Which bike will suit you best?
For cross training, endurocross or basic dirt riding?
First, there are two important pitfalls to avoid!
One... your riding skills are what count, not the type of
bike you ride!
Don't think a more expensive or lighter bike makes you
a much better rider.
If you haven't learned the skills,
forget about dyno charts and outright power unless you are a top rider.
A powerful bike will just get you into trouble faster.
So slow down and learn the important skills you need.
Don't ignore smaller capacity bikes.
Cross training is about applying trials techniques that emphasize balance,
traction, and throttle and clutch control.
These can be learned on any bike...
regardless of whether you ride slowly or you race in endurocross and extreme enduros.
However, you will find a major factor involved with your choice of bike is weight.
The lighter your bike, the more you can apply a cross training approach.
We start with the heaviest bikes and work through to the lighter ones.
Four-stroke enduro bikes... many riders will happily choose a
heavier four-stroke if it suits their riding style.
Traditionally four strokes have been 10 to 13 kilograms heavier than two strokes but European
bikes are now getting quite light.
Such as the KTM 350EXC at107kg.
And Sherco's 300 four stroke is about the same weight.
Four-strokes have longer engine life due to a dedicated
lubrication system.
No messing around with premix fuel.
Power delivery can be more suited for traction and hill climbs.
Better fuel economy and less emissions for the environment.
Nore engine braking than a two-stroke.
Disadvantages?
Four strokes have more complicated engines.
So servicing is more expensive and tedious.
They only fire half as often so generally can't match the
two strokes for outright power.
Four strokes are usually a heavier engine.
Nonetheless you will occasionally see the top riders in
enduro cross and extreme enduro events on four strokes.
When the terrain is tough and slow,
the four strokes are more likely to overheat and can have a tendency to stall.
Two stroke enduro bikes! This category is dominated by two strokes from 250 to
300 cc due to their lightweight. Two strokes tend to be the bike of choice in
hard enduro, endurocross and extreme enduro...
and they're very good bikes for cross training.
Almost without exception you will find the world's best extreme enduro and
enduro cross riders on two-stroke 250 or 300. Some riders prefer the 250s which
usually have the same top end power. And they can actually be more manageable in tight
terrain due to less power at low revs. Generally, two strokes will need more
attention to careful throttle control in slippery conditions. The lack of
engine brake will mean covering the rear brake for downhill descents, wheelies and
some of the more advanced cross training techniques. Once dominated by KTM the
two-stroke class now includes bikes like the gas gas EC 300 feeder Double R 300
Haas banner te 300 the schuko 300 SCR and the TN 300 don't fall into the trap
of thinking there's no replacement for displacement some ride 200 cc two
strikes these are even lighter and the reduced power at lower revs can actually
make them a more easily managed bike in gnarly terrain the 2014 national and
Giroux cross champ in our trials club rides a 200 exe and it's impressive
seeing what he can do on a small ball by there's an increased need for clutch
work for some techniques but if you're looking to learn trial skills that's
actually a good thing
hybrid bikes a very interesting development over recent years is a
hybrid range of buyers that are halfway between a trials bike and dirt bike
these have the added advantage of usually being street ready in many
countries which opens up the possible areas you can ride them in bikes in this
range include the Asura explorer KTM freeride 250 freeride 350 and the surco
x-ray the freeride 350 is actually only just slightly lighter than a two-string
so it really only just fits into this hybrid category but the other bikes are
simply amazing in tough terrain due to their light weight if you mostly ride
tight technical terrain a hybrid bike is well worth considering however if you
ride hard most of the time or mostly ride open flowing trails these hybrids
probably won't suit due to their lighter suspension less suspension travel and
detuned engines mind you these bikes will still go fast in the dirt but it's
just a matter of letting your legs do more work to soak up the bumps and
taking it easier on the bigger jumps while the fuel tanks are usually bigger
than a trials bike they are usually much smaller than those on enduro bikes a
telling sign is that none of the top riders in extreme enduros or EnduroCross
events race on hybrid bikes they simply aren't built to handle the stress of a
hardened euros and a top rider
Ronald fires a modern trials bike typically weighs under 70 kilograms
forget the ramp you just lift these babies onto your trailer or truck they
are incredibly responsive to changes of body position trials wives can bounce
from a standstill and flick the bike through 180 degrees if you are serious
about learning cross training techniques then a trials bike is perfect for
learning the skill then transfer it to your dirt bike pouring Giro bike trials
bikes are obviously not intended for enduro riding although some riders do
fit aftermarket seats and to carry extra fuel on the handlebars for dirt riding
however a short wheelbase and short soft suspension means you won't be riding it
like a hardcore enduro bike over jumps and the line if you are really serious
about cross training the trials bike is almost a must
virtually every top extreme enduro rider in the world has been a trials champion
at some point in the past and our personal choice for top enduro cross or
extreme enduro bike the dr 1800 a heavily modified suzuki dr650 there are
small issues with weight and ground clearance but these are offset by the
amazing power output 120 horsepower at 2,000 rpm a true fill climbing beast