Motorcycle Sports
Motorcycle racing is a widely varied sport involving all sorts of different tracks. Motorcycles race on dirt as well as pavement, and sometimes despite the fact it’s illegal they race on public highways, back roads and even interstates. Motorcycle races vary in length. Some involve laps and hundreds of kilometers while others are measured in feet. The very short races are called drag races. Drag bikes are equipped and adjusted very differently than bikes designed for other races, because the purpose is to traverse a very short distance as quickly as possible. Thus extremely rapid acceleration is the name of the game, and top speed and racing strategy are much less important.
Both pavement and dirt track races sometimes include obstacles like jump ramps cones and barrels. Barrel racing is considered a motorcycle rodeo game, but it’s really just a race where the object is to turn the bike closely around barrels just like cowboys do barrel racing with horses. Just as with horses, the barrel race is intended to perfect and display tight turning skills. Barrel races intended to be performed on dirt, but occasionally they are performed on pavement.
Of course, there is the simple idea of racing in a straight line, with the object being to cross the finish line first. For a biker that’s a pretty easy concept, but what about a race where the object is to finish last? One game bikers like to play is the slow race. It takes tremendous skill to drive a bike at less than two miles an hour, without turning over or putting at least one foot down to brace or balance. Slow races can be surprisingly exciting, and are a great test of skill for the drivers.
There is an endless variety of games, races, and rodeo tricks that can be performed from the back of a motorcycle. Rodeo games, rally games, track races, motor cross, and even motorcycle polo are just a few of the interesting sports that have been developed for motorcycles. Trick riding is very popular, and people can stand up on the back of bikes, and do all sorts of gymnastics while driving. A variety of games originally designed for horseback riding have also been adapted for motorcycles. The list of motorcycle sports and games is only limited by the imagination, and bikers are some pretty imaginative people. The following information is provided by Action Donation Services® who has for years been the “friend of bikers” by processing donated “no longer needed” motorcycles, ATVs, and also cars, boats, RVs, and trucks for some of America’s finest charities, providing them with the funds they need to operate their community benefiting programs.
Track Racing
The nature of track racing to a large extent depends on the surface of the track. Flat track or dirt track racing are a great deal different than racing on a paved surface. Different tires are required for these two different surfaces, dirt or paved. Other adjustments must also be made to the bike depending on the track involved. Another more obscure option for bike racing surfaces is ice. Ice racing is an extreme sport which is growing in popularity.
- AMA Flat Track Racing Series and Results – Motorcycle USA: Get news articles and race results from the AMA track racing world.
- VFT Motorcycle Links – Flat Track Racing: This site has a substantial list of links to promoters, events, suppliers of equipment and tires.
- AHRMA.org – Your Guide to Vintage Racing in the United States: This is a great place to get news and information on vintage motorcycle sports. Vintage motocross, vintage cross country, and vintage flat track, are just a few of the exciting sports involving vintage motorcycles.
- Motorcycle Track Racing – HubPages.com: This site offers featured articles about motorcycle track racing, and a list of other articles and resources for further information.
Motorcycle Rally
Motorcycle rallies are like a combination of county fair, outdoor music festival, and family reunion, except with motorcycles. There are plenty of games, events, entertainment, and food. There are vendors offering Harley Davidson merchandise. Rallies often include biker rodeo games which are fun and exciting for everyone. Barrel racing, slow races, and even silly games like catching a hotdog between your teeth while riding on the back of a Harley Davidson are all just part of good fun at bike rallies.
- 71st Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally: This is the official site for a 71 year tradition. This bike rally is time tested fun for everyone.
- Thunder Roads Magazine – Colorado: Here is a schedule of events and contact information for upcoming rallies, swap meets and bike rodeos across the United States.
- The 70th Anniversary Sturgis Rally 2010 History: A site about the extensive history and future of the seventy one year old tradition of the Sturgis Biker Rally.
- Motorcycle Rallies at Biker Sites: A list of annual Biker events from Alaska to Florida, with information about biker sites and biker culture as well.
- East Coast Sturgis Motorcycle Rally: This is an example of a successful rally in one area seeding and inspiring another rally in another area. Only 8 years and this rally is growing into a huge event. See the fun events, and exciting testimonials.
- Motorcycle Rally USA: Now you can get official merchandise online from all the great events.
Motorcycle Land Speed
Since 1898, people have been trying to set and break the land speed record. Land speed is simply achieving the highest speed on record in a wheeled vehicle on land. However, there are categories and the category for motorcycle based vehicles has their eye on 400 mph as a goal. However, in other categories the overall record has gone to Andy Green in his turbofan vehicle. Andy set the first supersonic record in 1997 by achieving a speed of 760 mph.
- The E-Z-Hook Motorcycle Streamliner Web Site: E-Z-Hook is another streamliner model motorcycle aiming for that land speed record. This holds the record in another motorcycle class for 294.855 mph.
- RB Racing: See how lands speed vehicles are built. A lot of unique designs are pictured which spark the imagination.
- Flat Out: The Race for the Motorcycle Land Speed Record: Rocky Robinson has written a book about his experiences trying to set records in land speed.
Enduro Racing
Enduro racing, as the name suggests is endurance racing for motorcycles. Course size ranges from 2 to 150 miles, and includes a lot of cross country terrain. Bikes used are road legal dirt bikes, which are close to being stock vehicles.
- 2011 AMA National Enduro Schedule – USA: An article announcing the 2011 schedule of national Enduro races in the U.S.
- ISDE: Enduro Motorcycle Race History: The fascinating history of Enduro racing is laid out in this article.
Motocross Racing
Motocross is among the oldest of motorcycle sports. This century old sport is even more exciting today. Based on racing over rough terrain in tough but finely tuned dirt bikes, Motocross can be an extreme sport. Motocross racing has participants in all skill levels and a huge variety of races throughout the world.
- Getting into Motocross Racing: This site is a great pictorial introduction to the sport.
- American Classic Racing Motocross: Vintage racing organization invites new members to participate in this classic sport. Racing vintage bikes is just one of the variations of the sport available.
- AMP Racing California and Nevada’s Best Motocross Racing: Information on upcoming races and MX events.
- HUSQVARNA History: Information on a classic brand MX bike with a long history.
Motorcycle Trials
Motorcycle trials are a form of trick riding, on a lightweight bike without a seat. Trials often feature bikes navigating boulders and other seemingly impossible terrain. Motorcycle trials are spectator events, which do not involve racing or time constraints at all, but rather are scored by a point system. Each time a rider has to put a foot on the ground, he is scored a point, and the rider with the least points wins.
- Trials Central – The Home of Observed Motorcycle Trials: A list of world class trial events with information, time, and dates.
- FIM Trial News: World championship and international trials news. This site is the international site for motorcycle news, and motorcycle sports.
Motorcycle Polo
Motorcycle polo is a sport in which riders play polo from the backs of motorcycle rather than horses. Motorcycle polo was popular in the 1920’s, but went out of fashion in the 1940’s. Motoball is a related sport very similar to motorcycle polo, in which riders play a soccer based game, from the backs of motorcycles. In practice, motorcycle polo and motoball are similar if not identical.
- CAMDEN NJ – The Camden Motorcycle Sporting Club – Motorcycle Polo: A history of motorcycle polo, featuring antique photos and newspaper clippings from the 1920’s and 1930’s.
- Flicker Photo of Motorcycle Polo: Old time circa 1919 photo of motorcycle polo.
- Donate your no longer needed motorcycle to your favorite charity.
Racers and bikers turn to Action Donation Services® when they wish to donate their no longer needed autos, car and bike haulers, trucks, boats, and used motorhomes. Action can often provide donors with a partial cash payment for certain types of donations as well as offer them the maximum legal tax deduction.