I think dirt bikes are a much broader category than you’re giving them credit for. You have 50-125cc dirt bikes that are suitable for younger kids, and 250cc dirt bikes for teenagers and adults. As well, starting at 250cc you have road legal dirt bikes that can be driven directly to places like national parks that require registration, all the way up to 450/500cc dirt bikes. At least here in Australia, you need a proper license for all of the road legal stuff unless you’re on completely private property. You can’t even cross a road between two paddocks, you have to get off and walk it.
Here in California, the term “dirt bike” essentially exclusively means off-street recreational vehicle. Some road-legal motorbikes will draw heavy inspiration (eg dual-sports like the DR650) or truly are dirt bikes with added equipment to make them legal, but these would be called motorcycles or motorbikes and registered accordingly.
Being able to ride one’s own two-wheeler from home to a vehicle recreational area in California is the domain of dual-sport motorbikes or certain smaller electric dirt bikes that are eligible for moped registration, both options requiring some level of license.
In Australia, are those rules consistent between all the states? I’m sure different US States regulate dirt bikes differently too, but it’s not something I’ve ever looked into in detail.
I think dirt bikes are a much broader category than you’re giving them credit for. You have 50-125cc dirt bikes that are suitable for younger kids, and 250cc dirt bikes for teenagers and adults. As well, starting at 250cc you have road legal dirt bikes that can be driven directly to places like national parks that require registration, all the way up to 450/500cc dirt bikes. At least here in Australia, you need a proper license for all of the road legal stuff unless you’re on completely private property. You can’t even cross a road between two paddocks, you have to get off and walk it.
Here in California, the term “dirt bike” essentially exclusively means off-street recreational vehicle. Some road-legal motorbikes will draw heavy inspiration (eg dual-sports like the DR650) or truly are dirt bikes with added equipment to make them legal, but these would be called motorcycles or motorbikes and registered accordingly.
Being able to ride one’s own two-wheeler from home to a vehicle recreational area in California is the domain of dual-sport motorbikes or certain smaller electric dirt bikes that are eligible for moped registration, both options requiring some level of license.
In Australia, are those rules consistent between all the states? I’m sure different US States regulate dirt bikes differently too, but it’s not something I’ve ever looked into in detail.
There are differences between the states on licensing, but the categories of registration are more universal.
As well though, bikes like the DR-Z400 are literally just dirt bikes, not dual sports. You can get them with or without a VIN and lights etc.