From the point of view of a person who has just caught the motorcycle bug – enduro and cross are phrases full of confusion. What is really behind these terms and how do they differ?
Before you decide to buy your dream motorcycle, it’s a good idea to research the ground and find out some important things that will surely ease your way into hobby motorsport. The first question you should ask yourself is – what offroad motorcycle will meet your expectations?
First of all, both cross and enduro types are offroad motorcycles. However, as in many cases, the devil is in the details – the environment designed for both machines differs dramatically. If you dream about jumps and backlips, you should rather opt for a more powerful and lighter 2T cross. It is worth mentioning that crosses do not require homologation – so these vehicles are not approved for road traffic. Turn signals, lights, license plates or silenced muffler are unnecessary and impractical additions to such vehicles. The reason for this state of affairs is twofold. Firstly, the main advantage of a cross is its lightness – it makes it possible to perform breathtaking stunts. Secondly, these are official safety requirements of cross event organizers. Because of the spectacle and danger involved, there is no room for error or even an assumption of risk in motocross. Broken glass is a potential risk of injury to other track participants
The natural environment of motocross is the track – it is there, among the unevenness of the terrain, that this vehicle feels best. As a rule of thumb, a cross with a given capacity will be lighter than the enduro equivalent. And while risky stunts are possible on an enduro, it’s not something this type of motorcycle excels at.
Apart from the exterior and accessories, the cross differs significantly from the enduro. And it’s all due to the power unit – the engine and gearbox you’ll find in a cross tolerate constant revs better than maintaining the maximum intended setting in the last gear.
It’s worth starting with the above mentioned fact – a 4T enduro with a similar displacement as a 2T will generate more power in addition to more overall weight. Enduro suspensions are more flexible and better tuned than their motocross counterparts. Enduro motorcycles are designed for long-distance off-road sections
When it comes to range and fuel consumption – in the case of a cross, it is futile to look for averaged data. This is not a vehicle where you should be concerned about burned octane. It is estimated, however, that such a machine is hard to do more than 100 km off-road, even taking into account ecodriving
Enduro engines are constructed in a different way, adjusted to conditions in which these bikes feel like fish in water. It is standard for an enduro to have larger capacity fuel tanks. Importantly, forest trails are less demanding than a track – as a result, the fuel consumption of such a motorcycle is much lower
High-performance riding on a motocross track requires more frequent repairs, which, of course, means higher expenses. Piston, pin, set of gaskets, crank – this is an expense well over a thousand zlotys. This is also the cost of the parts themselves, so if you do not have a flair for wrench, you will face further expenses and problems. It is difficult to find a specialist, who will charge less than another thousand zloty for a similar service
The 4T Enduro is the safest and most comfortable option. Four-stroke engine regardless of the conditions or experience does not require a general overhaul every season. It is a fact that 4T without overhaul will go longer than cross 2T – this is especially true in capacities over 500 cm3
However, everything has its price – when, after a few years, the time comes for an overhaul, you will have to pay a considerable amount of money. But it doesn’t change the fact that enduro is cheaper and easier to maintain. Besides, enduro motorcycle homologation makes life easier – such a vehicle can perform well both on off-road and asphalt
