Dirt bikes are meant to be ridden on dirt, right? Well, not always. If you have a dirt bike with a manual transmission, it’s possible to put the bike in gear and drive on pavement without harming anything major transmission problems.
However, this isn’t something that should be done all the time because there are some dirt bike transmission problems that will start to occur over time.
The problem with driving a dirt bike on the pavement is that it doesn’t allow the bike to move around as much. It should be because of the increased resistance from the road surface.
Symptoms of Dirt Bike Transmission Problems
1. Gears and Bearings
This causes extra stress on all parts of the bike, especially those under loads, such as gears and bearings. Dirt bikes are meant to be ridden at slow speeds on dirt, not the fast speeds that are possible on the pavement.
When you drive a dirt bike on pavement frequently, especially for prolonged periods of time. You will start to see problems with certain parts under load because they weren’t designed for this situation.
2. Clutch Slipping
The first part you might notice is the clutch slipping. If this should happen, the bike will jerk forward each time the clutch is engaged.
This also means that you won’t be able to increase your speed as much as usual, often leading to a not-so-fun riding experience. You may also notice a burning smell from the clutch area.
Another part you might see problems with is the dirt bike transmission problem and gears. If you constantly drive your dirt bike on pavement, the gears may start to grind together under load. It’s not a question of if this will happen.
When this issue occurs with the gears inside the transmission. You will most likely have to replace the transmission problem with a new one because it won’t properly engage anymore.
Once a gear in a dirt bike transmission grinds against another, it’s very likely that the rest of the gears will follow.
3. Wet or Dry Clutch | For Prolong Periods
If you have a dry or wet clutch on your dirt bike and drive it on pavement for prolonged periods of time. You will also see problems with this type of clutch over time.
Because it can’t handle the heat from the increased friction on the road surface. This will most likely mean that you have to replace your clutch with a new one because it can’t be repaired or re-lined.
The bottom line is that if you want to avoid any of these problems, all you need to do is take your dirt bikes out for rides where they are supposed to be ridden.
You should do this regularly, even if it’s just around the neighborhood or down the street. This will prevent potential problems with your bike and ensure that it lasts for a long time.
4. Wear Bearings in Wheels
Additionally, if you drive your dirt bike on pavement, the bearings in your wheels will wear down quickly. This has to do with the increased resistance of the road surface.
So it’s definitely something you want to avoid if possible. You can prevent this issue by regularly cleaning and lubricating the bearings after riding on the pavement.
5. Cable Tension
The tension of the cable can cause poor shifting. This is because it’s hard to adjust, resulting in wear and tear over time that leads to less precise gear changes or even bad upshifts/downshifts.
It is depending on how much force there was when you pressed downshift thus causing jumps from one gear ratio altogether.
6. Gearbox
Changing or rebuilding your gearbox is highly recommended when the clutch cannot be adjusted. A worn-out clutch causes you to slip and shift unsafely, which can result in an accident.
I don’t want anyone else going through what I did: losing control while trying to change gears with a bad throwout bearing from their vehicle’s transmission.
It feels like luck was on my side because it turned out they were able to replace just about everything themselves without even taking off any pieces underneath. But make sure not to do anything myself unless given clear instructions by someone who knows.
Precautions
As you can see, there are some transmission problems that can occur when you drive a dirt bike on the pavement. While not completely avoiding these issues, if you are really determined to ride your dirt bike on pavement.
Try to limit the time spent in gear or at higher speeds. This will help decrease the risk of transmission problems arising with transmission parts and gears.
FAQs
Conclusion
The problem with a dirt bike transmission is that it’s not designed to be used as much as a street motorcycle. This means the gears will wear out sooner and have more problems, which leads to increased service costs.
In order for your transmission to last longer, you need less power from the engine, smoother shifting between gears, and properly adjusted gearing ratios. If any of those things are off or if you feel like something might be wrong inside your gearbox.
