Dirt Bike vs. Pit Bike: They Look the Same…But Are They Different?

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A man riding a dirt bike on a dirt road

When you’re searching for the right bike for off-road motorsports, you might get overwhelmed by the number of options to choose from.

What if you see a great deal on a pit bike? Is there any problem with buying the pit bike instead of a dirt bike? Can you compete in off-road races on a pit bike? What about riding for fun?

Pit bikes may look the same, and they’re both popular — but there are plenty of differences. Let’s make sure you know the key differences so you can make the right decision for your own off-roading.

History of Dirt Bikes & Pit Bikes

Pit bikes and dirt bikes have very different histories.

The earliest dirt bikes were built in the early 1910s when a motorcycle manufacturer named Siegfried Bettmann started adapting motorcycles that were already on the market. His dirt bike prototypes were never very successful, but they were a building block for later developments.

Later, in the 1950s, Honda would be the first manufacturer to design and produce dirt bikes for the mass public.

However, in between Bettmann’s early designs and Honda’s mass production of dirt bikes, many mechanics and creative motorcyclists started creating their own bikes that today would be called dirt bikes.

These early dirt bikes were designed to be effective on the unpaved roads that were common at the time. They needed to be rideable on any terrain.

Pit bikes were developed not long after dirt bikes. After WWII, small motorized bikes started showing up in the pits of popular racing events.

A “pit bike” was also the label assigned to any bicycle or motorcycle that was used to move around within event staging areas.

These minibikes gained popularity as a lower-cost alternative to other off-road dirt bikes that were coming onto the market in the 1950s–60s.

Today, you can find pit bike races as well as dirt bike races as either a participant or a spectator.

Bike Specs

Pit bikes have different specs than dirt bikes, including the bike’s size, engine, tires, and suspension.

Pit Bike vs. Dirt Bike Size

A pit bike is built with a smaller, lighter-weight frame than a dirt bike. This is why they can be successful on a pit bike course, which will have tighter corners and fewer bumps than a dirt bike track.

They also ride much lower to the ground, which of course disqualifies them from other off-road motorsports.

Because it’s so much smaller, a pit bike can’t handle the same kinds of obstacles that a dirt bike can.

Dirt bikes can be ridden by adults of any size, but pit bikes are simply not comfortable for most adults. Most of the time, pit bikes are ridden by children, adolescents, teenagers, and small-statured adults.

Pit Bike vs. Dirt Bike Engine

When choosing a dirt bike, you can pick between either a 4-stroke or a 2-stroke motor. The 4-stroke motor completes an engine cycle in four-piston motions, whereas the 2-stroke motor completes the engine cycle in just two-piston motions.

The 4-stroke motor has consistent and steady output, but most riders prefer the 2-stroke motor, which can accelerate faster.

Pit bikes, which are often ridden by children and adolescents who are just learning to ride, need to have the consistency of a 4-stroke motor. Almost all pit bikes have a 4-stroke engine, and they don’t go beyond 250cc. These features make a pit bike far easier for the rider to control.

Pit Bike vs. Dirt Bike Tires

The best tires are the ones that are appropriate for the terrain they’ll be used on.

Dirt bike tires need to be usable on both the trail and the road. Pit bike tires, on the other hand, are only used on pit tracks, as they cannot be made street legal.

Dirt bike tires are typically 18”, but pit bikes tires are smaller. Typically, the front tire is 14” and the rear is 12”.

Pit bike tires are only appropriate on smooth trails and clear pit bike tracks. Riding them on rough roads and trails will lead to damaged tires — and a broken bike.

Pit Bike vs. Dirt Bike Suspension

Dirt bikes require more advanced suspension than pit bikes. Because the dirt bike track is full of bumps and obstacles, the bike must maintain better suspension.

There are a variety of suspension options for dirt bikes, but pit bikes typically only come equipped with a basic and rudimentary suspension system.

Which Is Faster: Pit Bike or Dirt Bike?

Pit bikes don’t reach the speeds that dirt bikes do, especially 2-stroke dirt bikes.

The standard pit bike engine runs between 50 cc and 140 cc, although there are some options that run between 175–250 cc. That means the top speed of a typical pit bike is between 15 and 25 miles per hour in low gear.

In a higher gear, a 50 cc bike might be able to reach 50 miles per hour. A pit bike with a 140–250 cc engine may be able to go up to 70 mph.

However, most kids and young riders on a typical 50 cc pit bike will only end up hitting that 25 mph range.

Dirt bikes have the capacity to go much, much faster. They range from 250 cc to 500 cc, which gives them a range of 60 mph at the lowest max to around 120 mph at the fastest max.

The limited speed of a pit bike is another reason they’re great for newer riders. People who want to advance and gain more speed will usually choose to switch to a dirt bike once they’ve mastered the pit bike.

Pit Bike vs. Dirt Bike Costs

Pit bikes tend to be a more budget-friendly option than a dirt bike. Each bike component on a pit bike tends to be cheaper than the bigger and more sophisticated dirt bike version: smaller tires, smaller engine, smaller frame, etc. It all adds up to a less expensive bike.

If you buy a brand new dirt bike with a smaller engine (120 cc, for example), you can expect to pay about $3k. A larger engine (250 cc) will set you back between $8–10k. The largest and most impressive dirt bike engines (450 cc) could cost you well over $10k.

Pit bikes are a whole different story. It’s not uncommon to find a new pit bike for under $1k. Some new pit bikes on the market are even as low as $300–500. They’re often even cheaper when you buy used.

If you’re choosing a used pit bike or dirt bike, you’re going to want to get the full story. How many crashes has the bike been involved in? What components have already been replaced, and how long ago? Who did the work — a hobbyist or a professional?

Sometimes, a deal that sounds too good to be true is too good to be true. Always do your research before making a decision on a used bike. The same is true for new bikes, too! The more information you know before you make your choice, the better your decision is going to be!

Photo Attribute: Image from Canva

Alt: Two men riding dirt bikes on a course

How Do You Know Which Bike to Get?

If you want to get into motorsports for the first time and you’re looking at buying your own bike, you definitely have a lot of options.

A pit bike is best if you’re young or if you’re buying for a young, small rider. Pit bikes are great for learning. Because they are easier to handle, they are not as intimidating as getting started on a dirt bike.

If you can fit comfortably on a pit bike, it’s a great bike for learning how to ride. Additionally, as long as you take good care of it, you can resell it when you’re ready to move onto a dirt bike.

Alternatively, choose a dirt bike from the start. This is your best bet if you’re already an adult and the small size of the pit bike would make riding it uncomfortable.