Mt. Bike vs. Dirt Bike - Decending Single Track

[XLR8]

Sorry folks not a vid and I tried to think of a title that would not get your hopes up.  

One of the reasons I don't enjoy single track that much on a motorcycle is because I can't do the speeds downhill that I can on my mountain bike. Yea, sorry but in a tight descending (make special note of the bold part for discussion later  ) single track a mountain bike will stomp all over a dirt bike. It's physics.

So I mention this to my long time motorcycling friend who does not mountain bike and he's a non believer.

Now in the grand scheme of things, I'm like you. Who cares? So this is just for fun. What say you?

[Albie]

Been a loooonnngggg time since I did any mountain biking but I'd agree with ya. The MB is so much lighter that it's just gonna be easier to ride fast down hill. Now going up hill, that's a different story.  

[Wanderer]

Are we talking, like, I race myself in a time trial? same course, different vehicles?
Is the bike a true DH, fully suspended 'All-Mountain', or hardtail?
What's the MC? an XR650 is no match, but a KTM EXC300 is a mean machine.
The hill would have to be steep and twisty for a bicycle to win.  Anytime a MC can use the throttle for more than adjustment blips, it's win by acceleration factor.  I'd definately take the odds on the MTB on a nasty steep, rocky professional DH run like the Kamikaze run at Big Bear, or that wooden bridge shit up in BC.

[thatguy]

Stick in a couple of 6-8 foot ledges and make it a long steep downhill to even it up I'd say it depends on who is riding.I'd take the bet on my YZ465.I've been riding that thing for a long time and know exactly how it'll respond anytime,anywhere.

[MuddDawg]

This is like comparing a Supermoto to a Sportbike in the Supertwistys.  Depending on a rider the SM can carry more speed into the corners because it it lighter, then hit the straights and the Sportbike catches up.

[cosmoose]

Yes, tight downhills are hard on a dirtbike, even a little one.  And therefore, dirt riding is no fun.  Right?  

Well then, it looks like you have a Husky to sell then, no?  Ring me up.  

[Dichotomous]

also depends on the size of the rider, a 250lb very athletic guy is gonna be just fine on either,  and it depends on the overall speed of the DH, if its more than 20mph average, goodbye pedals, the suspension is just designed for higher speed on a motorcycle.

[Mr Sunshine]

In both cases you need the same gear on...so might as well be on the bike you can haul butt back up and do it again.  

[black hills]

Tight, rocky donwhills are my favorite!!! I can't see ever making down one of them faster on a mt. bike than I do on my 300, but I don't mt. bike all that much??? Maybe on a really tight, smooth single track the bicyle would be faster, but anything else I would say the KTM300 wins. If you think about all the time you are on the gas on rocky downhills to straighten it out I don't see how the mt. bike could hang in there?? Well not with me riding it anyway.. Perhaps a race to settle this dispute??

[mtrider16]

Interesting discussion.     I've seen single tracks in Bozeman where you wouldn't use the throttle on a motorcycle much.  But at the time I only had a hardtail MTB, so I don't have any back to back comparisons. 

Sounds like you should invite Blackhills out to some mountians for a race.    The 300 would be pretty nimble compared to your TE610.  If Blackhills loses the first downhill, he can just say, "Lets ride up and try it again, best of 7 wins." 

David

[miles]

Here's a fun local trail, with some guys hitting it a decent (but not race) speed.  I doubt you could ride it on a motorcycle really at all...

[XLR8]

Cool video and trail. I don't think most dirt bikes would have a problem with that one.

Yes black hills I wish we could do a friendly   race. It could be interesting. I know there are trails here where we easily hit 30+ but keep in mind this is hustling around corners as well. Big rocks could be a problem though as mountain bikes *generally* don't have suspensions that can take too much high speed pounding. I know there are downhill bikes that can take a lot but they don't handle all that well on single track IMO.

So yes, twisty steep varied single track trail with rocks that aren't huge I think a mountain bike would be faster. It's physics right? We say the same things when we talk about a sport bike vs. say....a FJR1300. The mountain bike is going to fly around all the corners and the dirt bike won't be able to accelerate much.

Here's another example. I've cycled around Yellowstone park a few times as well as other mountain areas. On some of the descents we are passing cars on our bikes. The little kids love it!

Oh and one more thing. My dad is bigger than everyone else's dad and he can beat everyone up so there.  

[black hills]

Interesting discussion.     I've seen single tracks in Bozeman where you wouldn't use the throttle on a motorcycle much.  But at the time I only had a hardtail MTB, so I don't have any back to back comparisons. 

Sounds like you should invite Blackhills out to some mountians for a race.    The 300 would be pretty nimble compared to your TE610.  If Blackhills loses the first downhill, he can just say, "Lets ride up and try it again, best of 7 wins." 

David

That sounds like a good idea!! I really like the ride back up part...

[black hills]

Here's a fun local trail, with some guys hitting it a decent (but not race) speed.  I doubt you could ride it on a motorcycle really at all...

Apparently you have never done an enduro? That looks like a great trail, similar to some of the stuff we ride on or dirtbikes? I think a little friendly competition is in order?? I'm not sure what the outcome would be, but it would be interestin to find out.

[miles]

What doesn't really show in the video is how steep and narrow that rock garden is at around 2:25 in the video.  You can just barely fit a bicycle through there.

Yeah, I have ridden in enduros, but not in a long time.  The bikes are much better now, so I would like to give it a go at some point.



miles

[Albie]

Here's a fun local trail, with some guys hitting it a decent (but not race) speed.  I doubt you could ride it on a motorcycle really at all...

You must not know much about dirt bikes. I could easily ride that on my KX, CRF or DRZ. I've ridden much more difficult stuff in fact. And I'm not that good.

[black hills]

What doesn't really show in the video is how steep and narrow that rock garden is at around 2:25 in the video.  You can just barely fit a bicycle through there.

Yeah, I have ridden in enduros, but not in a long time.  The bikes are much better now, so I would like to give it a go at some point.



miles

You have to try the new stuff, it's amazing!! My 300 is so easy to ride in the woods you can't believe it. Thanks to enduro engineering the suspension works perfectly and the motot is amazing bone stock!!

One of the guys I ride with is a big mountain biker, I'll ask him about this the next time I see him.

[sprocket]

Do an internet search and look for "Last Man Standing" "Erzburg enduro" "Enduro Cross" not to even mention trials riding!

[miles]

Now that you mentioned Trials, watch this video.  Notice the handrail (and chain) at 1:45 or so.

[ZED]

I admit I'm not the best dirt rider here by far, but I know I could single track my mountainbike way faster (in control) than my "dirt bike" (provided it's down hill).

Mind you, I used to race mountain bikes and my "dirt bike" is a KLR with D606s.

[Albie]

In other words, you don't have a dirt bike.  

[ZED]

Sure I do.  It just weighs in at about 420lbs!  

[miles]

[XLR8]

Very cool! Thanks for posting miles.  

It's been 105+ here for a while and I missed this week's ride and that vid made me want to get out.

[nwconk]

that's pretty impressive   I think I would go with the mountain bike!  

--chris