Introduction: How to Make a Cardboard Model Dirt Bike
So! I love motorcycles! as many people do. every day I watch biker videos. but, I don't have a bike myself... so what I do is to make the bike that I want. Today I was watching a YouTuber called Tommy Mx and he was riding a cool red dirt bike so I made myself one. And I will show you how to make yourself one, also but remember the principles apply to most motorcycles.
And if you are interested visit my Etsy shop
Supplies
- scissors
- X-acto knife (with #2 blade)
- Elmers school glue
- super glue (for small parts)
- utility knife
- ruler
- lead pencil
- cutting mat (optional)
- hot glue gun (with glue sticks)
Step 1: Chassis!
So the first part of all motorcycle builds is to assembly the chassis or frame. Start rolling brown paper around a barbeque skewer and build the frame according to a reference image. (I will provide a reference photo above).
Step 2: Front Forks
Start by making the front forks. To do that make two roles that are about 4 inches long, and assemble them as shown in the photo above. in the middle it should have a shape like an H. Try to make everything symmetrical, If needed use a straight edge. Once it is done glue it to the frame as shown. For this, I used super glue.
Step 3: Rear Swingarm
The next part up is the rear swingarm. to make it cut to thin strips about 3 inches long, and bend them slightly, and put a small spar of cardboard for strength. Then glue it to the back of the bike as shown.
Step 4: The Engine!
To make the engine cut out two ovals and wrap a thin band of cardboard around it. then glue a roll of cardboard on top of it. once you do that glue some circles on the side for detail. and lastly, glue a roll of cardboard for the exhaust pipe. glue the engine in the bike as shown. (and keep plenty of reference images on hand)
Step 5: Suspension Spring
Wrap a thin piece of cardboard around a 2-inch long paper roll, and glue it in the back at an angle as shown.
Step 6: Body Panels
Now make the side panels and the front fender. To cut out the right shapes for the body panels use a blueprint (which I have provided). But remember with cardboard you can never recreate the model exactly, but do your best.
Step 7: Handlebars
To make a typical tracker-styled handlebar bend a roll of brown paper and bend it to shape using reference images as a reference for the correct shape. once done glue them to the front forks. make sure they are symmetrical to the rest of the bike.
Step 8: Muffler/Exhaust Pipe
To distinguish our creation as a dirt bike. we must add the muffler. To make this roll a piece of cardboard and glue it to the end of the tube that was on the engine. finish it by inserting a bent roll of cardboard at the tip.
Step 9: The Seat
Cut out a rounded diamond shape and glue a long shape over it. I recommend using a hot glue gun for this step. once it looks like image number 3 glue it to the top of the bike as shown.
Step 10: Tires/wheels
The tires are pretty easy and straightforward to put together. take a 1 cm thick strip of cardboard and roll it in a doughnut shape. Each tire should be about 8 cm in diameter.
Step 11: The Challenging Part...spokes
The time to make spokes has come. first, cut out a large 8 sided star and glue a few round disks to either side of it. Then cut it to a size where you can fit it into the middle of the tire. once the tire has dried glue it to the back in between the swingarms.
Step 12: Detail the Handle Bars
Now you can detail the handlebars by cutting out handlebars and gluing on a few rectangles for model dials. Now you can also loop a chain around the rear tire to the engine.
Step 13: Done!
your objective to complete a cardboard model dirt bike is now complete. you can now proceed to give it to a friend or keep it on your desk as a decoration piece.
But whatever the case... I wish you good luck and happy cardboarding!!!





