RIDING THROUGH TIME: THE EVOLUTIONARY JOURNEY OF CLASSIC DIRT BIKES

The growl of the engines, the dirt bubbling up from under the tyres, the sensation of leaning into the corners, feeling like you’re flying over the earth – dirt bike riders have been enjoying all of this and more for more than 100 years. But where did these machines come from? How did they develop from the early bikes of yesteryear to the formidable, high-performance off-road motorcycles of today? In this story, we present 10 classic dirt bikes that shaped the world of motocross with their trailblazing innovations.

THE BIRTH OF A NEW BEAST: 1955 ARIEL 500 HS MOTOCROSS

The Ariel 500 HS Motocross bicycle, one of the earliest motorcycles built specifically for off-road racing, was launched in 1952. Long-travel front forks and grippy, low-pressure tyres were hallmarks of this innovative model. It was an immediate success and became the prototype for all that followed: a synthesis of the curvaceous looks of previous models and the ‘knobbly tires’ and rugged suspension needed to make an off-roading motorcycle. Dirt bikes are demanding machines, influenced by the requirements of their riders and the conditions on the off-road courses – a kind of Darwinian cross-pollination.

RIDING WITH LEGENDS: 1963 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE DESERT SLED

Classic motorcycle + Hollywood icon = legend. Triumph Bonneville Desert Sled, modified for Steve McQueen. Classic bikes have proven themselves capable of many different forms of off-road racing.

THE REVOLUTIONARY PETITE METISSE: 1965 BULTACO 250

A fork seal it may be but it was a testament to ingenuity: a lightweight two-stroke engine had enabled the Bultaco 250 Petite Metisse to set the moto-wagonnyere in motion, a forerunner of a century’s progress that would prize nimbleness over horsepower, and demonstrate that smaller, lighter bikes could lead where the giants followed.

THE DAWN OF JAPANESE DOMINANCE: 1968 SUZUKI TM250

The Suzuki TM250 was the first Japanese production MX bike, and it began the Japanese hegemony in two-wheeled offroad racing. The single-cylinder two-stroke showcased the engineering prowess and ingenuity that the Japanese automotive industry was already known for, and it started a trend that would put Japanese manufacturers at the top of the motocross results sheets.

HOLLYWOOD'S FAVORITE: 1969 HUSQVARNA 400 CROSS

Immortalised by Steve McQueen in the cult classic On Any Sunday, its combination of sheer performance and the celluloid glamour of its film star rider have made the Husqvarna 400 Cross a cornerstone of motocross culture.

BREAKING NEW GROUND: 1973 HONDA CR250M ELSINORE

And they made motocross accessible in a way that had never been possible before. Named for the acclaimed Honda-backed Lake Elsinore GP it introduced in 1970, the CR250M Elsinore made motocross a commodity item for the masses. It was an affordable and competitive motorcycle, the precursor to Honda’s trajectory to become the dominant brand in off-road motorcycling.

THE MONOSHOCK MARVEL: 1975 YAMAHA YZ250M

Yamaha’s YZ250M was the first lightweight 250cc dirt bike to feature a monoshock suspension. The YZ250M was an important design ‘tipping point’, which showed how frame geometry and handling could be radically changed. For years afterwards, this was an important innovation for off-road motorcycle development. It again shows how Yamaha’s innovation drove the evolution of motocross bikes.

SPEED AND POWER: 1981 KTM 495

However, it was its sheer speed and power that earned the KTM 495 the label of ‘the world’s fastest dirt bike’. It was a bike that encompassed the European tradition of excellence in engineering and design, running counter to all the American and Japanese trends in off-road motorcycle design. Putting in impressive performances in both motocross and enduro racing, the 495 cemented KTM’s reputation as a manufacturer with an enduring place in the competitive world of motorcycling.

THE DISC BRAKE REVOLUTION: 1982 KAWASAKI KX250

When Kawasaki introduced disc brakes – the first on an off-road motorcycle – on the KX250, that was a technological achievement. It meant people could ride safer and faster. The design innovation brought by Kawasaki on this classic dirt bike elevated the performance of off-road motorcycle braking system. It was an indicator of Kawasaki’s commitment to be on the frontier of motocross technology.

REDEFINING FRAMES: 1997 HONDA CR250R

They built the first dirt bike to use an alloy perimeter frame, which reduced weight and improved performance. This classic motorbike proved that Honda could revolutionise dirt bike design and performance almost at will, reaffirming the brand’s reputation as a technological vanguard.

UNDERSTANDING CLASSIC

The word classic has cropped up repeatedly here, and there’s a reason for that: as fascinating as current dirt bikes are, and as fast and capable as our modern machines are compared to the ones that came before, it’s the classic models and innovations that were truly groundbreaking, paving the way for the kind of riding, racing, and lifestyle we see today in the motocross world. When the magazine editors and bloggers write about classic bikes, that’s code for those that have stood the test of time, that led the charge in the creation of how we ride today. Whether those classic bikes won many of motocross’s major competitions, incorporated innovative technologies similar to those on our modern bike, or were ridden by some of the sport’s most famous racers, they’re all found in the motocross pantheon. They’re classic in theory, but they’re also classic in practice because they shaped what our modern motorcycles look and perform like today.

In conclusion, dirt bikes evolved from these classic precedents into the advanced models we see today thanks to technological advances, competition and the constant pursuit of performance. Each of the classic dirt bikes on this list exemplifies a chapter in motocross history, documenting the highlights and machines that continue to influence the sport today.