Of all the extreme sports out there, dirt biking has a special place in people’s hearts. When someone buys a dirt bike, the first things they look for is the speed. Although speed isn’t the only concern of dirt bike riders, as there are lots of other things to look at like the suspension and handling; people will still be curious to know what is the fastest dirt bike?
Of the bikes having 250cc engines, the Yamaha WR250F and the Kawasaki KX250 are the fastest ones. The KTM 450 SX-F and the Kawasaki KX500 are the fastest among the 450 and 500cc bikes respectively. But this is nothing compared to the average speed of the 1000cc dirt bikes, which is 188mph; the fastest of the lot.
Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of the fastest dirt bikes in the world.
What is the fastest dirt bike in the world?
While dirt bikes are fairly fast, they are not built for speed. Rather the bikes are made to last a long time in the dunes and be able to take sharp turns. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that dirt bikes are slow.
There are quite a few dirt bikes that can run at a breakneck speed, even in the adverse conditions in the sandy terrain where gaining max speed is next to impossible.
If you want to know what a fast dirt bike is, all you have to do is look at the list below. It contains the fastest dirt bikes from all the engine capacities out there:
Fastest dirt bikes in the 250cc category
Dirt bikes which can be called ‘fast’ start from bikes that have 250cc engines. Despite having the lowest capacity engines, there are a few 250cc bikes that can give higher capacity bikes a run for their money.
1. Yamaha WR250F
The name Yamaha and motorcycles have been synonymous with each other for a long, long time. Not only does Yamaha produce top-of-the-line road bikes, but the dirt bikes produced by them are also top-notch as well. The Yamaha WR250F is one such dirt bike.
The Yamaha WR250F is one of the fastest dirt bikes in the 250cc category. Its 4-stroke engine can make this bike go as fast as 85 miles per hour, which is quite a lot when it comes to dirt bikes. One big upside of this bike is it can be used as a dirt bike as well as a regular bike. All the biker needs to do is tune the engine accordingly.
The power supply to the engine is very consistent in the Yamaha WR250F. But this comes with a catch. While the power supply is consistent, it can not gain access to more power when the time comes to increase the speed at the end of the race or when massive air time is needed.
2. Kawasaki KX250
If anyone with the slightest knowledge about bikes is asked about a bike brand, chances are that most of them will come up with Kawasaki’s name. The brand is most famous for producing sports bikes, but they are no slouches when it comes to making dirt bikes. The Kawasaki KX250 is a testament to its reputation.
Like its Yamaha counterpart, the Kawasaki KX250 also has a top speed of 85mph. It flies off the starting line, giving its rider an obvious edge over others. No wonder riders riding the Kawasaki KX250 have the most wins under their belt in their class.
The Kawasaki KX250’s design allows riders of varying shapes and sizes to be comfortable while riding it. It also allows riders to customize the bike according to their need to give them a little boost in the dunes. And being lightweight, it gains speed like no other bike in its class.
What is the fastest 450cc dirt bike in the world?
The 250cc bikes are all well and good, but 450cc bikes are the first thing people talk about when they discuss bikes that can break the 100mph speed barrier. Honestly, a bike is truly called fast when its max speed goes beyond 100 miles per hour. So what’s the fastest 450cc dirt bike? Look below to find out.
1. KTM 450 SX-F
When it comes to producing the fastest bikes in the 450cc category, KTM has everyone beat. The 450 SX-F has carved out a name for itself in the racing circuits, and the latest 2022 model has not let the KTM name down at all.
The secret behind this high speed of the KTM 450 SX-F is its powerful 4-stroke engine. But just having a powerful engine is not a surefire way to achieve a 100mph+ top speed. The power of the engine has to be used properly for the bike to fly around the racetrack. This has been made possible due to the additional, top-of-the-line transmitter of the KTM 450 SX-F.
The vented airbox is covered as is the engine. This makes the debris interference minimal. Also, the engine is not subjected to excessive wear and tear as a result of the cover. All of these characteristics help to make proper use of all the power of the KTM 450 SX-F’s engine.
2. Beta 430 RR-S
If there is any dirt bike that can give the KTM 450SX-F a run for its money in terms of top speed, it’s the Beta 430 RR-S. This Italian dirt bike can also go past the 100mph mark like it’s nobody’s business. Its max speed is 110 mph, which is a lot higher than its contemporaries except the KTM.
Since dirt bikes are driven in areas that are notoriously hot and humid, overheating and stalling are quite common phenomena. But once a biker rides their Beta 430 RR-S, they don’t have to worry about these at all. This is because this bike has very high-quality engine components while its handling is top of the line. Also, the rider doesn’t have to worry about getting lost in the dunes as the Beta has a trail tech GPS.
One advantage that the Beta holds over the KTM is that these are dual bikes. This means that they can easily be used as both road bikes and dirt bikes.
What’s the fastest 500cc dirt bike?
Being dubbed the bike one has to ride before they die is no small feat. Yet this is the name given to the Kawasaki KX-500 by experts around the world. This is the fastest 500cc bike out there with a top speed of 120mph.
As the engine capacity of a dirt bike goes up, it becomes harder to control it. The Kawasaki KX-500 is no exception to this either. Because it is this fast, beginners are not suggested to ride it. It takes a certain level of skill and experience to handle the Kawasaki KX-500 and reap its full rewards.
How fast does a 700cc dirt bike go?
As the engine capacity goes up, usually so does the average top speed of a dirt bike. The 700cc dirt bikes are more powerful and faster than the ones with lower-capacity engines. The average top speed of a 700cc dirt bike is 110mph.
Additional Read: How fast does a 110cc dirt bike go?
What is the highest cc in a dirt bike?
Although people usually ride dirt bikes of engine capacity within 750cc at best, it doesn’t mean that this is as far as dirt bikes go. Some dirt bikes have almost double the engine capacity. The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R comes at an astounding 1400c.
When someone asks about the biggest dirt bike engine, the answer remains the same. The Kawasaki Ninja ZX14R has the biggest engine among dirt bikes with a 1441cc capacity.
Final words
Despite speed not being the first criterion of a good dirt bike, it doesn’t hurt to ride a bike that leaves everyone in the dirt (No pun intended). The answer to the question of what is the fastest dirt bike largely depends on the engine size. It also changes from time to time as some bikes with higher top speeds are discontinued, which results in another bike with relatively lower top speed taking its place.
