Dirt Bike History

Today, dirt biking is considered one of the more extreme sports. It offers the rider an exhilarating rush of adrenaline and excitement. The sport allows a rider to face real danger and enormous triumph.

But who invented the dirt bike? Dirt bike history began in the US. However, it was not an American who started it all. It was a Japanese businessman.

Dirt bike history has a modest start. In 1959, a young Japanese businessman named Soichiro Honda opened a small motorcycle shop in Los Angeles, California. At first, his sales were not good. This meant that not many people bought his bikes.

Why is this so? In the 1950’s, motorcycle riders were considered as outlaws and thugs. Also, there weren’t any trail or dirt bikes at that time. The motorcycles that were seen were street bikes. No self respecting person would ride a motorcycle at that time.

But dirt bike history was about to change. A few years later, the tagline “you meet the nicest people on a Honda” appeared. Soichiro Honda’s motorcycle ad campaign featured smiling girls and men in business suits sitting on Honda bikes. The ad was a hit and people started buying Honda’s bikes.

In a few years, a lot of people own motorcycles. Gone was the notion that only thugs ride motorcycles on the streets. People of all ages started to buy Honda’s motorcycles.

People became interested in taking their motorcycles out of the streets into the wilderness. They wanted to take these vehicles into the woods or their favorite fishing hole.

Soichiro Honda, now a successful businessman began researching on ways on how to enhance his standard line of motorcycles to withstand rough terrain. He designed a new suspension system which is stronger and more durable than those of standard motorcycles. He also designed large diameter tires with special tread patterns to improve the motorcycle’s grip on the road. The frames were also made lighter but stronger. The final product was the dirt bike.

In 1963, dirt bike history made its mark when Honda introduced the first dirt bike to the market. Many people loved it. Soon, truckloads of Honda dirt bikes were being ordered.

Since then, technological advances made dirt bikes even better, faster and more powerful. However, without the ideas of a simple Japanese businessman trying to earn a living in the United States, the dirt bike could never have emerged.