How Do Automatic Dirt Bikes Differ From Manual Dirt Bikes?


In the dirt bike market, there are two different types of bicycles. The first type is automatic dirt bikes and the other type is manual dirt bikes which mainly refers to the gear type.

While most people do not understand the differences between the two types of dirt bikes, there are even people who have been riding dirt bikes for years but do not understand the differences between the two types of bikes.

So, what is the difference between automatic and manual dirt bikes? There are some differences between the two types of dirt bikes but the main difference is that manual dirt bikes will require you to adjust and learn how to use the manual gearbox. Manual bike riders have more skills changing the gears when riding. However, in automatic dirt bikes, the automatic gearbox does the job for the rider. Automatic dirt bikes will not teach you how to use the gears. It is perfect for riders, especially kids who don’t know how to use gears.

Automatic dirt bikes, in general, will be best suited for beginners, especially for kids. The reason is that automatic dirt bikes are not as powerful and strong as manual dirt bikes but provides more when riding. The truth is most automatic dirt bikes are mainly for kids and not for adults. And if you ask me, automatic dirt bikes will be best for the young ones while manual dirt bikes will be more suitable for older riders or youth.

There are many other differences, advantages, and disadvantages that are very important to know before deciding whether to buy automatic or manual dirt bikes. Keep reading because, in this guide, I will discuss all the things you need to know about both types of dirt bikes.

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So, let’s get started.

What are automatic dirt bikes & who are they for stable?

Automatic dirt bikes are designed primarily for beginner riders and especially for kids. While they may be suitable for adults as well, these bikes are more designed for kids because they really lower their responsibilities and effort when riding, making it seems like they are riding the dirt bike without doing anything.

The idea of ​​this dirt bike is that the rider will not put too much effort into it and can simply ride without worrying when riding. The rider can go for long rides without worrying about changing gears. However, there are also semi-automatic dirt bikes that are more powerful than fully automatic dirt bikes.

  • One of the features that automatic dirt bikes have is that they are smaller in size. the reason is that most automatic dirt bikes are designed for children, which makes manufacturers make the size of the dirt bike small. So, it is important to take this into account.
  • In addition, automatic dirt bikes are less powerful than manual dirt bikes and the truth is that semi-automatic dirt bikes are not really as powerful as manual dirt bikes. So, if you want a more powerful dirt bike and as an experienced rider, I would advise you to opt for manual dirt bikes.
  • Also, it’s important to know that automatic dirt bikes aren’t as popular as manuals dirt bikes. Most riders don’t buy automatic dirt bikes because after a while of riding, they get bored. So, the choice is yours.
  • Additionally, because automatic dirt bikes are not as powerful as manual dirt bikes and also because they are smaller in size, it significantly reduces their price. So, automatic dirt bikes are significantly cheaper than manual dirt bikes.

So, what is my opinion about automatic dirt bikes? In my opinion, automatic dirt bikes will fit and were intended only for children. Personally, I would not recommend automatic dirt bikes for adults because older people will just get bored of them. Also, it is easier for adults to deal with manual dirt bikes. So, it’s important to take this into account.

Pros of automatic dirt bikes

  • Easy to use
  • Cheap
  • Safe for children
  • Special
  • More lightweight when riding long distance

Cons of automatic dirt bikes

  • Less popular
  • Not powerful
  • Less suitable for adults
  • Small in size

What are manual dirt bikes & for who are they suitable?

  • Manual dirt bikes are the most popular type because all dirt bike companies produce it. For manual dirt bikes, you need to put more effort into learning how the gears work. This also requires learning the steps and modes and how to switch from gear to gear, which involves pulling the clutch and then moving down your left foot. Most of the manual dirt bike gear systems type is the DCT or CVT systems.
  • Manual dirt bikes come in very large sizes and are designed for older people. Therefore, most manual dirt bikes are not designed for teens. Additionally, the manual gearbox is much heavier than an automatic gearbox, which makes manual dirt bikes heavier.
  • In addition, manual dirt bikes are more difficult to learn and ride than automatic. And the truth is it’s not just the manual gear changing you have to spend time to learn, but also the riding skills and how to use the gears at high speeds. It is worth it in the end because after learning how to ride a manual dirt bike, you would have had a lot of power to drive.
  • Also, manual dirt bikes will cost you a lot more than automatic bikes. And truthfully, the differences are very large by even a few thousand dollars. So, it is important to take this into account.

So, what is my opinion about manual dirt bikes? In my opinion, manual dirt bikes will be best suited for older people and teenagers and even for beginner riders because learning how to ride them will only take a few weeks. And especially for teenagers and or grown-ups, it is better off getting manual dirt bikes and leaving the automatic dirt bikes for kids.

Pros of manual dirt bikes

  • Strong performance
  • Large and suitable for adults and teens

Cons of manual dirt bikes

  • Heavy
  • Require learning
  • Less safe for riding (especially for kids)
Enduro rider climbing a steep slop

Differences between manual dirt bikes and automatic dirt bikes

Manual dirt bikes are more expensive than automatic dirt bikes

Manual dirt bikes are very expensive and for that reason, they provide very high performances. They are also more high-quality and large in size, which makes them very expensive. Truthfully, the average prices of most manual dirt bikes are over 7000 dollars, which is very expensive.

Automatic dirt bikes, on the other hand, are much cheaper because they are designed primarily for kids, provide less performance, weigh less, and are smaller in size. So, they cost around $2000 on average and even less.

For example, the manual KLX250 will cost you $5349 and the Kawasaki KLX110 will cost you $2,299.

Automatic dirt bikes are smaller in size than manual dirt bikes

Manual dirt bikes are very large, they have bigger engines, and suitable for older people. And the truth is there are also manual dirt bikes which are small for children but the selection is very limited.

Automatic dirt bikes, on the other hand, are very small, and they are suitable for children. There are few automatic dirt bikes such as Honda CRF110F that will fit adults but even then, they are less suitable adults and more suitable for teens.

Manual dirt bikes are heavier than automatic dirt bikes

As I mentioned earlier, manual dirt bikes are quite heavy because they have a lot of performance and their parts and are also bigger when compared to automatic dirt bikes which are very lightweight.

By the way, manual dirt bikes have more weight because their gearbox is very heavy compared to the automatic gearbox. So, it is important to take this into account.

Automatic dirt bikes are easier to use than manual dirt bikes

The ease of use of automatic dirt bikes is just crazy when riding these bikes. Automatic and semi-automatic dirt bikes are very easy to use compared to manual dirt bikes that require a lot of work and gear learning. Manual dirt bikes also require a lot of time to get used to them.

This is precisely the reason why automatic dirt bikes are recommended for kids and beginners because they do not require a lot of messing around with the gears, especially children who are more difficult to learn things easily. So, it is important to take this into account.

Manual dirt bikes are more fun to ride than automatic dirt bikes

Manual dirt bikes are much more sportful than automatic dirt bikes. They have superb speed, acceleration, and just more sportful. Personally, I get very bored riding automatic dirt bikes.

In addition, manual dirt bikes are better for racing so it’s important to know that.

If you are an adult and want to get automatic dirt bikes, know that you will get bored very quickly. So, that is why I do not recommend automatic dirt bikes for adults.

Manual dirt bikes are more dangerous than automatic dirt bikes

Due to the fact that manual dirt bikes have more performance and speeds, it makes them more dangerous than automatic dirt bikes which are very safe to ride.

And the truth is it’s not just the performance that makes automatic dirt bikes safer, it’s also the gears. In manual dirt bikes, it requires a lot of skill to change between gears and that can distract the rider. In automatic dirt bikes, the rider can focus himself only on riding and that’s why automatic dirt bikes are recommended for kids.

Automatic dirt bikes are more suitable for long-distance rides than manual dirt bikes

Automatic dirt bikes are much more suitable for long-distance rides because you don’t have to engage in changing between gears, making them more comfortable. While manual dirt bikes require lots of time changing between gears.

The truth is, if you want to ride long distances, I recommend you to buy dual sport dirt bikes which are more designed for long-distance rides. Here is the complete guide I wrote and it will show you the difference between a dirt bike and dual-sport bike. Click here to view

Automatic dirt bikes designed for children While Manual dirt bikes are designed for adults and teens

Lastly, automatic dirt bikes are the perfect choice for kids. While for adults and teens, manual dirt bikes are the best choice. Always remember this.

Need dirt bike safety gear? Click here to buy safety gear for dirt bike riding on amazon , or go check my sales pages of recommended safety gear page click here to view.

If you have any questions or opinions about this article, please write us a comment and we will get back to you within 24 hours.

Thanks for the reading

Rob

I’m Rob, the owner of RX Riders Place. My family and I have a long history of riding dirt bikes and ATVs and want to share what we have learned.

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