If you’re new to the offroad motorcycling world, then it may not seem like there’s a difference between pit bikes and dirt bikes.

Yet there is a clear and concise difference between these two motorcycles. One that we can answer so clearly:

Dirt bikes are much more popular than pit bikes, with larger engines and more horsepower for the rider. Commonly, dirt bikes are used for recreational riding, enduro races, motocross and other competitive events with excellent performance specifications. Pit bikes are much smaller in their frame, with less power but they also cost 50% to 80% less than the equivalent dirt bike.

One motorbike is a stallion and one is a pony, yet the pony can be a heck of a lot of fun with the engine thumping along. We’ll cover the differences more acutely with the information below.

Manufacturers and Pricing

Pit bikes typically come from China and use inferior parts and build quality. They have created a reputation for not quite lasting past 5,000 miles while a dirt bike can rack up between 15,000 and 30,000 miles quite easily, depending on the rider and the routine maintenance performed.

Historically, dirt bikes have been made in Japan and Europe with mainstream manufacturers including Honda, Yamaha, KTM and Suzuki. An entire industry has stemed from this with off-shoots into racing, adventure motorcycling and stuntwork. In recent years, some Chinese dirt bikes have come into the market offering reasonably good performance for less than the price of a typical dirt bike.

You can get into pit bike riding for less than dirt bike riding, though the longevity and parts availability is questionable.

Engine and Performance

Dirt bikes are considered the standard-offering in the offroad motorcycling world. Their engines are between 250cc and 690cc for adults, with 250cc and 450cc being the most common. Typically you’ll choose a 250cc for forest trails because they’re light and nimble, while a 450cc is best for long sweeping trails at higher speeds, including some highway riding.

Pit bikes are just smaller motorcycles overall and you won’t really see anything past 250cc. In fact, they’re generally smaller than this. 150cc isn’t much of an engine and for an adult weighing 200 pounds, it’s going to be a struggle to get this up to speed fast.

A dirt bike will always accelerate faster than a pit bike. Further more, the top speed of a dirt bike is 2x to 3x of even the most powerful pit bike.

Body Shape and Design

Pit bikes are small. In fact, they’re so small that you can fit one into the back of some SUV’s. That is…if you fancy the smell of rubber and fuel while you’re hauling down the highway.

Because they’re small, they’re easy to throw around on the trails. This makes them an ideal choice for kids and teenagers who want to get into riding, but don’t quite want to become a superstar on the throttle just yet. They certainly make a great dirt bike for learning without the massive capital outlay.

Dirt bikes can feel quite large in comparison. This larger size is there to accommmodate a big engine with a large fuel tank and bigger tires. Even the suspension needs to be made larger to compensate for this additional weight.

Which One: Dirt Bike vs Pit Bike?

Essentially, which one do you want to choose? Each sounds like a good deal.

This often comes down to several points:

• How often you want to go riding
• What your budget is to buy a new motorcycle
• The terrain that you’re likely to be riding

If you’re committed towards riding on gnarly tracks, sand dunes and forest trails, then you’ll certainly want a dirt bike. Sure – these will cost you a few pennies but will reward you with many smiles for years to come.

For casually riding around in the backyard or relatively flat area, the pit bike would be a good segway into riding. For someone learning to ride and doesn’t want all that weight and power just yet, then they’re perfect for learning the ropes before upgrading down the road.

That moment when your dirt bike backfires typically sends shivers down your spine. Have you caused irreversible engine damage?

Dirt bikes backfire due to a bad air-to-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber withint the engine. This malfunction results in the loud banging sound that comes from the exhaust pipe. This typically happens when a dirt bike is starting up, though it can happen at idle or when twisting the throttle.

Short-term, there isn’t much of an issue if this happens occasionally but damage can occur to internal parts and seals if left untreated.

Dirt Bike Backfiring Issues

Any petrol-driven engine can backfire if there is too much fuel or too much air in the mixture. This can be due to excessive heat from the exhaust which ignites the fuel or even has a flame emanating from the exhaust.

Explosions are designed to happen within the engine, hence the term ‘internal combustion’ and this is based on having the correct air to fuel ratio. Each engine is different and has been designed to operate at an optimum ratio. When this ratio isn’t met, backfiring or typical.

Running Rich vs Running Lean

Have you heard the terms ‘running lean’ or ‘running rich’ before with a dirt bike? They essentially refer to the opposite ends of improper combustion, and relate more towards the fuel.

Running Rich = Too Much Fuel and Too Little Air. You’ll probably smell the petrol when you’re idling your dirt bike and the engine is likely to be running a bit rough.

Running Lean = Too Much Air and Too Little Fuel. This is where your engine is just being starved of the fuel it needs to keep combusting because the air is in excess. From here, the fuel may pass into the exhaust and later explode due to heat.

If you need to calibrate the ratios, it’s actually quite easy. You just need to use a screwdriver and locate the carburetor (often called ‘the carb’ in the dirt bike world) and turn the screws a little each time until you hear the engine running as it should.

Common Reasons Your Dirt Bike Will Backfire

Frontaer has come across numbers reasons why dirt bikes backfire. These are:

1. Faulty Spark Plugs. You can replace these very easily and cheaply. Takes about 10 minutes actually.
2. Bad Fuel. That fuel that you’ve left in the gas tank for 4 months has gone bad. Also, you’ll want to use 95+ because 91 and lower just isn’t what your engine was designed for.
3. Dirty Carb. The Carburetor does the mixing of air and fuel and it may be dirty or faulty.
4. Poor Compression. The pistons require compression within the combustion chamber to move.
5. Air Filters Clogged. Have you cleaned out your air filters recently? This is a common reason for backfiring.
6. The Jets are Dirty. There are several parts within the jets that need to be kept spotless and with no dirt.
7. The Fuel Injector Is Clogged. While more rare, you may have a partial blockage in your fuel injector.

A lot of these problems you can fault-find yourself. Mechanics will charge $150+ to look over everything plus you gotta haul your dirt back to and from.

Keeping Your Dirt Bike Fresh

Routine maintenance is necessary to look after your dirt bike. After all, you don’t want to have to replace it anytime soon if it’s what you worked so hard to buy.

To stop your dirt bike from backfiring often, you’ll want to ensure your fuel injectors stay cleaned, replace your air filters often and only use premium fuels. A regular service is also recommended by a qualified mechanic.

Backfires are an indicator that something isn’t right. It’s not bad for your dirt bike for this to happen occasionally, but left untreated, it will probably send your dirt bike for an early retirement. Look after your ride and it will look after you.