With so many advances in the sport, it’s hard to select the top 5 innovations in motocross technology.
The bikes ridden by Chad Reed and Mike Brown differ significantly from those
ridden by 1947 MXoN winners Bill Nicholson, Bob Ray and Fred Rist. The days before
the current era of motocross video and instant race results were certainly
exciting, but they had a certain primitive nature. Today’s rider is better
protected and races on a fundamentally better bike.
1) Suspensions: In the earliest days of Scrambling, before the term Motocross
even came into use, riders actually used bikes with fully rigid frames.
Suspensions came into use, and the swinging fork suspension was actually used
on off road bikes several years before they came into mainstream use on production
street motorcycles. Motocross certainly has forced engineers to their limit,
and the introduction of modern suspensions is the perfect example of that.
2) Modern Helmet Design: A contemporary design features venting structures that
allow the unrestricted flow of air into the helmet while still protecting the
rider from dirt or mud. The extended chin bar provides protection from debris
as well impact protection, and is much different from the designs of the past.
In fact, before the modern off-road helmet came into service, moto riders used
helmets that were similar to those of an open face design. Today’s model is
much safer.
3) Two-Stroke Engines: With the creation of the 250cc world championship,
two-stroke bikes started to come into their own. This meant that lighter and
more agile equipment started to be implemented on motorcycles at the same time
that four-stroke equipment started to be sidelined. Considering how bulky some
older designs were, this was a major step forwards.
4) Water-Cooled Parts: With the 1980s ushering in the technology boom that
motocross continues to enjoy to this day, water-coolant systems started to
appear on the market from Japanese firms. More efficient than the previous
air-cooled systems, these machines also featured single-shock rear suspension
construction.
5) Four-Stroke Engines: It may seem odd to suggest that this was a major
development after stating that two-stroke engines were in their own right.
However, the 1990s saw the second coming of four-stroke engines. More advanced
four-stroke engines are the order of the day with all major manufacturers, and
companies like KTM and Husqvarna have captured championships with them. These
new four-stroke engines had to be every bit as light and small as their
four-stroke counterparts.
