Of course, many of us dirt bike riders know the answer to this question as it’s immediately obvious to us. Then again, not everyone has been on a dirt bike:

Most dirt bikes today have a modern ignition system with keys which prevents the motorcycle from being stolen or causing a flat battery for the rider. However, the dirt bike doesn’t start with the key like a normal car. Instead, the key is used to engage the battery and then the rider either presses an electric start button or uses the kick start to get the engine running.

A few of the older MX style machines don’t have keys but most today simply do. Otherwise, it’s quite a risk as your bike might get stolen. It’s also a good way to turn off your engine when you come crashing down on the side of the track, though most bikes have a kill button too.

Dirt Bikes and Keys

Most dirt bikes have keys and certainly, all dual-sport and adventure motorcycles have these too. If the motorcycle is ridden on the road, then it certainly would have a key.

Some bikes which remain exclusively on the dirt may not have a key as they are used in trials or supercross events. It’s here where the risk of being stolen isn’t high given the security you’ll find at motocross stadiums and the like.

For the recreational rider like us, we really want to sleep better at nighttime. In years gone by, manufacturers were bringing dirt bikes to the market that didn’t have keys. We demanded these and they eventually followed suit. Today, having a key with your dirt bike is as common as wearing a helmet when riding around.

Installing an Ignition

Let’s say you’re riding one of those dirt bikes that don’t have ignitions but you want to install one. The fortunate news is that you’re able to install your own ignition system.

Both Yamaha and Honda make these and you can find the kits online. You’ll need some tools to get the job done properly and some experienced with electricial wiring.

But then we question whether you really need to do this? A solid chain and lock should be enough to keep everyone out. Well, the honest people that is. We know that just about every padlock can be picked nowadays.

Keeping a Dirt Bike Secure

While most dirt bikes sold from the major dealerships such as Yamaha, KTM, Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki have ignition systems, it doesn’t really stop someone from stealing a dirt bike. After all, changing the ignition system is pretty damn easy with the right tools.

Thus, you’re going to want some decent security and more than just a chain and lock.

We can recommend:

• Parking your dirt bike in the garage with your car boxing it in. A real physical deterant.
• Not advertising your love for dirt bikes with branding stickers all over your car.
• Using a tracking device which is cleverly hidden away and with a long life battery.
• Being mindful when you’re parked up at the gas station. This is where you’ll let your guard down.

Of course, you’ll also want to keep those keys in a safe spot. Most dirt bikes come with two keys so keep the spare in a safe spot somewhere and ideally not in the trailer.

Dirt bikes are an expensive bit of kit, and yes, they will need rebuilds. It’s something to really factor in if you’re buying a used one.

Top-end rebuilds are necessary on dirt bikes because of the aggressive riding nature of the individual. Most dirt bikes will need a rebuild done at least once per year, while the competitive motocross racer needs their motorcycle rebuilt every few weeks to remain competitive throughout the season.

Essentially, dirt bikes that race need to be rebuilt much more often, especially if they’re ridden in the mud and sand. We’ll provide some more insights throughout this post.

Dirt Bikes and Regular Rebuilds

It can be a little confusing which leaves newer riders scratching their heads. After all, street bikes and adventure motorcycles don’t really need rebuilds…so why dirt bikes?

It’s all got to do with the thrashing. If you’re subjecting any motorcycle to high outputs, constantly high revs, being lightweight and throwing it around on gnarly tracks and trails, then it aint gonna last long. Motorcycles on the street will see 2% of this over their lifetime.

Oddly enough, some people go years without doing a top end rebuild. They’ll be riding for months and months without anything more than say topping up their oils. Really – that’s it.

2-Stroke vs 4-Stroke Rebuild

There is a difference between engine rebuilds between both types of dirt bikes. Given that 2-strokes are ridden much more often on motocross tracks, and the fact that they rev harder and have seriously high output, they’re rebuilt more often. 4-strokes can get by for longer.

You might get a few thousand miles between rebuilds on a 4-stroke while that 2 banger you have might need a rebuilt within a few hundred miles. It all depends on how aggressive you ride and what tournaments you’re trying to win.

If you’re the Sunday cruise who’s just looking for easy fire trails, then you’ll get away with never needing to rebuild your engine. In fact, it’s much more like a street bike than it is a dirt bike. Enduro bikes are a crossbreed between the enduro and amateur trail bike riding world, so yes, they will need rebuilding but not so often.

Cost to Rebuild

This is really a piece of string analogy. While you might spend a few hundred dollars with one make/model, another might cost you several thousand. Sometimes it’s easier and cheaper to just buy a new trail weapon than it is to rebuild that engine.

To reduce the costs, you can look up on Craigslist and Gumtree or even eBay for some parts. Sometimes riders have clapped out their dirt bikes but they have spare parts on the shelf at home not being used. They’ll list these and hope someone buys them which is your gain.

In Summary

So this all comes down to the competitive nature of riding. The harder you ride, the more often you’ll need to pull everything apart. Chances are though, if you don’t rebuild your engine, then you can send it in for an early retirement. That is – the junk yard.