Dual sport

I have been looking for a dual sport bike off and on for a while. Anyone commute with one? I was thinking a DR350 or something around that size. I am mainly looking to explore local trails and commute a day or two a week backroads to work. I am not planning highway use but I may have to do an exit or two so I want something that is capable of that.

I am leaning towards something older/cheaper/easier, air cooled would be great. It wouldn't be for daily use so I don't want to spend a lot. I had an Electra Glide and it was awesome for road trips but it was no fun around town, at least for me.

I have done research on the XT 225 and it looks good but I am not sure if it is too small, I'm not the smallest person. I am also not sure if the 650's are too heavy.

Last question, will these fit in a 5' bed with the tailgate down?

 

stick with a 250ish bike.... kawaskai honda and yamaha are good lightish bikes with very long service intervals

 

Thanks for the input. Do you run a smaller bike? It's nuts how big things have gotten, I grew up with a Honda ATC 90 and it took me everywhere I needed to go - slow and rough ride but never left me stranded.

 

I have a 2012 klx 250 and love it. under powered but suspension upgrades get me where ever I wanna go

 

I'll add that to my list. See if I can find something by the time spring rolls around. Thanks.

 

Little changes on this bike go a long way.... mine is the green one, the red one is basically stock


older version:

 

Good suspension makes a world of difference when it comes to riding off road. Also, keep in mind how much the bike weighs. I agree with Stockmonester. Any of the mainstream Japanese bikes will give you the best bang for the buck. 250-400cc is a good range for a dual sport.

 

and upgrading the springs makes a huge difference as well and not very hard to do

 

Not a fan of ktm but their 500 dual sport is super light and set up awesome otb

 

“I have been looking for a dual sport bike off and on for a while. Anyone commute with one? I was thinking a DR350 or something around that size. I am mainly looking to explore local trails and commute a day or two a week backroads to work. I am not planning highway use but I may have to do an exit or two so I want something that is capable of that.”

DR350 would work but the older dual sports are heavy and feel lazy in the dirt.

“I am leaning towards something older/cheaper/easier, air cooled would be great. It wouldn't be for daily use so I don't want to spend a lot. I had an Electra Glide and it was awesome for road trips but it was no fun around town, at least for me.”

Almost any older used bike is going to need repairs. You might get lucky and find one that just sat in the corner of the garage but it will probably still need some $s thown at it.

“I have done research on the XT 225 and it looks good but I am not sure if it is too small, I'm not the smallest person. I am also not sure if the 650's are too heavy.”

Those 650s feel heavy when you take them in the dirt because they are heavy. I have a friend who rides an XT 225. He is on the short side and just likes to plunk around so it fits him and his riding style. I’m a little over 6’ and the XT is too small for me and I ride a 450 so the yamaha feels weak to me.

“Last question, will these fit in a 5' bed with the tailgate down?”

If you put it in the bed diagonally depending on the bike you may be able to close the tailgate.

I know you said cheap, air cooled etc etc but hear me out. I have this other friend that rides an early 5th gen WR250F. He also has a late 4th gen WR450F that is set up for dualsport. The WR450 hasn’t been used since he got the WR250. He rides the 250 everywhere and in all conditions and has nothing but praise for that bike. In a very roundabout way what I’m trying to say is these modern 250f dualsports are just plain fun to ride and are reliable as a stone. The older bikes are just not in the same league. If the focus of your riding is to have fun you will have more of it on a modern 250f dual sport vs. some tired old dirt bike.

 

Agreed that the newer 250 Japanese bikes are probably your best bet.

I ride a DR650 but only because I need a bike to do significant highway stints.

Had a DR350 and XR400R and while they are great bikes, the new 250s are leaps and bounds better

 

Power isn't everything when your first starting out, especially on dirt

 

I ride a WR450F multiple times a week - probably going to try to trade it for a newer WR250R (not f) - The f has the cons of the 450F but is slower. The valve check on 250R is at something crazy like 25k - I change oil once a month at least and check valves often. The WR450F screams, but the WR250R is a way better commuter (6 speed with 65+MPG), albeit heavy and slow. I'll get a used KTM300 or YZ250 for strictly screaming and riding full out.

WR450F barely fits in the long bed with tailgate up so dunno about SB.

Look for a used WR250R ~3-3.5K. Mileage under 15k.

If they ever come out with the damn Yamaha 700 I'll get that and a 2 stroke for woods and I'm all set.

 

I have a klx 351 and love it for commuting and woods riding, not the most powerful but it doesn't need much looking after to run. Ride wash and repeat..13000 trouble free miles so far

 

I ride a Suzuki DRZ 400s. It's pretty serviceable for the type of trail riding I do. My biggest issue with it is seat height.

 

I just wanted to share mine. She's a beast of a bike and I feel like I'm in a Mad Max movie when I ride it. Tallest seat height I think of any standard bike - 37.5 inches I think.
Again, just wanted to share.
Good luck with your search.

 

Here was my 650, highly modified and would pull wheelies at 70 MPH. 100+ MPH duelsport.

 

the front and rear fenders are the worse thing Honda did to this bike

 

I've been looking at the Honda 250L. You got the first service at 600 miles, then the next one at 8,000 then every 8,000 miles after.

 

DRZ400 fan club member here, reporting for duty....







buy one with less than 7500 miles.

Check the valves. change the oil. Throw whatever tires are on it away. Put on some Kenda K270s. Throw on an MRD exhaust and a JD jet kit.

Pound, the ever living guts out of it and enjoy.



Yes they can fit in a short bed...just cant really fit anything else in there...at the same time...