Dual sport bikes

MX76er
Profile picture for user MX76er
Posts
110
Joined
2/16/2010
Location
CA
MX76er
Edited Date/Time 6/24/2019 6:37pm
Anyone own a good dual sport that has held up well and would recommend. I’m looking to buy a bike in good used condition ranging around 6000 or less. Anything between 250 to 450 range. What brand/model is best bang for buck. So far I like looks of wr250x and ktm350/husky or new crf 450l looks awesome. But for used condition what kind of miles/Kms is reasonable? Thanks for any input.
1
|
sam hain
Profile picture for user sam hain
Posts
1178
Joined
11/8/2011
Location
USA
sam hain 6/10/2019 1:41pm
6/10/2019 1:41pm
A lot depends on your skill and they type of "dual sporting" you are doing. The term is relative to location IMO, I'm in east TN surrounded by mtns, I can hit gravel roads in 10mins from my house, ride all day and not see but maybe 10miles of pavement if that. I've rode and raced mx and offroad for over 25yrs but bought my first dual sport a couple years ago. It was DR650, for gravel and pavement it was nice, but heavy. If we found any honey holes (single track) the fun factor tanked because of how heavy that bike is. I ended up selling it and bought a DRZ400, I liked it but like the 650 it was only a 5spd and carb'd so jetting was never perfect but livable. I liked the DRZ other than the handling, doing 60mph on gravel with conventional forks was not stable at all. Last bike I owned was a KTM 530XCW, I liked it it was lighter than both those older zuks and it had a 6th gear. It was a good mix of fun on gravel and great on trails, I sold it recently just to go back to one bike and save some money for truck. I've dual sported my '19 300xc once, I regeared it 14/49 and it was fun but I don't think I would want it for just dual sporting. Carrying oil and all that was kind of a hassle. If I had it to do over I'd buy a 350xcw with FI, IMO that package would be perfect for dual sport, just enough motor, fuel injection, decent mpg and a 6th gear. Sorry for the rambling hope you find some help somewhere in that mess!
2
TeamGreen
Profile picture for user TeamGreen
Posts
37095
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA, USA
TeamGreen 6/10/2019 1:45pm
6/10/2019 1:45pm
I’ve had the 350 Husky FE350S since it was launched in 2014 (it’s a 2015 model that I’ve had since October 2014).

The bike is excellent. Here’s some pics from prerunning in Baja...


4
zippytech
Profile picture for user zippytech
Posts
1495
Joined
9/8/2018
Location
Bethesda, OH, USA
zippytech 6/10/2019 1:46pm
6/10/2019 1:46pm
I ran the snot out of my dr 650
1
Utrider
Profile picture for user Utrider
Posts
460
Joined
8/20/2006
Location
West Haven, UT, USA
Utrider 6/10/2019 2:48pm
6/10/2019 2:48pm
What I see a lot of are the older generation RFS engined KTM's. They are pretty damn reliable, handle fairly well, have a 6th gear for the transfer stages. I have a 2006 450 XC, that I have plated and it's solid as an anvil. I paid $2,500 for it a few years ago, and have about $300 into the dual sport kit to make it street legal.

Gun to my head, I have to buy a new bike to replace it........It would be as mentioned above, a late model KTM 350 XCF, and I would dual sport and plate it.

This last weekend I went and rode a good mix of terrain in Central Utah, slick rock, sand and everything else my RFS was 12 yrs older than the next bike and didn't miss a trick.
2

The Shop

See All »
ktm 125
Profile picture for user ktm 125
Posts
133
Joined
10/11/2018
Location
GR
ktm 125 6/10/2019 4:51pm
6/10/2019 4:51pm
2000-2007 ktm exc are very reliable. but they are not dual sport. they are race machines. drz and xr 650 are dual sports. and thats that... tragic thing with this category is that it died late 90's. 2 strokes where the real dual sports, you know rmx dt wr kdx crm etc. wr 200 for instance, was a yz 125 with dt 200 engine without the batery among others. you could go for a hard enduro ride with these old smokers even some fun mx riding, unlike drz or xr. if today they built a motocross bike with a dual sport engine it would have been very close to crf450L but crf has a racing engine with a lot of tune down parts. plus its heavy and if you mod it you get a heavier and less powered crf. 2 strokes were very light so a few kilos more for the ''street'' version was ok! so unfortunalety NO there are no true dual sport off road bikes today...
if they built a 4 stroke based on a 250 mx/enduro with 350 street legal engine i will be intiguued!!!!! but i understand all the above has a much more meaning in europe because we have more enduro riders unlike us which is more baja and sandhills oriented so xr's and crf L's are good until the trails became tighter. no offense ofcourse to us riders. hard enduro is just not your main hobby until now.
loftyair
Profile picture for user loftyair
Posts
2901
Joined
7/3/2009
Location
riverside, CA, USA
loftyair 6/10/2019 5:17pm
6/10/2019 5:17pm
Really depends on things like how much you weigh, what type riding exactly, a bit on skill level, and cost of course. Anything at highway speeds and youll wish for more motor. Just trees, then less motor. Stuff like that.
Tumblin
Profile picture for user Tumblin
Posts
1206
Joined
7/27/2011
Location
Jacksonville, OR, USA
Tumblin 6/10/2019 5:40pm
6/10/2019 5:40pm
It's been too long but got some time on my plated Wr450 yesterday.
This is my 3rd generation of this motor 99, 06 and 07 YZ/WRs.
Very reliable (low cost) smooth and solid mount for single track with some road transfers.
3
Drtbykr
Profile picture for user Drtbykr
Posts
2058
Joined
10/29/2006
Location
Fredericton, CA
Drtbykr 6/10/2019 5:41pm
6/10/2019 5:41pm Edited Date/Time 6/10/2019 9:50pm
I had a DRZ400, it tried to kill me trying to be a woods monster.
Quickly jumped on a new WR450 that I had plated. Ahhh, I was a woods monster.
In 06 bought my KTM 525 and went for a long spin on a beautiful evening in 🇨🇦., tonight.
It hauls ass as a torque Daddy dirt bike, not a big fan of hard surfaces. Chipseal isn’t bad.

A big favour I did for it was two sets of rims. It has fresh knobbies on one set, and a tame Kenda front and back.

My off-road tire’s are always Dunlop in the rear, Michelin in front.
Being almost 60 (holy 💩), the next step is go even smoother than the Kenda’s, an adventure bike tire.
You are going to put all your gear on and hammer off-road, knobbies go on.
Everything else, well, smoother will make a “poser” ride like I just took enjoyable.

If I lived in a dry area I’d get KTM690.

In wetter areas, I’d get a 500EXC.

If you drive on the road a lot, displacement is great for acceleration and engines usually last longer...as is a 6th gear.
If you want to hammer off road, every pound on a bike sucks. (I’m 250, love torque and short shifting.



WhiteTaco
Profile picture for user WhiteTaco
Posts
163
Joined
10/8/2009
Location
Wake Forest, NC, USA
WhiteTaco 6/10/2019 5:57pm
6/10/2019 5:57pm
500exc or 501. Done.
zippytech
Profile picture for user zippytech
Posts
1495
Joined
9/8/2018
Location
Bethesda, OH, USA
zippytech 6/11/2019 4:49am
6/11/2019 4:49am
I run the k760 from kenda. hooks up good in dirt, dirt cheap and last pretty long.


1
Johnny Depp
Profile picture for user Johnny Depp
Posts
6435
Joined
10/16/2014
Location
Buda, TX, USA
Johnny Depp 6/11/2019 4:57am
6/11/2019 4:57am
Check out the Beta's. They don't hold resale as well as KTM's but are every bit as capable. For $6k you could own mine if I was selling, but I'm not. 2015 500 RS.
seth505
Profile picture for user seth505
Posts
10209
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
SD, CA, USA
seth505 6/11/2019 5:14am
6/11/2019 5:14am
250 Exc-f with some nice mods, sick bike! Would recommend unless rider is really big and/or rides a lot of road and highways.
1
mx317
Profile picture for user mx317
Posts
5334
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
mx317 6/11/2019 5:53am
6/11/2019 5:53am
Like Sam said above, it depends on your definition of a dual-sport. I motocross race frequently, but love my Honda XR650L to hit the back roads on. It's not the greatest at single track, but can run these logging roads around here very well. I just made a Colorado trip last week and took it with me for a ride up Pike's Peak.

1
BR8ES
Profile picture for user BR8ES
Posts
1909
Joined
6/3/2018
Location
Bennett, CO, USA
BR8ES 6/11/2019 5:57am
6/11/2019 5:57am
I just bought the CRF450L, like the bike so far.
wvuhoops
Profile picture for user wvuhoops
Posts
1
Joined
6/11/2019
Location
Peterstown, WV, USA
wvuhoops 6/11/2019 2:05pm
6/11/2019 2:05pm
2019 SWM 500 worth a look

2
G MONEY
Profile picture for user G MONEY
Posts
65
Joined
6/1/2019
Location
D Bay, CA, USA
G MONEY 6/12/2019 8:27pm
6/12/2019 8:27pm
My 2001 DRZ400E has been good to me you can pick them up cheap do a few mods and your ready to go
1
byke
Profile picture for user byke
Posts
3042
Joined
8/12/2015
Location
Auburn, CA, USA
byke 6/12/2019 8:40pm
6/12/2019 8:40pm Edited Date/Time 6/12/2019 8:41pm
I love the DRZ400 kick-only model. Built one a while ago and sold it, now I have another plated frame waiting for when I come across another kick-only bike. But dual sports are the absolute worst bike ever to shop for. Of course you want a plated straight 450 mx'er, but then you kinda want the lighter weight singletrack 250 2t or 4t, then you wanna be able to hop on the freeway for 10-20 miles, so you probably want a plated trail 450, then you want to stretch out to the desert, so you need a plated XR650R, but then you just want to chill on fire roads so you want the DR/XR/KLR 650 except you spent six weeks reading the comparisons and you can't see straight anymore, then you want something like a KTM 950+ Adv bike, except you discovered the elusive unicorn 950 Super Enduro R and you can't think of anything else and you know it's the right mix of highway and offroad but you can't find them and they're too expensive when you do, then maybe you want to ride to Alaska in comfort so you're looking for a GS, then you need to get to the moon so you're on the phone with Nasa and SpaceX...it just never fucking ends with these stupid things.
5
RCB33
Profile picture for user RCB33
Posts
854
Joined
6/22/2015
Location
Drexel, MO, USA
Fantasy
595th
RCB33 6/12/2019 8:55pm
6/12/2019 8:55pm
Definitely not for everyone but I love the 250L Rally edition I ride. My dad has a 2000 KLR 650 he got dirt cheap and is essentially bulletproof but I personally feel that it's too heavy unless you're main goal is gravel road riding. I don't really take the Rally on true woods trails but I'd have no reservations to do so with a more aggressive rear tire. If you don't mind the limitations of a smaller bike(it's a very high revving bike stock when on the highway), I'd definitely recommend giving one a shot, new or if you can find a used one.



Pit Row

See All »
G MONEY
Profile picture for user G MONEY
Posts
65
Joined
6/1/2019
Location
D Bay, CA, USA
G MONEY 6/14/2019 8:51am
6/14/2019 8:51am
byke wrote:
I love the DRZ400 kick-only model. Built one a while ago and sold it, now I have another plated frame waiting for when I come across...
I love the DRZ400 kick-only model. Built one a while ago and sold it, now I have another plated frame waiting for when I come across another kick-only bike. But dual sports are the absolute worst bike ever to shop for. Of course you want a plated straight 450 mx'er, but then you kinda want the lighter weight singletrack 250 2t or 4t, then you wanna be able to hop on the freeway for 10-20 miles, so you probably want a plated trail 450, then you want to stretch out to the desert, so you need a plated XR650R, but then you just want to chill on fire roads so you want the DR/XR/KLR 650 except you spent six weeks reading the comparisons and you can't see straight anymore, then you want something like a KTM 950+ Adv bike, except you discovered the elusive unicorn 950 Super Enduro R and you can't think of anything else and you know it's the right mix of highway and offroad but you can't find them and they're too expensive when you do, then maybe you want to ride to Alaska in comfort so you're looking for a GS, then you need to get to the moon so you're on the phone with Nasa and SpaceX...it just never fucking ends with these stupid things.
this is a e model with add kick starter just push the button and your on the road she a keeper
MX76er
Profile picture for user MX76er
Posts
110
Joined
2/16/2010
Location
CA
MX76er 6/14/2019 9:28am
6/14/2019 9:28am
Thanks for all the feedback thus far! I live in British Columbia and there are so many single track trails with roots and rock, then also would be nice to use as a commuter bike 40km a day too! So definitely like some mentioned it’s tough to find a middle ground. I love the looks of wr250l or is it x. And the husky 350/ktm are amazing looking bikes also. Would be awesome to rip. Should I pull the trigger on line of credit and go for new or do these engines hold up. Seems like dual sport used is asking for trouble with engine or what’s the experience out there? Jonesing for some off-road and freedom from wife and kids haha
Hallzilla
Profile picture for user Hallzilla
Posts
937
Joined
1/21/2011
Location
Langtown, CA, USA
Hallzilla 6/14/2019 11:47am
6/14/2019 11:47am



Plated xr250r
I've had it on the mx track,dez,single track, fire roads, and the only thing I would't want to do on it is super steep hill climbs, and freeways.
It's a slow pig, that goes anywhere, but still super fun and nimble. Every time I jump on it, it brings a smile to my face.

Not bad for a $1500.00 investment.
5
MX76er
Profile picture for user MX76er
Posts
110
Joined
2/16/2010
Location
CA
MX76er 6/18/2019 10:17pm
6/18/2019 10:17pm
Just came across this bike. Worth it in Canadian dollars or no?
sumdood
Profile picture for user sumdood
Posts
8903
Joined
3/11/2013
Location
San Clemente, CA, USA
Fantasy
564th
sumdood 6/18/2019 11:18pm
6/18/2019 11:18pm
I wish Yamaha would make a WR450 dual sport. My 03' has been awesome but it's getting old and nothing lasts forever...
bodean123 6/19/2019 12:26am
6/19/2019 12:26am
Wife and I rock a 250 and 500. Great fun both on and off the pavement. Long highway trips will wear you quickly with them being so light and no wind protection. Getting the wheels balanced is a must. The 500 has over 200 trouble free hours.

Photo was taken in Ferny, BC.
2
ctbale
Profile picture for user ctbale
Posts
1103
Joined
1/4/2014
Location
Gustavus, AK, USA
ctbale 6/19/2019 1:22am
6/19/2019 1:22am Edited Date/Time 6/19/2019 1:24am
What do most people think of the KLX250s ? (Besides under powered with stock exhaust and jetting 2009-2014). $5,400 new is pretty cheap, and that's with EFI

That SWM 500 looks dam nice!

G-man
Profile picture for user G-man
Posts
9127
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
G-man 6/19/2019 4:44pm
6/19/2019 4:44pm
TeamGreen wrote:
I’ve had the 350 Husky FE350S since it was launched in 2014 (it’s a 2015 model that I’ve had since October 2014). The bike is excellent...
I’ve had the 350 Husky FE350S since it was launched in 2014 (it’s a 2015 model that I’ve had since October 2014).

The bike is excellent. Here’s some pics from prerunning in Baja...


Yep I would agree with TeamGreen about the 350's.
I have a 2016 XCF-W and it's a great do-it-all machine for Off-road, DualSport and gnarly Singletrack.

If you are riding pavement a 250 has to work to hard (high RPM's) if your buddy's have 500's.

Matter of fact I geared my 350 TALLER by a good amount for the same reason and so far so good and it's still good for ST.





One of my buddies found a clean one for 5K.
1
PTECH
Profile picture for user PTECH
Posts
469
Joined
11/28/2011
Location
Phoenix, AZ, USA
PTECH 6/19/2019 7:08pm
6/19/2019 7:08pm Edited Date/Time 6/19/2019 7:13pm
I have a 2014 500 exc. Fantastic bike but I wouldn't want to use it to commute 40 km a day. Even after the tires are balanced its not a great road bike, I would think the 350 even less so. DRZ400 is a about the best dual sport I can think of that would handle 40 Km a day then be able to be taken out of an have some fun on the trails. Cheap and reliable with all the aftermarket support you could dream of. The Yamaha wr250r is a good dual sport too but will struggle to do 70 mph especially on a slight grade. Maybe an KTM 690 enduro R depending on your budget. Ive never ridden one but the specs are pretty solid. I've thought about getting one to replace my 500 many times so I can open up rides farther away.
Patrick461
Profile picture for user Patrick461
Posts
173
Joined
10/31/2018
Location
Dania, FL, USA
Patrick461 6/19/2019 11:48pm
6/19/2019 11:48pm
My 2015 XR650l has been set up for dirt. Still street legal. Reliable as a claw hammer. It’s tall and heavy but with richer jetting a de smog kit engine plugs air box mods s pipe and the bike is fast. Long wheel base super stable. Can do moto band cross country. Not so great a woods riding because of wheel base and height and weight but I’ve gotten 31 lbs off it. I love my bike. But for 80 trails it’s not your bike I’ve rode it to the track rode it at the track and back home. Fun day.
Michael551 6/19/2019 11:53pm
6/19/2019 11:53pm
I have a crf250x, perfect for the lanes in the uk but can still chuck it round an mx track if i wanted too!
I dont know about the rules over your way, because these bikes all came road legal here, but i dont think they did in every country?


1
G-man
Profile picture for user G-man
Posts
9127
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
G-man 6/20/2019 12:20am
6/20/2019 12:20am
MX76er wrote:
Thanks for all the feedback thus far! I live in British Columbia and there are so many single track trails with roots and rock, then also...
Thanks for all the feedback thus far! I live in British Columbia and there are so many single track trails with roots and rock, then also would be nice to use as a commuter bike 40km a day too! So definitely like some mentioned it’s tough to find a middle ground. I love the looks of wr250l or is it x. And the husky 350/ktm are amazing looking bikes also. Would be awesome to rip. Should I pull the trigger on line of credit and go for new or do these engines hold up. Seems like dual sport used is asking for trouble with engine or what’s the experience out there? Jonesing for some off-road and freedom from wife and kids haha
Ok, I missed this part about commuting 40 km a day.

If that is the case I would steer away from KTM Husqvarna or any of the real good off-road inspired bikes.

They are basically race-inspired engines tuned down--not something you would want on a daily commute, for me anyway.

For commuting purposes I would get a Honda XRL or Kawasaki KLR.

If commuting is not a priority then get a 500 KTM and call it a day.
1

Post a reply to: Dual sport bikes