Little info on the different bike categories?
1.  MotoCross Bikes
2.  Enduro Bikes
3.  Trail Bikes
4.  Farming Bikes
5.  Junior Bikes
6.  Road Bikes

1. MotoCross Bikes
    Quick Guide
    1. Built for racing
    2. Very light (easier and quicker to throw the bike around)
    3. Engine power delivery - Mid to High (You can really feel the power come on when the bike is reving more)
    4. Fantastic Suspension

Interested in the world of Moto Cross Bikes?

First of all - since you could be a beginner we better make sure that you understand what a motorcross bike is.

Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport held on enclosed off road circuits. Motocross is derived from the French,  and traces its origins to British scrambling competitions. The name "motocross" is a blend of two words derived from the words "Motorcycle" and "Cross Country".  SO in another words Bikes that are specifically built for off road track as illustrated below.

These bikes are not normally regesterable - they are built light, high powered, can be taller in seat height, amazing suspension, don't need lights or tail light, no indicators,  need more maintenance,  awesome to ride,  made to win races what ever it takes! 
Did I mention HIGH powered if your not careful it will put you on your back before you can say "Pretty Butterfly"
You may have seen these bikes on tv or magazine, racing,  doing massive jumps etc...  
So when you go buy a bike and you say to the dude at the shop yeah i wanna motocross bike - he will most likely say "these bikes are for racing" and you say "yeah that's right"!  "I wanna race you idiot"!  Hopefully it will be a nicer experience than that.
If your gonna race then you will need the other goodies...  race gear!  Also there are licenses involved for racing days and other stuff.
I started off in BMX then got into free style then progressed into motocross way back...  only did it a couple of times, I love big jumps but not so much racing.  Motocross is excellent!  keeps you very fit, focused, thinking.  If you can walk around the track before a race even better,  look at the track carefully pick your line,  remember every detail,  holes,  rises,  dips,  bumps,  angles,  distance.  This is half your race won.



2.  Enduro Bikes
Specifically made for enduro sport

Has similar characters like a motocross bike - suspension, being light and nimble, the motor is not as agressive,  extras which include front head light and rear tail light may also have indicators if you want to road register.  Enduro racing is sometimes on verying terrain like hill climbs, mud holes, weaving through tight trees, sand etc.  Sometimes the races start from one place and finish somewhere else.  You may have heard of the Finke Dessert race, it covers hundreds of kilometres.  Closed circuit tracks are sometimes a few kilometres long to long distance.  I remember racing in a few of these events,  found out quickly why they are called enduro!  It can really test your fitness levels and agility.  All in all though it was very rewarding and an excellent challenge.  I would highly recommend trying it.   



3. Trail Bikes
A blend of enduro and everyday commuting.

Trailbikes are quite different to motocross bikes and enduro bikes.  The bikes are generally built to have fun on weekends and become commuter bikes through the week.  They are normally a little heavier,  can have a wider and softer seat,  engine is smoother and a little more forgiving in power delivery, but you can get it going if you want.  Maintenance can be alot cheaper than it's racing cousins.   They are generally more easier to maintain than a motorcross bike.  The suspension is softer it can be adjusted to suite.  Can be registered for the road has larger lights front and rear,    They also range from very small 50cc models to large 1200cc (the bigger bikes are more for longer distances like traveling across Australia etc...)
I do highly recommend a trail bike - I have one myself of course!  There are verying degrees of trail bikes though.  I personally would first if considering buying a trail bike to have a look at what you are going to be using it for.  Where are you going to ride? what sort of terrain are you riding in?  Is most of your riding on flat ground, hills, sand, rocks etc.   I know a lot of people who buy the wrong bike mainly because they base it on looks or heaps of power.  Just a tip - I ride with about 9 other guys who own big flash bikes,  I am the only one who has a smaller capacity and smaller bike overall,  but i can ride quicker and go more places than the bigger flasher bikes (The only down side is that you have to help them get there bikes up a hill or down or out of a hole or something can be tiring).   The terrain I ride in is hills,  forest,  rocky,  did I mention steep steep hills.  Oh yeah I am only  5 foot 6".  So do some home work - look, touch, ride all the bikes possible and get out there and go for it! 



4. Farming Bikes
Quads (not racing quads), AG bikes purpose built for working life

Considered a very valuable tool for the farming industry.  Cheap to run, strong, low gearing,  motors are usually more maintenance free 
smaller in seat height,  quiet,  easy starting,  can run on the sniff of an oily rag.  Also they have heaps of torque. (Low down grunt) There was this guy who got his truck bogged on a slope, a 100 meters down from the road.  The truck just slid off and down it went.  I didn't think is was going to stop.  A farmer was going past on his 4x4 quad and offered his assistance.  The truck driver looked at me and sniggered a bit.  Yeah mate I do need a hand but I will need a crane.  The farmer said put this rope on the truck and I'll pull you out.  Yeah mate right.  Truck driver did what the farmer said and away the farmer went pulling this massive truck out with his quad.  I will never forget that - it was weird but it worked!  The farmer had the last laugh,  and went on his merry way...   There are a lot of women who ride ag bikes and consider them to be part of there life.  I have heard stories of women pulling cows out of mud holes with their bikes etc...  


5. Junior Bikes
These pocket rockets range from 50cc upwards.

The great thing about small bikes is that there is so many different kinds.  But one of the major factors is that your kids can have the same benefits as the bigger bikes.  You can actively get them involved in trail bikes or motocross.  Now i am obviously an avid fan of kids ridding bikes. (I think it's because they can do nothing else but focus straight ahead of them, it helps them build confidence and character) I see so many people buy bikes for there kids but no gear!  MAKE sure your kids are appropiately clothed with all the saftey equipement. GLoves, helmet, body protection, boots, riding pants, googles, pads.  DO this please...   



6. Road Bikes
Sleek, style, fast, powerful, small, large, the feeling of freedom...

Have you ever ridden a road bike?  you won't regret it!  There is something about the sense open spaces, powerful engines, you being in control.  
Obivous reasons a road bike is made for the road.  They are usually lower to the ground than the off road bikes. They are normally heavier have more power, wider wheels for more traction. Because they don't have to fly through the air or do big jumps etc,  they have a more solid feel to them.  If you are new to road bikes but have been riding a trail bike and have a license then there are lots of options to convert to that road feel.  You can get all sorts of road bikes - ones that feel like an arm chair to leaning right forward like your about to take off to the moon.  But there is also some that you can ride sitting up right like you do on a off roader.  These bikes can help you adjust to road riding and are also very easy to ride with the all the road benefits.  Just make sure that you tell your dealer that you have been riding off road and they should point you in the right direction to the bikes that you may like.  When i was young I remember my sister use to pick me up on her Triumph Bonniville Tiger 500 which she fully restored.  Although she never rode dirt bikes, her bike was made to sit up right.  Later she progressed to Harley Davidson.  My other sister who reaches for 5 foot had a GSX1100? - some big thing i use to remember.  Now I know my Nana had bikes an Indian, later a BSA and so the process went through the family.  
There are many clubs that you can get involved with and really have an excellent time.  So go shopping, grab yourself a road bike and ride...   


If you would like to ad to this section or make suggestions please feel free to email me...