4 March 2025

Nobody really knows when bikes started heading off road, but it’s pretty likely that the habit of taking a motorcycle off the beaten track is as old as placing an engine into a bicycle chassis itself.

The utilitarian nature of these machines not only made getting to hard-to-reach places easier, but also provided quite a lot of fun for the rider. Throw in their usefulness in military operations, and it’s clear to see that off-road motorbikes were always going to take off.

BSA produced the first dedicated dirt bike in 1914, and within the decade, the first motocross event was held in Surrey. Despite these British roots, manufacturers from the rest of Europe, and Japan got in on the action, and the sport took off in the US too. We highlight some of the trailblazing classics that helped move the motocross game forward.

Triumph Bonneville Desert Sled

Built by Bud Edkins for his friend, a little known actor by the name of Steve McQueen, this modified 1963 Triumph Bonneville T120C was designed specifically for desert races. Optimised for speed over the shifting sand, it has gone on to become a stylish, sought-after machine, that a number of bike-fettlers have gone on to produce on their own terms.

Courtesy Silodrome

 

Ariel 500 HS Motocross

Now the name is now found on lightweight sportscars from Somerset, but Ariel’s roots are in Birmingham, and well over 150 years old. The 1955 HS Motocross was one of the first models produced after Ariel was bought-out by BSA, and it has clear early details that have gone on to define the motocross bike. Knobbly tyres, straight exhaust, bash-plate, and long-travel front forks all seem normal now, but the 500 HS Motocross was instrumental in popularising them, even if the large four-stroke engine has since been dropped.

Courtesy Bonhams

Bultaco 250 Petite Metisse

Spanish manufacturer Bultaco has a long heritage in off-road bikes, and the 250 Petitte Metisse was another example of builders tweaking what was available for optimal off-road speed. Created by British importers the Rickman brothers in 1965, they used the Bultaco 250cc engine and chassis as their base, and created this ‘little mongrel’. Strong but lightweight frames, and light two-stroke engines combined to produce a formidable racer.

Courtesy Iconic Auctions

 

Suzuki TM250

The Sixties were a time of huge change for the motorcycle industry, with two-stroke engines developed intensely. In 1961, Suzuki won the 50cc World Championship with a two-stroke bike, the first of eight titles for the manufacturer that decade. By the late ‘60s, high-quality, small-capacity engines were commonplace, and ideal for motocross. After a fair bit of tinkering, the Suzuki TM250 was introduced in 1968, the first Japanese production motocross bike

Courtesy H and H Auctions 

Husqvarna 400 Cross

With a background in both chainsaws and motorbikes, Husqvarna should know a think or two about two-stroke engines. Thanks to a number of championship wins in the sixties, the Swedish manufacturer was well positioned to challenge the now established Japanese makers as the decade turned. The 1969 400 Cross was developed into a formidable machine over the course of a couple of years, and was another bike to gain additional fame through Steve McQueen.

Courtesy Motorcycle Classics