You’re a beginner who recently started riding a new dirt bike? Learning how to ride a dirt bike is a hassle in the beginning. There’s a chance that you’ll have to experience lots of bruises and injuries. But in the end, all this hassle is worth it.
I suppose it started to snow where you’re right now? With your new dirt bike as your company, you’re probably left wondering, can dirt bikes ride in snow?
Dirt bikes can indeed be used in the snow if a reasonable number of modifications are done. Modifications can be done in parts like motors, tires, motos, and so on. Besides, a dirt bike’s working ability depends on the amount of snowfall in a certain area.
You might be curious about your dirt bike’s modification, but no need to worry because we’re here to help you get through this. So, without further ado, here are some important information we need to know about this topic.
Can You Ride Dirt Bike In Snow?
Of course, you can ride your dirt bike even when it’s snowing. But you have to keep some things in mind if you want a smooth ride.
Modifications are highly recommended. An average dirt bike cannot last in snow. To have a peaceful journey with your dirt bike, you need to do some major modifications in advance. You need to do some layering up on your dirt bike. Furthermore, the ride will depend on the amount of snow in a particular location.
Is It Bad To Ride A Dirt Bike In The Snow?
No, it’s not bad to ride your dirt bike in the snow. But it might be pretty dangerous to do so. The risk of facing a potential accident is high. It might cause you minor or serious injuries which, of course, depends on which type of track you’re riding in. Moreover, staying out for a long time to ride your bike might be risky for your health.
What To Do To Avoid Any Kind Of Danger?
- Don’t stay out for a long time. If your body stops creating heat because of staying out for a long amount of time around snow, the risk of developing hypothermia is high.
- Another issue is frostbite. If you notice that your skin is turning red, and ultimately turning pale and hard then immediately leave that place, go back to your home and seek warmth.
- Wear warm clothes and don’t keep your skin bare. Wear clothes that are thick enough to protect your skin from the snow.
- Avoid places that have the potential to make you fall, causing an accident to occur.
- Get customized gloves for snow riding because average gloves won’t do any good. You’ll need gloves that are thick enough not to let the cold get to you.
6 Tips To Ride A Dirt Bike In Winter:
To make your journey with your dirt bike easier during winter, we’re here to help you with some tips. Here’s what we have to offer:
1. Invest in some cold-weather riding gear
We’ll need some warm jackets and riding pants. You can wear thermals which will help you to block the wind chill quite extensively. Instead of your MX gloves, get some new cold-weather ADV riding gloves for yourself.
2. Install some handguards
The enormous amount of wind might make your grip weaker than usual. So, you can try buying the wide square style guards or the full wrap-around handlebar guard.
3. Invest in a heated winter riding jacket
How about you try the 12V heated winter jackets for yourself? It can cover huge stretches during winter for you. It’ll help you continue riding for a long time. The only inconvenience here is the weight. Yeah, it can be pretty heavy. You’ll also need to get a 12V outlet installed.
4. Buy some dirt bike winter tires
You can buy studded tires for snow riding, which are available both online and offline. You can order 2 sets of them, one set for winter and another set for summer. The studded tires are the best for winter.
5. Consider a better helmet or goggles
Getting two sets of the helmet for summer and winter is just as important as getting two sets of tires. You can buy a separate set of a helmet for snow riding, which will have less front-end ventilation. You’ll also need a pair of goggles that’ll minimize the air inflow, which should also be fitting you suitably
6. Keep the boots dry
Keeping your boots dry is necessary if you intend to ride for quite a long time. Try your best to maintain a significant amount of distance from river crossings. Use Goretex where needed. Do change your boots if you feel like they’re out of their limit which implies that you need to keep extra boots with yourself, in case you need them.
How To Prepare Your Dirt Bike For A Snow Ride?
Preparing your dirt bike for a snow ride is crucial because the bike will perform depending on the type of modification that’s being done. Let me help you with the process of the modification of your dirt bike, mate!
● Tires
Chances are high that it’ll come across as if your bike is doing well in the snow at first glance, but let’s not forget that snow will plug into the tires and make if you run it on dense snow you slip. So we should buy snow tires for our bike, which has studs to increase friction. These studs are there to help your dirt bike grip on the frozen surface.
● Motor
Your motor needs to be modified. It’s not mandatory to replace it with a new one, but you need to take protective measures so that remains intact. If measures are not taken, then the chance of the motor getting damaged is high.
You need to make sure that the carburetor is kept safe by covering the sides. Doing so, the carburetor will not freeze. Usage of plastic is recommended to keep wet snow out. If it’s a two-stroke engine, optimizing the engine’s working in cold temperature makes sure that the air-fuel mixture is concentrated.
● Winter protective gear
You need to grab cold weather riding clothes and gears if you want a smooth snow ride with your dirt bike. To avoid frozen hands, gloves are a must-have. Because the grips and levers will also be freezing alongside your hands which will result in losing your grip on the bike.
You can also make use of electric grip heaters fitted under regular grippers. You’ll also need new riding jackets that can block the wind, adding a chest protector underneath. Buy some protective pants that’ll make sure you don’t get any scratches or bruises too.
How Do You Store A Dirt Bike For The Winter?
If you’re going to store your dirt bike for winter for the first time and thinking what should be done to store it properly, you’re in the right place because we’re here to help you get started! Take a look at the suggestions given below:
Wash your bike
Wash your dirt bike before preparing it for storing, as it’ll allow you to detect any problems. You can find tons of washing products online using which you can give your bike a nice wash. After giving a wash, you can cover the important parts of the bike with oil to avoid rust and decay.
Charge the battery
Exposure to the cold for a prolonged period will result in the drainage of your battery and it might even end up cracking. So before storing, remove the battery and connect it with a regulated battery charger in a dry and warm spot. An overcharged battery might blow up or become useless if the charger is not regulating the battery charge properly.
Fill the gas tank up and stabilize the fuel
A full steel tank won’t get rusted. So if you wanna avoid the heavy buildup of condensation and rust, fill your gas tank up. Always try to keep water out of the engine. Once you’re done filling the tank up, add a fuel stabilizer on your bike. Run your bike for a short while, it’ll help fuel make its way throughout the system.
Store on a bike stand
Remove the tires and wheels from your bike and rest it on a bike stand. If you don’t have one, do buy one because if you store the bike without taking the wheels and tires out, there’ll be possible flat spots on the tires.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can two people go on a dirt bike?
Yes, two people can go on a dirt bike. But it’s illegal in some states because there might be some risks to it. You also need to be careful about it because we don’t want any accidents now, do we?
2. Can you ride a dirt bike in a neighborhood?
The answer is no, it’s illegal to ride a dirt bike on the city sidewalks, public roads, and neighborhoods. They’re specifically made for riding off-road. With that being said, some places may allow you to ride your dirt bike, but that’s an unusual sight
3. What happens if you get pulled over on a dirt bike?
The chance of the bike getting impounded is high. You might need to explain yourself to a judge or magistrate, resulting in the loss of your license.
4. Are dirt bikes dangerous?
Dirt bikes are indeed dangerous. Whoever is riding a dirt bike is at a high risk of facing an unwanted accident. Dirt bikes are generally considered fast, so we never know what might happen to the rider. So we need to be cautious.
5. How long does a dirt bike last?
An average dirt bike lasts for about 9 months. If you take proper care and are willing to work on your bike, it might last a little longer. But if proper care is not taken, it’s 9 months only.
Conclusion
By now we have cleared your confusion about riding your dirt bike in the snow. If proper modifications are done and necessary steps are taken, you can have a smooth journey with your dirt bike. May you have a wonderful ride in the snow with your dirt bike!
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