DO IT IN THE DIRT Off-Road = More For Your Money By Dale Spangler*
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paradigm shift seems to be happening at present in the dirtbike scene. As numbers dwindle at many local motocross tracks, and as the cost of four-stroke dirtbikes continue to creep ever-higher, more-and-more riders have decided to turn their attention (and dollars) toward off-road. This is evident through the huge turnouts at off-road racing series — a typical GNCC weekend will see 800 riders in virtually every class! This surge is not only the national level, but also at the regional and local levels. The reasons for this popularity are quite simple.
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For one, off-road provides so much more for the money. Riders fed-up with exorbitant sign-up fees, four laps of practice, and all-day wait times for two four-lap motos at the motocross track have realized they can instead head to a local hare scramble or enduro, get in two hours of racing, and still be home before dinner! Then there’s the social aspect and sense of camaraderie that’s such an integral part of off-road and that happens less often in the ultra-competitive world of motocross. Offroad riders seem less obsessed with results and instead focus more on having fun on their dirtbike in picturesque settings with good friends. And there’s the fact that the two-stroke is alive and well in the off-road world. Two-strokes may be even more on a major comeback trail than off-roading. With its less intimidating power delivery, easier maintenance, and cheaper overall operating costs, what’s not to like about 2-strokes. The OEMs have taken notice of this shift. As a result, we’ve seen more off-road-specific dirtbike and adventure models introduced to the market in the last few years than in a long time. If you think back just five years (2012) would you have ever thought a major OEM would bring-to-market a fuel-injected two-stroke dirtbike? I think a lot of people (including myself) thought it was possible, but were still surprised when it happened. The off-road segment could be a saving grace for the powersports industry. It’s hard enough for a new rider to take up the sport of dirtbiking because of the initial outlay for bike, gear, fuel and transportation. But even harder is for a new rider to learn how to ride, build confidence, and hone his/her skills without feeling the competitive pressure of the motocross track. That’s where the accessibility of off-road riding becomes clear: for a new rider to be able to ride without the pressure of competition in a comfortable setting is essential for them to build confidence and create an environment of fun instead of fear. Continued on page 46