an adrenaline junky so consider that. On the street I can't hang it out all the way - one because it's completely unsafe and two because there's a good chance I'll break out in handcuffs. I don't ride above 70% on the street because I need that extra 30% to deal with the unexpected. Off road I can hang it out all the way and ride at 100% (or over sometimes) and I don't have to worry about the law, cars, trucks, etc. I find that my street riding has slowed down quite a bit now that I'm trail riding. I really wouldn't want to give up my street bike either though. If your sole question though is which is more fun I'd have to say off roading.
 
Last edited:

olderndirtmom

Member
Apr 28, 2007
424
1
p.s. to above...Plus if you keep the kdx, maybe your wife can have your kdx when you can afford another bike??

You can never have too many bikes imo.

Incidentally, I also like trail riding better for the concentration & skills involved. It is the fun factor. I like FAST on the street, but really acceleration is more of a thrill to me than just holding on to fast. Probably inexperience and being a chicken? For street riding I can only say it helps to be old, on a little light bike, and female. No handcuffs for me at this age. :laugh:

I think Steve summarizes the differences in fun factor really really well.
 

SpDyKen

LIFETIME SPONSOR
Mar 27, 2005
1,237
1
You might consider investigating the option of making your KDX street legal. Even if you hear that it may be difficult, I know of a YZ250 that is legally plated in NC. Then, if you like riding on the road, buy an extra set of wheels for street or dual sport tire use. Being able to RIDE to a fire road or off road riding area is very, ultra cool! I highly recommend it

Like I said, it may take some effort, but you can work on it at your own time/budget pace. Good luck.
 

sspmxc400

Member
Aug 30, 2001
173
0
street or dirt

I started with dual sport (back in the old days). The flexibility was great and I split my time between dirt and street. My dirt skills were weak so the bike did not hold me back. I then moved to an area and had friends that did a bunch of dirt and I got that bug for about 5-6 years. I then moved to Chicago and thought my dirt days were over and bought a FZ1 thinking I could take it out for a 30 minute ride after work and on weekends to cure that adrenaline itch. It didn't work - I would have to ride too aggressively on the street to get the same buzz and I am not willing to do it. I enjoy a casual ride every once in a while on a nice day - but not the same. My next move will probably be a dual sport again.

I think the question to ask yourself - if you are trying to replace the buzz you get from dirt - probably won't work. If you have friends that are riding on the street and you want to join them - it will probably be fun.

I have yet to find anything as fun as dirt biking - but logistics make it difficult to cure that itch enough.
 

thorman75

"Team Army"
Member
Dec 9, 1999
673
0
Its apples and oranges. Both fruit but different.I like going to the track, but I enjoy doing poker runs with my street friends too. The benefit to that is my wife gets to participate also.
As a member of the American Veterans MC Assoc. We have escorted alot of Vet's home lately both alive and dead, ..............
As far as getting hurt on the street I'm more afraid of Bambi than a Chevy.
 

ZOMBIE666

Member
Mar 24, 2006
324
0
Papakeith said:
I used to ride both. I'm strictly dirt now. Contrary to popular belief, trees and boulders don't jump out at you like some lady doing her makup in a Volvo.


^^^ YUP! im 24 been riding in the dirt since 7 and been riding on the street since 14 (yaa yaa yaa not legal but would have been if they let me) anyway i COMPLETELY agree with Papa. At least arund here anyway. places like florida are different, they are used to bikes and know how to drive with em.. places like here, DC, crap shoot, they cant drive around other cars let alone a bike. in my 10 years of street ive BEEN HIT 11 times! Ive been very lucky, only a few of em resaulted is totaled bikes and hospital bills. unfortunitly there are very few places to ride dirt around here and i have to ride every day or i go through withdraws :laugh: so im stuck in the street. Not only the danger of stupid drivers, but after 2 years it became mundane and boring. too many laws on the street that just suck most of the fun out of it. dont get me wrong i still like riding street but with dirt, you can go all out balls to the wall and not have blue lights on your ass.
 

FruDaddy

Member
Aug 21, 2005
2,854
0
If I had to sell a bike, it would be the street bike. While a leisurely cruise (or high speed blast) through mountain 2-lanes is a boat load of fun, it doesn't even come close to pulling hard out of a 180 bowl aiming at that next jump, or banging gears wide open down the straight. On the street, I get a good hard run going, then have to get out of it before po-po sees me. On the dirt, I only have to let up because the terrain requires it.
 

mtk

Member
Jun 9, 2004
1,409
0
Get both. ;)

Street versus dirt, no doubt dirt wins. Riding hard on the street is just asking to be an organ donor.

Now dirt versus roadracing, well, then the nod goes to roadracing. Dirt is fun and all, but skimming a knee on the pavement at 100+mph is beyond anything you can do with knobby tires.

Of course it better be since it makes crack look cheap, safe, and non-addictive. :)
 

peanuts

Member
Jun 16, 2007
35
0
Road vs trail?

I started on the road and then went to trail riding. I think trail riding is much more fun, but fun on the road is more accessable every day. I ride my work commute and it is the best way to start and end the day. Read the following story to find what I think is the best of both worlds...

I have a good friend that has been riding motorbikes on road and off for over 10 years. A few years ago he saved up enough money to buy his boyhood dream. A brand spanking new CBR1000RR. It is one of the fastest factory bikes in the world. My friend loved it to death but had sold it within a year. His reasoning was that the bike was so awesome in every way that he just could not have fun on it and abide by the law at the same time. It was just too fast. I guess when you have 6 gears and 1st is good for 100km/h, speed limits feel quite restrictive.

He is now going back to what he thinks is the best fun bike he has ever owned. KTM525EXC with motard tyres. He reckons the combination of awesome fun within speed limits while being able to power wheely at command, plus every other weekend swapping the wheels for the dirt and hitting the bush, is the best bike fun possible.

I have never ridden a big bore trail bike like that, but I am inclined to think he might be right.
 

Aryain

!!!!!!
~SPONSOR~
Feb 13, 2007
171
0
peanuts said:
His reasoning was that the bike was so awesome in every way that he just could not have fun on it and abide by the law at the same time. It was just too fast. I guess when you have 6 gears and 1st is good for 100km/h, speed limits feel quite restrictive.

:yikes:

I had a friend that had a YZF-R1. He was always talking about how amazingly fast that thing was. He ended up laying it over about two weeks after he got it. He got by with minor cuts and scrapes, and the bike wasn't in too bad of shape but his parents made him either sell it or move out. :think:
 

japiel

Member
May 29, 2007
5
0
Like dirt better

Three years on a dual sport(XT600), then 5 years on a street bike(GSXR750) and now two months on dirt bike(KX250R)
I must say the most fun ever is on the dirt bike and I tend to agree with Steve.The thing I liked the most of street bike was the track days, but somehow you are always afraid to go 100% due to possible expensive damage, unless it's a track bike.Dumped the street bike twice on the race track, big bill to fix the bike, no personal damage.Dumped the dirt bike once, no damage to the bike except scratches, personal broken leg and ancle.I live in South Africa with alot of unexplored dirt rodes with not much laws restricting it, street riding have cars and plenty speed traps.On the dirt I can go as fasdt I want and where I want not hte same with street.
Dirt is much more fun with constant changing conditions keeping you on the edge and excited
 

High Lord Gomer

Poked with Sticks
Sep 26, 1999
11,790
34
sspmxc400 said:
... bought a FZ1 ...
I had one last year...GREAT bike! I hope to get another sometime soon.

As mentioned by several others, to have as much fun on the street as you do on the dirt requires the violation of many laws.
 

Ol'89r

LIFETIME SPONSOR
Jan 27, 2000
6,961
45
High Lord Gomer said:
As mentioned by several others, to have as much fun on the street as you do on the dirt requires the violation of many laws.

:nod:

Street riding takes a little different mindset. I do about 90 percent dirt and about 10 percent street. Not freeways or busy highways but, tight, twisty, two laners.

A streetbike friend of mine called last tuesday and said. "Let's go riding." Well, Gomer knows what that means. ;)

So, wednesday morning we took of and rode down the old canyon road to Lake Elsinore and around the lake. Then, down through the quaint old town of Murrieta to Temecula and then over the mountain to Deluze road. Deluze road is a tight, twisty, narrow two laner that winds down into the avocado groves. Many tight turns with major elevation changes and drop off water ditches where you can catch a little air if you want.

Deluze road winds up in the town of Fallbrook, another quaint little town and then turns into Mission road. Through the town of Fallbrook and then down to the Lilac bridge. If you So Cal peeps have ever driven down the 15 freeway to Escondito, you may have noticed that very high bridge near the truck scales. Well, that bridge looks even higher when you are crossing it. We stopped and looked down at the freeway. Yikes! :ohmy: Across Lilac bridge to Lilac road. Lilac road is another tight, twisty road with many elevation changes. Parts of this road were built when there was nothing but citrus and avocado groves in the area and they are extremely tight.

We promised ourselves before we left that we were only to ride easy and not do any dumb stuff. My friend, a guy named Dave Smith is a retired dirttracker and roadracer. He was pretty good in his day, in fact he won the 2fitty class at Daytona on the roadrace course. Him and I raced many dirttrack half mile, mile and TT races together while growing up in So Cal. Dave has had many bad crashes that retired him from professional racing. I have visited him several times in the hospital. Two times where the doctors said he wouldn't make it through the night. He did, but his crashes left him very physically impaired. He can barely walk and he is blind in one eye and can't see out of the other. But he still goes like hell on a motorcycle. So, our promise of not doing anything silly didn't last long and we found ourselves dragging pegs and stepping it up a little. Fortunately, these roads are so tight it's easy to drag a peg and they are fairly low speed.

So anyway, we took Lilac road over to highway 76 and then up to Palomar mountain. Up the West Palomar grade, an even more tight and twisty road. Almost impossible not to drag a peg on that road just getting around the corners. We stopped and checked out the Palomar observatory and then went down the East grade road to Hwy 76 to Lake Henshaw. Around the lake to Hwy 79 and back West. Hwy 79 runs down through the valley and it was starting to get hot. Coming into Warner Springs we saw this big black cloud overhead and then saw a couple of drops in the windshield. The light rain felt good in the hot weather but soon the light rain turned to big drops and then lightning and thunder and then the whole sky opened up on us. There was a CDF fire station on the right and we ducked in there to get out of the rain. The firemen let us wait out the rain and then gave us towels to dry off and wipe off the bikes. We were both soaked but it felt good in the hot weather.

About three miles down Hwy 79 it was dry and hot again and not to many miles after that we were both completely dry. From there we turned right on Sage road, another tight two laner and headed up towards Hemet. Around the Domingali reservoir and through Hemet to Perris. Past the old Perris raceway, the oldest racetrack in So Cal. From there to Santa Rosa Mine Road which is, yep, you guessed it, another tight, twisty little road with drainage dropoffs where you can catch some serious air if you are going fast enough. Santa Rosa Mine Road goes up to the plateau above Lake Mathews and when you come down from the plateau you are looking down on the entire lake. Great view. From there, around the lake and then down Cajalco road, a tight, twisty and bumpy two laner back to my home.

A total of 266 miles, all two lane roads, no freeway. Temps from a cool, overcast 60 sumthin' to the high 90's and a thunderstorm in between. What a blast. :cool:

I prefer dirt riding over street riding but it's all what you make it. You can have just as much fun on a street bike but you do have to be careful. You can toss your dirtbike down the trail and just pick it up and keep on going. On a streetbike, if you toss it down the road, you can cost yourself many dollars and you will at best, lose some skin. You also have to look at each and every car in front of you and say to yourself, what if? What if he pulls out in front of me, what would I do? And you have to prepare for that and be ready if and when it happens. Believe me, it will happen.

My buddy Dave called yesterday and said it was the first time he ever got armpump on a street bike.
 
Last edited:

YamaB

Member
Apr 2, 2004
401
0
I've ridden street and/or race track for 14 years now... This is my 4th year of riding dirt (3rd year of racing)...

I enjoy them both, but prefer the dirt these days... I can ride my ktm as hard as I possibly want in a safe"ish" environment. You can't ride a street bike anywhere close to it's potential on the street, unless you have a death wish or something. Also, in the dirt, you don't have to worry about IDIOT drivers...

Now road racing is AWESOME... but also very $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.... thus I gave up that hobby several years ago... Offroad/mx is close in fun factor, but WAY cheaper...
 

Rich Rohrich

Moderator / BioHazard
LIFETIME SPONSOR
Jul 27, 1999
22,838
16,902
Chicago
Ol'89r said:
A streetbike friend of mine called last tuesday and said. "Let's go riding."

You convinced me Terry. :cool:

I just pulled the cover off my Bonneville and did the pre-ride check so it's ready to head to the Sheridan Road ravines as soon as the sun pops through the windows and wakes me up. My guess is I'll go considerably slower than you and Dave Smith. ;)

For those unfamiliar with Dave Smith here's an article from 1973 written by Cook Neilson that mentions him in the same breath as Ron Pierce, Kel Carruthers and Kenny Roberts.

http://www.tz350.net/cook_neilson.htm

Needless to say Ol89r is hanging in some scary fast company. :worship: :worship:
 

FruDaddy

Member
Aug 21, 2005
2,854
0
YamaB said:
Also, in the dirt, you don't have to worry about IDIOT drivers...
I would like to agree with that, but I can't. A lot of the 14-22 year old beginners are pretty scary, and I live in an area that is heavy with young military men that should probably not be on 2 wheels. ;)
 
Top Bottom