A very common question I get from lots of riders is, how do they make their dirt bike lighter? This is a very common question, especially for racers that want their dirt bike light in weight because the more lightweight the dirt bike is, the more it is able to increase its speed, and in general, the more you will also have more freedom to ride the bike. While some people think it is generally impossible to do, I will show you in this guide that it is possible.
Whether you believe it or not, in this guide, I will show you some different ways of how you can reduce the weight of your dirt bike.
So, let us get started.
10 Simple steps you can do to make your dirt bike lighter (list)
| 1. Lose your weight |
| 2. Lower the amount of fuel you ride with |
| 3. Do not eat or drink before riding |
| 4. Remove or replace the frame |
| 5. Remove the accessories that you are not using |
| 6. Remove some air from the tires |
| 7. Replace your seat |
| 8. Make sure your protective gear is as light as possible |
| 9. Replace your handlebars |
| 10. Sell your dirt bike and get a lighter model |
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1. Lose your weight
This might surprise you, but it is the best and cheapest way of how you can reduce the weight on your dirt bike. Reduce your weight through fitness exercises; just think about it as you are relatively fat and you can lose weight up to 10 to 20 pounds. It’s amazing just to think that the whole load on the bike has dropped by 10 to 20 pounds.
In addition to losing weight, it will not only make you lighter but will also make you more freely when riding and give you the most efficient and free exercise. You will also be stronger and more muscular, which will automatically affect how you ride and, most importantly, make you a healthier person.
It is also important to note that if you have a very heavy dirt bike and it is very annoying to you in terms of its weight, the best way is to simply lose your weight because it will reduce the load applied on your dirt bike.
Here are some fitness exercises specifically designed for dirt bikers to help you lose weight quickly and get stronger.
2. Lower the amount of fuel you ride with
The average weight of the fuel tank of most dirt bikes is between 12 to 15 pounds when fully filled with fuel, which is very heavy. So, a very good and effective way to lower the weight of your dirt bike here is simply to fill half of the tank with fuel, which can save up to 6 to 8 pounds of weight.
If a half tank of fuel can ride you for about an hour and half an hour, then that’s enough. However, if you know you are going to drive for a long time, then filling your fuel tank a little more than half is a good thought because it will save you at least Save 3 to 5 pounds of weight, which is also something.
In general, it all depends on your dirt bikes. It is important that you pay attention to the amount of fuel you really need for your riding time, and that way, you can know how much fuel to fill to help you save weight.
In addition, it is important that you do not try to do tricks when it comes to fuel, for example, do not use fuels made from carbon fiber or any other material because it will only do you damage to the engine and it is even illegal to use them, so no matter how many other types of fuel you are told easier to use, do not use them.
3. Do not eat or drink before riding
This also might surprise you but know that when you drink or eat before riding, you automatically add a few pounds to the weight you put on your dirt bike, so I recommend you do not drink or eat before riding and if you do, make sure go to the toilet to drop all the fluids.
In addition, if you are hungry and you do want to eat before riding a dirt bike, you are better off eat first and wait for at least an hour and a half to 2 hours before riding, and I even suggest getting in the toilet before riding. That way, you will not be hungry, you will get all the energy you need to ride, and you will also lose some individual pounds.
If you want to know what you should eat before racing or riding a dirt bike, here is a great guide that will show you how to do it to get the lightest and most energetic for riding or racing.
4. Remove or replace the frame
A dirt bike frame weighs at least 15 to 50 pounds which is a lot, especially frames made from heavy materials like steel or metal that are very heavy. So, one of the most effective ways to lower the weight of your bike is to replace your frame with a lighter frame made of aluminum or plastic from an old bike of yours or even a friend. This way, you reduce the weight of your dirt bike.
In addition, if you are crazy at repair, you can also achieve this by just taking off some parts of your frame and remove them completely; this way, you have also saved a lot of the weight of the dirt bike while I am sure most people will not be able to do this. So, only if you have old dirt bikes or you generally do not love the design of the frame and you are ready to remove it, do it. But in general, you should first try to replace it with a different frame easier. However, considering that if you have an accident with your dirt bike, you will not have a layer of protection, then removing the frame should be your last priority.
In general, I personally recommend you replace or remove the frame only if you have tried all other ways to reduce the weight but it doesn’t yield, especially if the very heavyweight bothers you too much that it sucks to replace the frame.
5. Remove the accessories that you are not using
Riding with a load of accessories can add a few more pounds of weight to your dirt bike, accessories such as GPS, performance meter, saddle, heavy bags, stand, or anything else that is considered accessories.
In fact, it all may look like they are not adding anything to the weight of your dirt bike, but you will be surprised to see that if you remove between 3 and 5 accessories from your dirt bike that you don’t use, you will have a few pounds dropped from the weight, so it is worth dropping some accessories and see the effect.
It is important to note that the accessory that occupies most space and adds more weight is heavy bags. You will even see most people tie bags to the seat to carry their stuff or even carry around food and equipment for a few days riding. I don’t recommend you take bags on your dirt bike because not only is it very annoying but can also fall while riding and even puts a lot of weight on the dirt bike. So, I would advise you to leave equipment that is not necessary in your car, or if you need the gear and you ride your friend, I would recommend you share your gear with your friend, and that way, you can save weight.
6. Remove some air from the tires
This may sound a little weird to you, but you can save a few more pounds by lowering some air with a tire pump. I’m not telling you to lower too much but just some air.
In addition, I would also recommend you buy smaller tires or wheels that weigh less because wheels and tires also add loads of weight to your dirt bike. So, if you really want to save weight, replacing tires or lowering the air can definitely be an excellent option.
7. Replace your seat
Usually, most dirt bike seats are made of leather, rubber or aluminum which definitely adds a few pounds to their weight, so if you don’t like the comfort of your seat or you generally want to reduce the weight of your dirt bike, an original way you can do this is to remove the seat and make your own smaller seat with sponge material or any other material you want. This can save a few pounds while if you want to save even more weight, you can build your own wooden or cardboard seat which is considered lighter. Watch the video below to show you how to do it.
In addition, there are many cases where riders do not use the entire width of the seat, which means you can reduce the seat by cutting at least one-third or half its length, of course, only if you do not really use the entire length of the seat. So, it depends a lot on your riding style; for example, there are those who generally do not sit on the seats but stand on the pegs.
8. Make sure your protective gear is as light as possible
What makes a lot that people don’t attach a lot of importance to is the weight of all the protective gear together, that is, the weight of the helmet, riding suit, riding boots, and gloves. You need to make sure your gear is as light as possible and do not add much weight. What you only need to make sure when choosing your gear is quality lightweight equipment.
Plus, the added benefit of having lightweight equipment is that you will have less load on the body, and in general, less pressure, pain, and choke when riding which a lot of people complain of having while riding with heavy equipment.
9. Replace your handlebars
If your handlebars are made of metal or steel, and you feel it is really heavy, then it is definitely a good idea to replace it with another handlebar made of other lighter materials. So, take important note of this.
10. Sell your dirt bike and get a lighter model
If you’ve done all the methods explained to you so far and the weight of your dirt bike still does not reduce or you didn’t get your desired weight, then the only option you have is to simply sell your dirt bike and get the latest version of your dirt bike or another model.
If you really want to do this, I recommend you to see the guide I wrote on how to best sell your dirt bike Click here to view
How do I know if my dirt bike is really heavy?
The average weight of most dirt bikes is 215 pounds (97 kg), while heavy bikes are over 250 pounds. So, if your dirt bike weighs 250 pounds (215 kg), you can relax knowing that your bike’s weight is relatively light and you shouldn’t try to lose weight.
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.
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Thanks for reading, until the next post
