I feel extremely lucky and blessed and all of that to have found a 2020 DR650 with 261 miles, from just some guy about 60 who's wife said she didn't want him riding it. $5250 and I didn't even try to hagle the price. He just gave me 100 back for driving 2 hours to pick it up. They were like... the NICEST people ever. Even gave snacks and juices to my little son and daughter. Motorcyclists are the best!!
For those inseamed challenged, the XT250. 2013 and newer are fuel injected and the motor, while relatively low on power, makes its power lower in the rev range. It's a really easy bike to handle in slower techy sections of trails because of the engine characteristics. It also has a tight turning radius.
Ironically, In searching for a good dual sport, I went with the 2014 KLR650. I did a few mods... doohickey, upgraded fork springs, wind screen, pegs, skid plate, engine guards, and went to a 16 tooth drive sprocket for better highway riding. I freaking love this bike. I'm a 6'5" disabled vet who used to ride a VTX 1800R, but it physically hurt so much it made riding miserable. The KLR650 is very tall, and because of that, I can ride without any.pain at all. It had 8000 miles on it.. but runs like new. I'd recommend that bike to anyone.
Got a 2008 Gen 2 KLR with Corbin seat, 1” lowering links, crash protection, skid plate, Tusk panniers, Shinko 705s, heated grips...quite versatile. Need to do the doohickey yet. A little heavy for real off road stuff, but good for field roads and gravel. Reasonable on used market and good for old and short guys like me who want to do some easier BDR stuff. Great video. Thank you! Enjoy your channel.
Nice work man! This is a great list for folks looking for a good, used dual sport! Also, I think there's an opportunity for Japan to deliver a DRZ400-ish dual sport with fuel injection and inverted forks (KYB please). I think a lot of folks were hoping the CRF450L was going to be that bike but Honda went a weird direction of porky European with it and that's a shame. The 250s are great but not my cup of tea. I wish someone made a modern, reliable, low maintenance 450 dual with long service intervals. The KTM 500EXC has been on my list forever but the high price and shorter service intervals keep steering me away from it. Here are some thoughts on the bikes I've owned or ridden: 1. KLR650 - Bought one new, enjoyed it for 35k tough, beaten, offroad miles. Rock solid bike with the common upgrades but I outgrew it in a couple of years. Went looking for something with some more spunk on/off road and landed on.... 2. DR650 - Bought a used one for cheap and modded the hell out of it. Like this one a lot better than the KLR once they're both similarly farkled. A DR790 with pumper carb and inverted forks would be a really nice bike had I stuck with it but the writing on the wall was there. It was still capped at around 50hp and I really wanted a fast bike again after owning a KLR as my only plated bike for years, sportbikes before that, the DR650 didn't quite scratch the "ultimate dual sport hooligan machine" itch. 3. Husqvarna 701 - I know this isn't a Japanese dual sport but, other than the clutch slave cylinder known issue, this was a rock solid machine for the 25k miles I beat on it for. I'd totally recommend a used but well loved on 690/701 for anyone looking to upgrade past the $5k mark as sort of a next step up. This bike is an absolute riot on and off road! 75hp, modern suspension and fuel injection and an absolute wheelie machine with the road manners to do hundreds of miles in a day and capable enough to take to OHV trails with the right tires and skills. Sold mine used for $7k in really good shape with a lot of nice upgrades. Well worth an extra $2k imho but maybe not for shorter and/or newer riders. 4. Bikes on your list I've ridden but not owned - XT225/250 are good, especially if you live closer to trails and forest roads. Probably wouldn't be a good BDR bike if you're looking to ride from Oregon to Arizona to ride that BDR for example. Fantastically approachable offroad! KLX250 - I like this one better than the XT225/250. The suspension is a fair bit better and a little bump in power too. Still pretty sluggish for road riding but it's a nice option for folks who want a little better suspension than the XT or CRF250L. Which brings me to the CRF250L. I get it and I don't. I think the CRF250L is a good bike to pick up used as a first dual sport and pass it along when it's no longer as interesting as it once was. Or, if you're planning on just riding forest service roads around home forever and don't want a ton of power maybe keep it and get a second bike for road stuff. TW200 is too slow for anything I like to do but I understand the appeal. XR650L isn't as interesting as the DR650 to me. Haven't had a chance to ride a WR250R yet.
I love the WR250R. I rode it while I was in the army and can confirm that despite it being "just a dual sport" it can take some serious hammering off road and keep going. Mine had been previously sunk in a swamp and all that it had to show for it was a little ticking in the upstairs while idling. The only thing I remember the maintenance chief mentioning is to check and adjust the clutch regularly cause it's prone to slipping if you "slide" it a lot.
Want to support the channel when you buy your dual sport or ADV gear and mods? Feel free to use the following affiliate links! Rocky Mountain ATV/MC: bit.ly/3tYzpXq Amazon: amzn.to/3aDkk4z Revzilla: imp.i104546.net/4eMdJZ MotoCamp Nerd: motocampnerd.com/?ref=dork DitR Storefront on Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/dorkintheroad Dork in the Road’s Riding Gear Picks on RMATV/MC: bit.ly/3jU31Av Dork in the Road’s Dual Sport Mods on RMATV/MC: bit.ly/3gdkK4x Dork in the Road’s Adventure Bike Mods on RMATV/MC: bit.ly/3ga2zg4
I dropped my brand new 2020 crf250l in a same month I bought it. Bike just fell on a side on asphalt. Simple sidestand fail. Didn't cry tho. Bike's fine.
Spoke to someone that just purchased a Yamaha TW200 that was under "5000.00" but after dealers fees, tax tile and license that $4,600.00 MSRP turned into $6,000.00. The tax, title and license was a small part of the $1,400.00 difference most were dealers markups.
That is why I think that you are crazy to buy a brand new bike from a dealership. If you do your homework there are a lot of great bikes out there that are every bit as good and sometimes better than brand new. I have seen low mileage bikes advertised that have already had a bunch of extras added by the owner that I was going to add anyway. A lot of dollars saved if you are willing to look around and don’t think that you need the “safety blanket” that a dealership can give you.
Agreed. If you are a solo rider i would consider as well 1.- the XR250R (1996-...) for a beginner due to its reliability and easy to repair somewhere far away from the grid and 2.- the AJP PR7 for electric start, 300mm suspension travel and light weight (not sure how it goes in US, if its street legal...). Cheers mate. ✌
Only other one I can think of think of for this list would be the Royal Enfield Himalayan. Not the typical dual sport body style, but specs, capabilites, reliability, simplicity, and price all seem to be in alignment with your purposes here.
Yeah that one's more of a adv bike in my book, though it's probably technically more of a scrambler than anything. Good suggestion, though. I'm thinking a "best used adv bikes" vid might be in order.
I agree. The Royal Enfield Himalayan is a nicely equipped bike that is a great compromise for someone who isn’t sure what their road vs off road riding is going to be. It does either one relatively well while perhaps not being a bike that stars at either one either. It is a little bit heavy to throw around off road and isn’t a bike that you are going to go very long distances at 70 mph but it is still very adequate at say 60 mph and off road with good tires it will go practically anywhere and do it well.
KLR 250. I've been riding one for 2 years know. Kick start only. But with automatic compression release it's an easy bike to kick-start. Has a 6 speed transmission and about 28 horsepower. I bought it used for about $1500 had 3500 miles on it. I put some work in it but it was stuff a dual sport rider should learn how to do anyway.
What a great vid. You answered questions i had rolling through my head.you answered things i didnt even know i needed to know. Ive been looking for a reliable duel sport. Thank you very much.
TDUB LIFE..... but they worth way more then they should be in the PNW.... the XT225 is a really good choice for smaller riders too and it looks better then the xt250. I loved mine
All excellent picks for beginner used bikes. I would be happy with any one of them. Being a beginner myself I researched all these same bikes and constantly searched classifieds for them. Ultimately I went with the CSC TT250 when deal for a XT225 fell through. Hard to beat the price even when buying new. However, I was hesitant to get something with more power then I need right off the bat but now thinking my next bike will be the DR650 as I need find myself doing more highway travel then I thought I would getting to the trails. Otherwise the TT250 is a really fun bike for what it is and it's been a blast!
A good list Dork, I wish we had better dualsport options in the UK, I'd probs have gotten a Suzuki DRZ400 if we could get them new in the UK still, but they got dropped years ago due to emissions. I am considering the Honda CRF300L as I think it (and the 250L) are more than capable motorcycles tor trails and travels, but the 300 would be above budget in the is vid. Ty Dork
I HIGHLY recommend staying FAR away from any bike with EFI. Absolute nightmares. Unreliable, impossible for a typical owner to work on, and the EFI parts are hellishly expensive. You can also bump start a carbureted bike if your battery is dead, not possible with EFI. I also recommend against liquid cooling. I dropped my KLR650 out in the middle of the desert, punctured a coolant hose, and all my coolant drained out. I was way out of normal cell phone range, but when I ride in places like that I carry a satellite phone. I also had a GPS unit so I knew my coordinates. I was able to call a friend and several hours later he showed up with his lifted 4 wheel drive truck. No risk of that happening with an air cooled bike. The best large displacement dual sport is without a doubt the Suzuki DR650. Carbureted and air cooled. And as a bonus, you can get an aftermarket center stand for it for chain maintenance and for when (not IF) you have a flat tire. The best small displacement dual sport, again without a doubt, is the Yamaha XT225. Yes, the XT225, NOT the XT250. The XT225 was sold in the U.S. from 1992-2007, almost completely unchanged. It is bulletproof. Carbureted and air cooled. And only weighs 250 pounds. You can get larger aftermarket gas tanks for both these bikes. I like the TW200, and it is still carbureted and air cooled. But as neat as that huge rear tire is, think about what you are going to do when you have a flat. The tubes are also huge, and you will need to carry a couple of them. And removing and reinstalling that big fat rear tire is an exercise in frustration. It's hard enough at home, several times harder out in the middle of nowhere.
I concur 100%. My Bro in law bought the newer injected honda rancher to “upgrade” from his Jeep Cherokee of honda ranchers, the 2004 model. I warned him not to get that big , over engineered seemingly by Mercedes Benz ,slug but he didn’t listen. Wasn’t long before he had one issue after another. I got tired of fixing the pile of crap and strongly urged him to sell it for a major loss. I’ve messed with many bikes and I agree that a carbureted bike is so much more reliable and cheaper to fix. The Chinese knockoff carbs are cheap and you can keep one in your gear bag as a spare if needed.
The 650s are tall and a great choice for big boned people. Minor suspension work and they really shine. Klx450 if you can find one TransAlp if you can find one There is a large range of XT variants some with dual carbs😆 I'm more for Japanese bikes as well but the KTM exc up to 500 are a good option on the higher end. Closest to MX but with less maintenance intervals. KTM640=like the other 650s mentioned but better suspension, more hp. Honda NX250 and 650 are rare and a dual sport in street styling. Tire options on some of the older bikes can be a pain in the arse to find.
KLR is always high on the list, I owned a 2008 but a dual sport that no one mentioned and arguably the original first dual is the Yamaha TDR 250 which I also own and will rate as one of the best ever.
I just bought a 2008 WR 250 R with 3000 original miles $3000.00 it’s one of the best bikes I’ve ever owned I just sold a mint 2003 XR 400 that was street legal but the 250 is a better all around bike with about the same power and the 6 speed you have to have the 6 speed
Great video. Thank you for this short and sweet summary. I've started to get very interested in these types of bikes. I've been riding street bikes (Yamaha VStar 1100 mainly) and have done some off-roading in a 4Runner, and this would kind of be the best of both worlds, but I've never had any experience with them and don't want to spend a lot of money.
What do you think of the Honda NX650 Dominator with a few changes to make it more suitable for off-road use, such as a new front fender, different tires, a shorter gear ratio and weight savings by changing the fairing?
Should have tossed in the BMW F650GS Dakar in with the other 650s. XR and DR are more dual sport. But the KLR is more on the ADV side along with the Dakar. Everyone should have a TW.
I'm looking around for fun at the moment. Found a older 1990 DR650 for $2800. It's stock but looks like new for such an old bike and only has 12k miles.
Ended up selling my klr recently. Our trails are quite technical and steep mountain hill climbes. My skill and the bikes abilities and a short rider match was not up to our challenging terrain. Headed a lighter direction thinking dr200 or xt250 depending on what's available locally.
I still miss the little 74 DT125 I bought new. Only road it 5000 miles before a Camaro took its place. Fun bike back in the day and 2stroke with autolube made for no premixed fuel. Spent more time in Indiana gravel pits than on the road but was ok for going to school and short road trips under 60 MPH.
I have owned well over 100 bikes in my 40+ years of riding. I do a lot of buying/riding/selling. I enjoy all different style bikes, but Dualsport bikes are my favorite. For me, anything less than a 400cc/40hp shouldn’t be classified as a dualsport. Just my opinion!! Just because it can be street legal, And can go on a gravel road IMO doesn’t make it a dualsport. Sport implies being fairly capable/ competitive. So dualsport should imply the bike is highly capable/competitive at both dirt and street. Any 250 isn’t going to be good at crunching miles on the road, and they seemingly always give up 80% of their dirt pedigree to gain 20% better road manners. So we really end up with either a street legal dirtbike, or a street bike with knobbies. As of now I currently have 2 “dualsport’s” a 2016 Klr650, 2019 CRF450l. Neither is what I would classify as a dualsport. However the klr would be a closer fit to that title, as I would gladly take my KLR in extreme off road terrain, way before I would set out on a road trip with the CRF450l. I still like pulling wheelies at will, and catching some air off-road. For me, bikes that fit into this category have to be highly modded, as no bike comes from the factory a true dual-sport “imo”. Even with no expense spared as in Euro bikes, there still has to be mods to make it equally as good on and off road. On the high end Like the Ktm 690/790 . Descent off-road from the factory, but needs wind protection and a seat to be comfortable on the road. Or the Klr650 on the low end. Decent on the road but you need stuff to make it equally as good off-road. IE, springs, front and rear, fork brace, crash guards, Aftermarket tires. Maybe I’m just odd that way. I want my dualsport to be 80% as comfortable and fun on the road as any street bike could be, likewise, I want my dualsport to be 80% as capable off-road as any dirtbike could be. And those are hard shoes to fill. I think tons of bikes get labeled dual sports. But very few fall into that category. You have street legal dirt bikes, commuters, dualsports, adventure bikes, and adventure tourers. Everything is a compromise it seems.
I have been window shopping for quite awhile now and I tend to agree with most everything you said. I think that it would be extremely rare to find a dual sport bike that satisfies everything someone would want for both on and off road use without it having some modifications done.
Found a unicorn. 2004 drz400s with only 2k miles. Around 2k in modifications, not enough room to list everything. 2nd owner. Rich guy rode it e few times and parked it under a cover in the garage. 4 boxes full of new parts never used. Only payed 3,800. Couldn't imagine riding anything else
DR650 is a great bike...once you spend some $$ on mods. I have a 2019 model. One can throw A LOT of $$ into it on necessary mods. Not so on the DRZ400. I just feel, in my opinion, the DRZ400 is superior in many aspects for trail riding.
Other than sharing the same displacement, the DL650 V-Strom is not comparable to the klr, dr, or xrl. It lands solidly in the Adventure bike category. Not knocking it by any means as I myself own a V-Strom and love it, but it is not a dual sport.
You asked about other bikes, if people are like me and they don’t like the uncomfortable dirtbike versions on all of the smaller ones now and if they like old-school styling, the old Honda XL series, any of them are awesome. The 74 277 XL 350s are awesome, all day wheelie power still very simple but the 70 bikes were a lot lower and had a nice big comfortable seat on it but they’re still incredibly capable and 74 and five the XL 350 was the hot dual sport bike to have. They’re definitely old school but the other thing is they’re like a TW 200 and stupid easy to ride ridiculously comfortable and you can still get them but you’re gonna have to work on it probably and it’s gotta be something you love, having more vintage type of bike. Another advantages most places let you Register them as a classic which means you buy your plate once it’s cheap and it last forever so you’re not dealing with registration with him places in California can be a huge pain. From there you step up to say at 78 to early 80s XL 250. Kickstart bikes, it’s the one that always starts on the first or second kick is easy it’s cut a simple pumper carb and these things are bulletproof, if you keep your oil full and semi-clean and adjust your valves every 2000 miles these things go 100,000 miles they start incredibly easy all the time they’re very easy to ride they’re pretty capable for what they were and it’s a zero headache bike it’s kind of always there. The only problem with these and the 80s XL series which are some of my favorite are they’re getting rare and people love them and they’re getting pricey. 84 and up XL series bikes are amazing. You had a choice between an 70, and 80, 100, 125, 185, 200, 250, 350, 400, 500, and a 600. The 600 which I drove for a while was almost identical to an XR 650 L with a little lower seat height and suspension and even though it’s a 600 without the current emissions controls and all of that it was pretty much as fast. My favorite was the XL 350. I’m a bigger guy I’m 256 pounds and 250 is awesome but not quite enough on the hills in the sand and the 350 had just enough power to get you there it had a six speed transmission it had a disc brake in front End it wasn’t as heavy as the bigger versions. If I can get an 84 XL 350 and put an electric starter on there it would be a dream bike, as the same nice big comfy seat like the XR 650 L even a little softer, The suspension was a little bee fear than the 250, it’s not a hard-core off Roader but they’re still very capable, the XR 350 R was an amazing dirt version, the XL was similar but he had a six speed transmission with a little wider more street friendly gear range. You could drive it at 75 miles an hour on the freeway no problem, I think they went to the mid 80s, but cruising around 65 on the freeway is very doable on those with a comfortable seat you could ride them for four hours a day end it was no problem. Imagine a CRF 300 that could go 100,000 miles was very easy to service and had a nice comfortable seat and was built a lot tougher. Don’t get me wrong I get that the CRF is better technology newer is going to perform a little better but it loses that easy factor, these old XL thumpers are kind of like the XT and the TW 200 in the DR in the XR 650 L, They’re just incredibly easy to own they get Creek cast mileage they run forever the maintenance intervals are incredibly easy to deal with and they’re very easy to work on yourself and these things just go forever so you’re trading a little performance but what you’re getting is an incredibly easy bike to own, minus the electric start which I’ll give you. Yamaha XT 350 was an awesome bike as well same thing add power that would blow away an XT 250 and that wide torque thumper thing with throttle only wheelies all day long and may not be as fast on a dirt track but otherwise weird still give you more turkey power for a bigger rider than the calyx 300 or CRF 300. Which brings in the honorable mention a DR 350 S or the SE which had an electric start. That gave you the same type of 350 with the electric start in the SE version but again it’s a mechanics bike and it’s really not that bad it has some quirky things that you need to fix, there was a pin that kind of fell out that you could easily tack well do the gear they should’ve just molded it into the gear itself or you could even just smack it with a hammer and mushroom a little so it sticks and won’t come out or even to put a tack in the middle of the pan because it sits between two gears so with a tack in the middle it can’t slide anywhere and there’s one stupid bolt inside that I need some red Loctite because they tend to fall out a little easy, it’s kind of like the Doohickey on the Kahler it’s just something you do in the rear swingarm had a couple corky issues but again it was just a simple reliable thumper with a nice comfortable seat and had that great mid range power and it had the six speed which they dropped when they did the DRC 400 and made it a very uncomfortable five speed version and the DRC is good but they are 350 add a little more range in the gears and it gave you a second gear option for slow stuff tour the DRC you gotta go fast to get into second gear so you’re stuck in first gear writing technical slow stuff And it’s not horrible but the nice thing about the DR 350 wish you had a six speed you you could do a big bore kit makes it 442 a DRC 400 carburetor on there and it’s a comfortable bike it’s gonna blow away the DRC 400 but again you’re gonna have to do that yourself because Suzuki and every other Japanese manufacturer has dropped the ball they got rid of those midsize bikes and they don’t have them anymore the calyx and the CRF 300s are cool but it’s not enough it’s a good replacement for a small writer who is happy with the 250 but gives them a tiny bit more power but if you’re at 250 pounds 6 foot plus guy you’re going to get over it real quick and the 450 is cool but you’re talking $11,000 for a bike you have to completely rebuild the motor on every 20,000 miles and has some computer issues that aren’t great costume more than $3000 to fix on an $11,000 motorcycle. The other thing is if you get a 78 XL 250 or an 83 XL 350 are you and the new XR 650 L those bikes are going to be here in 30 years, people aren’t gonna want to pay $4000 to fix a computer than a mouse gnawed on because it sat in the garage for a few years, on these old bikes he just put some butt connectors on and fix the wires and you’re good to go for another 40 years. So the durability factor the use of ownership cost of ownership the ease of working on the bikes, that makes these older options still viable in my opinion and with all those mid range options like the XL 350 DR 350 and XT 350 kind of pushing that DRZ 400 performance with a very easy very comfortable bike with a much easier riding position end for lotta people that’s an option if you’re willing to own an older bike like that. For me none of these options are really all that good anymore they’re all uncomfortable they’re all dirt bikes went down for the road with very uncomfortable seats and Electronic stuff is cute but it’s just more stuff to break and if you’re gonna be riding these off road you’re gonna be giving them a pounding that stuff doesn’t hold up that long, you’re not going to see a lot of CRF 300 and 450L around in 20 or 30 years, another vantage of these old bikes is if you can get one it’s kind of dirty neglected pull the carpet part clean it up, you can drive the thing for a few years and make all your money back and then some because everybody wants them now which makes them a little harder to fine but they’re still out there but I need old bikes with her it’s the 75 or late 70s or the 80s Honda XL‘s, you can sell these things really really quick and if it’s clean and in decent shape people are gonna be bugging you every time they see you wanting to buy it from you, So in a way it’s almost free because you can buy it put 5000 miles on the thing and turn around and sell it for what you paid for it as long as you’re not trashing it. They were just built different. An 8485 XL 350 or 600 or 250 or 500, everybody wants these you can literally put 100,000 miles on these things I’ve seen an XL with 140,000 miles on it the only thing I’ve ever done was changed out the timing chain and minor easy stuff. They’re not perfect but if you’re willing to deal with these older bikes they’re just built better and you can still find parts for the Hondas especially and they just made the last forever. Park a CRF 450 or 300 in your garage and a mouse moved in for a year or so, good luck on trying to fix that thing for less than three or four grand on an XR 650 L, He pressure wash it and if the mouse chewed through wires he cut a couple and throw some butt connectors on there and you’re good to go maybe clean the carb if they left fuel in it, good luck on these computers when a mouse chews on the wires and pees on it if you price them you’re talking like three grand to replace them it’s ridiculous. Fuel injection is cool but clean and carburetor is not any harder than pulling apart you feel injection system and throwing on new injectors and injectors clog up just as easily so it’s really not that much of an advantage unless you’re just scared of carburetors.
Definitely endorse the Dr650 or Xr650. The DR is a great bike but really needs the mods. I suggest for 90kph/55mph road traveling over modest distances to get to gravel/trail riding - any of the carby Japanese 250s will do a good job for most people with limited cash and good value for money.
I bought a 14 year old DR200 for $1600. Sold it 2 yrs later for $1800. It had 7600 miles and I put more than half of them on. Bike is kind of crap in every performance way but it was perfect for a small guy to learn on.
Another option is the Kawasaki version of the DR-Z400 rebadged as the KLX400. Hard to find, but can be had for a good price. Parts are interchangeable with the DR-Z.
All those bikes are pretty old designs, with a couple exceptions like the Wr but even that is heavy. Really all these are much more street oriented than what I consider a dual sport.
I am curious if the BMW is more expensive when it comes to buying parts as compared to the Japanese bikes. I’ve heard that their street bikes are that way thus I’m guessing that it’s the same thing with their dual sport bikes.
@@yanpelletier2679 well, I see a bunch for sale every year and I live in a medium town in Canada... I'd say fairly common, and mostly around 4000$cad with luggage and everything!
@@richardwestmoreland4796 OEM is expensive, but there is some fairly affordable aftermarket. Still a bit more expensive than a Japanese, but really reliable so it does not make that big of a difference.
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Thanks for the video. I found a 2017 KLR650 adventure for $5,250 it has 13,646 miles on it and it looks really good is that to much money for the miles?
What dirt bike should I get my little nephew he Is interested in riding with me I have a drz and he wants to join I was thinking dr125 crf110 Rmz85 kx100 ttr125 or mabey even a quad can you guys tell me what would be best for a younger rider
I have picked up a 1986 Yamaha xt 350 and a 600 they are awesome bikes that are still going strong to this day but the parts for these bikes is getting so hard to find now
You need to show the KTM 350excf some love. It is a great bike totally rips off road and handles pavement just fine. My DR is fun but only ok in the single track. The KTM has 180 hours it has only wanted fresh oil and a few tires. Ride it like grandma and you can stretch the oil, ring its neck and ride the clutch and your into an oil change every 15 hours .
@@ckkrons2338 upfront I agree but one broken ankle later and I am a huge fan of buy once cry once and skip the physical therapy for the next 22 weeks. 2018 my wife and I thought it would be fun to have street legal dirt bikes ( we live 10 miles from amazing single track) I got the KTM 350 she got a small starter bike on this list, she put on 1000 miles on and off road when we hit some wooped out gravel road and broke her ankle after the bike out ran its suspension. The KTM didn't even notice the woops because of the amazing suspension. Since it has cost me $13,000 the price of a RZR trail. Because she doesn't want to hang out with the surgeon again.
@@tysleight no question the EXCs are excellent but 2x the cost of DRs and DRZs. Suspension mods on the Zukis won't make them as good, but not $5k and you'll still have less maintenance.
I'll get flamed, but the RPS Hawk 250. Yup the same bike that Motocheeze buys from drop shippers. Hear me out: I bought used a 2007 Lifan 200GY for $600 from an owner that has put of over 68K on his. My bike has a new, used 230cc replacement Lifan, with a little over 4K now. His older balance shaft engine is now powering an ATV. These engines are basically the same engine that is made for use all over the world, especially less than developed countries. OHV, 230 cc Honda clone that makes a little over 16 h.p. . yeah it's carbed, but it gets about 80 MPG and has a very tractable, wide torque spread. They're light, (319#) have a 2.8 gallon fuel tank, 150 watt alternator that can handle 55 watt H4 bulbs and uses many wear parts made for Japanese DS bikes. Inverted forks, 3 link Honda type rear suspension with zerks on all pivots, kick and E-start. The bike can even be run without it's battery as the regulator/ AC lighting control module will rectify and run all the DC electrics despite a minor amount of flicker.
I sold my DR650 in 2019. Bought in 2007. I was looking at other bikes and saw that same bike new and it was just that...the EXACT same bike. It looks like Suzuki hasn't made a single change in a decade. That's not necessarily a bad thing but jus sayin'. Also, if you're looking for performance, you'll want to mod out the exhaust, re-jet the carb, and maybe replace the air cleaner. Served me well street and dirt for 12 years.
Along with the KLR 650 you also can't kill an XR400 or XR650. I've had both but in the R model, XR400R plated, and XR650R plated. I tried as hard as possible to kill the XR400R by desert racing it and just could not. The XR650R was set up for Baja and still plated. Two bikes that I miss to this day and always on the hunt for.
I VERY love those "old true" Japanese motorcycle-style from 90s, like Honda XL250 Degree - which I was owned 3 years, but had to leave because of the war in Ukraine(( ...I dream to by something like that!
I'm new to your channel. I was telling my son who has his game channel. How I would like a motorcycle channel that started with excitebike. An then there you are. And in the back drop there's a look alike Nintendo border for you channel. How cool.😎. I am looking into Adventure bikes.
I don't buy used Toyotas for the same reason. It's crazy what they go for around here. I've bought two new trucks for barely more than the ones a few years old were going for.
@@DorkintheRoad Funny you say that - that's why I bought my Tacoma new in 2015. Four years later they offered me what I paid for it to buy it back but I decided to keep it.
I feel extremely lucky and blessed and all of that to have found a 2020 DR650 with 261 miles, from just some guy about 60 who's wife said she didn't want him riding it. $5250 and I didn't even try to hagle the price. He just gave me 100 back for driving 2 hours to pick it up. They were like... the NICEST people ever. Even gave snacks and juices to my little son and daughter. Motorcyclists are the best!!
For those inseamed challenged, the XT250. 2013 and newer are fuel injected and the motor, while relatively low on power, makes its power lower in the rev range. It's a really easy bike to handle in slower techy sections of trails because of the engine characteristics. It also has a tight turning radius.
Ironically, In searching for a good dual sport, I went with the 2014 KLR650. I did a few mods... doohickey, upgraded fork springs, wind screen, pegs, skid plate, engine guards, and went to a 16 tooth drive sprocket for better highway riding.
I freaking love this bike. I'm a 6'5" disabled vet who used to ride a VTX 1800R, but it physically hurt so much it made riding miserable. The KLR650 is very tall, and because of that, I can ride without any.pain at all.
It had 8000 miles on it.. but runs like new. I'd recommend that bike to anyone.
Vibrator.
Got a 1998 klr650 as my first bike. This thing is incredible.
I'm 6'4" and leaning towards the KLR650.
Rode my 2015 KLR-650 on the freeway from Sacramento CA to Midland TX, only mod was a Corbin low rise seat and it did quite well.
Got a 2008 Gen 2 KLR with Corbin seat, 1” lowering links, crash protection, skid plate, Tusk panniers, Shinko 705s, heated grips...quite versatile.
Need to do the doohickey yet.
A little heavy for real off road stuff, but good for field roads and gravel. Reasonable on used market and good for old and short guys like me who want to do some easier BDR stuff.
Great video.
Thank you!
Enjoy your channel.
Love my Corbin seat!!!
Throw in the VanVan 200. I just did the extremely ruff, closed portion of the La Sal pass in UTah. I was shocked by how well the VanVan performed.
Nice work man! This is a great list for folks looking for a good, used dual sport! Also, I think there's an opportunity for Japan to deliver a DRZ400-ish dual sport with fuel injection and inverted forks (KYB please). I think a lot of folks were hoping the CRF450L was going to be that bike but Honda went a weird direction of porky European with it and that's a shame. The 250s are great but not my cup of tea. I wish someone made a modern, reliable, low maintenance 450 dual with long service intervals. The KTM 500EXC has been on my list forever but the high price and shorter service intervals keep steering me away from it.
Here are some thoughts on the bikes I've owned or ridden:
1. KLR650 - Bought one new, enjoyed it for 35k tough, beaten, offroad miles. Rock solid bike with the common upgrades but I outgrew it in a couple of years. Went looking for something with some more spunk on/off road and landed on....
2. DR650 - Bought a used one for cheap and modded the hell out of it. Like this one a lot better than the KLR once they're both similarly farkled. A DR790 with pumper carb and inverted forks would be a really nice bike had I stuck with it but the writing on the wall was there. It was still capped at around 50hp and I really wanted a fast bike again after owning a KLR as my only plated bike for years, sportbikes before that, the DR650 didn't quite scratch the "ultimate dual sport hooligan machine" itch.
3. Husqvarna 701 - I know this isn't a Japanese dual sport but, other than the clutch slave cylinder known issue, this was a rock solid machine for the 25k miles I beat on it for. I'd totally recommend a used but well loved on 690/701 for anyone looking to upgrade past the $5k mark as sort of a next step up. This bike is an absolute riot on and off road! 75hp, modern suspension and fuel injection and an absolute wheelie machine with the road manners to do hundreds of miles in a day and capable enough to take to OHV trails with the right tires and skills. Sold mine used for $7k in really good shape with a lot of nice upgrades. Well worth an extra $2k imho but maybe not for shorter and/or newer riders.
4. Bikes on your list I've ridden but not owned - XT225/250 are good, especially if you live closer to trails and forest roads. Probably wouldn't be a good BDR bike if you're looking to ride from Oregon to Arizona to ride that BDR for example. Fantastically approachable offroad! KLX250 - I like this one better than the XT225/250. The suspension is a fair bit better and a little bump in power too. Still pretty sluggish for road riding but it's a nice option for folks who want a little better suspension than the XT or CRF250L. Which brings me to the CRF250L. I get it and I don't. I think the CRF250L is a good bike to pick up used as a first dual sport and pass it along when it's no longer as interesting as it once was. Or, if you're planning on just riding forest service roads around home forever and don't want a ton of power maybe keep it and get a second bike for road stuff. TW200 is too slow for anything I like to do but I understand the appeal. XR650L isn't as interesting as the DR650 to me. Haven't had a chance to ride a WR250R yet.
Holy hell this is comprehensive and super useful. I'm gonna pin it so more people see it! Thanks, man!
2022, KLR650 back in production again and fuel injected. Can't kill a KLR. I knew there was something I liked about that bike.
Honestly used dual sport prices during covid have had their prices launched way up
EVERYTHING has jumped with covid. Trailers, food, gas. My house even jumped a hundred grand because we are out away from the busy city.
I'm a Yamaha XT250 guy, 15,000km on my 2012, lots of hwy riding + trails
I love the WR250R. I rode it while I was in the army and can confirm that despite it being "just a dual sport" it can take some serious hammering off road and keep going. Mine had been previously sunk in a swamp and all that it had to show for it was a little ticking in the upstairs while idling. The only thing I remember the maintenance chief mentioning is to check and adjust the clutch regularly cause it's prone to slipping if you "slide" it a lot.
Agreed ! One thing.. DR650 can easily be lowered to fit a wider range of people. 👍
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Great list! DRZ400S for me. Still very capable and highway worthy for short trips. Got a 2007 3k miles great condition for $2900.
Great deal there.
Nice deal wish it had a 6speed why I opted for the WR250
My choice is the Yamaha xt225. With 27,000 miles in the saddle, it's a rock solid, stable and ergonomically perfect for me.
A friend of mine said this should be renamed to "Japanese dual sports that are available "
It literally says "easy to find" in the title 😂
YOU KNOW WE ARE FANS OF THE YAMAHA TW200!!!
I dropped my brand new 2020 crf250l in a same month I bought it. Bike just fell on a side on asphalt. Simple sidestand fail. Didn't cry tho. Bike's fine.
That's what they're for! If you ain't dropping, you ain't riding!
Spoke to someone that just purchased a Yamaha TW200 that was under "5000.00" but after dealers fees, tax tile and license that $4,600.00 MSRP turned into $6,000.00. The tax, title and license was a small part of the $1,400.00 difference most were dealers markups.
400.00 is a destination charge.
That is why I think that you are crazy to buy a brand new bike from a dealership. If you do your homework there are a lot of great bikes out there that are every bit as good and sometimes better than brand new. I have seen low mileage bikes advertised that have already had a bunch of extras added by the owner that I was going to add anyway. A lot of dollars saved if you are willing to look around and don’t think that you need the “safety blanket” that a dealership can give you.
60 years experience and feel your assessment here is spot on !!
Thanks, man!
For putting around the TW200 is a master.
Agreed. If you are a solo rider i would consider as well 1.- the XR250R (1996-...) for a beginner due to its reliability and easy to repair somewhere far away from the grid and 2.- the AJP PR7 for electric start, 300mm suspension travel and light weight (not sure how it goes in US, if its street legal...). Cheers mate. ✌
XRs have a great reputation, but I think most of them are not street legal in the US.
xr650r is almost irrelevant due to them being impossible to find cheap
Only other one I can think of think of for this list would be the Royal Enfield Himalayan. Not the typical dual sport body style, but specs, capabilites, reliability, simplicity, and price all seem to be in alignment with your purposes here.
Yeah that one's more of a adv bike in my book, though it's probably technically more of a scrambler than anything. Good suggestion, though. I'm thinking a "best used adv bikes" vid might be in order.
I agree. The Royal Enfield Himalayan is a nicely equipped bike that is a great compromise for someone who isn’t sure what their road vs off road riding is going to be. It does either one relatively well while perhaps not being a bike that stars at either one either. It is a little bit heavy to throw around off road and isn’t a bike that you are going to go very long distances at 70 mph but it is still very adequate at say 60 mph and off road with good tires it will go practically anywhere and do it well.
Royal Enfield Scram 411 - new for $5k with a 3 yr warranty. 200mm clearance, 200mm suspension travel, reliable 400cc single thumper.
Bought a 2014 KLX250 with 186 miles a few months ago. I’m a happy camper
Great bike!
I kinda want a 125 honda trail for cruising near by trails without attracting too much attention.
My first bike as a 16 year old back in 1988 was a klr 250. I upgraded when it hit 95000 kms...
KLR 250. I've been riding one for 2 years know. Kick start only. But with automatic compression release it's an easy bike to kick-start. Has a 6 speed transmission and about 28 horsepower. I bought it used for about $1500 had 3500 miles on it. I put some work in it but it was stuff a dual sport rider should learn how to do anyway.
I own a 2014 Kawasaki KLX250S it is fuel injected and liquid cooled love it!
What a great vid. You answered questions i had rolling through my head.you answered things i didnt even know i needed to know. Ive been looking for a reliable duel sport. Thank you very much.
Thanks for watching!
TDUB LIFE..... but they worth way more then they should be in the PNW.... the XT225 is a really good choice for smaller riders too and it looks better then the xt250. I loved mine
Yup that's a significant omission on my part.
All excellent picks for beginner used bikes. I would be happy with any one of them. Being a beginner myself I researched all these same bikes and constantly searched classifieds for them. Ultimately I went with the CSC TT250 when deal for a XT225 fell through. Hard to beat the price even when buying new. However, I was hesitant to get something with more power then I need right off the bat but now thinking my next bike will be the DR650 as I need find myself doing more highway travel then I thought I would getting to the trails. Otherwise the TT250 is a really fun bike for what it is and it's been a blast!
A good list Dork, I wish we had better dualsport options in the UK, I'd probs have gotten a Suzuki DRZ400 if we could get them new in the UK still, but they got dropped years ago due to emissions. I am considering the Honda CRF300L as I think it (and the 250L) are more than capable motorcycles tor trails and travels, but the 300 would be above budget in the is vid. Ty Dork
Thanks for this bro !!!!!
I HIGHLY recommend staying FAR away from any bike with EFI. Absolute nightmares. Unreliable, impossible for a typical owner to work on, and the EFI parts are hellishly expensive. You can also bump start a carbureted bike if your battery is dead, not possible with EFI. I also recommend against liquid cooling. I dropped my KLR650 out in the middle of the desert, punctured a coolant hose, and all my coolant drained out. I was way out of normal cell phone range, but when I ride in places like that I carry a satellite phone. I also had a GPS unit so I knew my coordinates. I was able to call a friend and several hours later he showed up with his lifted 4 wheel drive truck. No risk of that happening with an air cooled bike.
The best large displacement dual sport is without a doubt the Suzuki DR650. Carbureted and air cooled. And as a bonus, you can get an aftermarket center stand for it for chain maintenance and for when (not IF) you have a flat tire. The best small displacement dual sport, again without a doubt, is the Yamaha XT225. Yes, the XT225, NOT the XT250. The XT225 was sold in the U.S. from 1992-2007, almost completely unchanged. It is bulletproof. Carbureted and air cooled. And only weighs 250 pounds. You can get larger aftermarket gas tanks for both these bikes.
I like the TW200, and it is still carbureted and air cooled. But as neat as that huge rear tire is, think about what you are going to do when you have a flat. The tubes are also huge, and you will need to carry a couple of them. And removing and reinstalling that big fat rear tire is an exercise in frustration. It's hard enough at home, several times harder out in the middle of nowhere.
I concur 100%.
My Bro in law bought the newer injected honda rancher to “upgrade” from his Jeep Cherokee of honda ranchers, the 2004 model.
I warned him not to get that big , over engineered seemingly by Mercedes Benz ,slug but he didn’t listen.
Wasn’t long before he had one issue after another.
I got tired of fixing the pile of crap and strongly urged him to sell it for a major loss.
I’ve messed with many bikes and I agree that a carbureted bike is so much more reliable and cheaper to fix.
The Chinese knockoff carbs are cheap and you can keep one in your gear bag as a spare if needed.
Alongside the tw200 I would have mentioned the xt225. Low seat height great beginner bike and can be had cheap.
It's a good one, for sure. It just gets kinda lumped in with the XT250 in my head. Same with the CRF230/250.
The 650s are tall and a great choice for big boned people. Minor suspension work and they really shine.
Klx450 if you can find one
TransAlp if you can find one
There is a large range of XT variants some with dual carbs😆
I'm more for Japanese bikes as well but the KTM exc up to 500 are a good option on the higher end. Closest to MX but with less maintenance intervals.
KTM640=like the other 650s mentioned but better suspension, more hp.
Honda NX250 and 650 are rare and a dual sport in street styling.
Tire options on some of the older bikes can be a pain in the arse to find.
I am sooooo happy I found my unicorn crf250l - full exhaust and efi tuner and under 400 miles for 3800!
Great find!
KLR is always high on the list, I owned a 2008 but a dual sport that no one mentioned and arguably the original first dual is the Yamaha TDR 250 which I also own and will rate as one of the best ever.
Love the TW but went with the Van Van in the end for the fuel injection
It's the same bike
I have a 1998 Yamaha XTZ 660 Tenere, love this bike goes everywhere.
I just bought a 2008 WR 250 R with 3000 original miles $3000.00 it’s one of the best bikes I’ve ever owned I just sold a mint 2003 XR 400 that was street legal but the 250 is a better all around bike with about the same power and the 6 speed you have to have the 6 speed
Great video. Thank you for this short and sweet summary. I've started to get very interested in these types of bikes. I've been riding street bikes (Yamaha VStar 1100 mainly) and have done some off-roading in a 4Runner, and this would kind of be the best of both worlds, but I've never had any experience with them and don't want to spend a lot of money.
What do you think of the Honda NX650 Dominator with a few changes to make it more suitable for off-road use, such as a new front fender, different tires, a shorter gear ratio and weight savings by changing the fairing?
Should have tossed in the BMW F650GS Dakar in with the other 650s. XR and DR are more dual sport. But the KLR is more on the ADV side along with the Dakar. Everyone should have a TW.
great video I am just frustrated trying to find a new TW200 or Suzuki Van Van. Like why is it so hard to build simple bikes.... ?
I'm looking around for fun at the moment. Found a older 1990 DR650 for $2800. It's stock but looks like new for such an old bike and only has 12k miles.
DR650 owner. Love it for how and where I ride.
I have a 1994 Suzuki dr250’s,it’s still in great shape and a lotta fun,wish it was a 350’s tho
BMW F650gs, single. The Dakar version has better suspensions.
Ended up selling my klr recently. Our trails are quite technical and steep mountain hill climbes. My skill and the bikes abilities and a short rider match was not up to our challenging terrain. Headed a lighter direction thinking dr200 or xt250 depending on what's available locally.
I still miss the little 74 DT125 I bought new. Only road it 5000 miles before a Camaro took its place. Fun bike back in the day and 2stroke with autolube made for no premixed fuel. Spent more time in Indiana gravel pits than on the road but was ok for going to school and short road trips under 60 MPH.
DRZ Mafia 😎
DRZ Broz 👊
DRZ life....
Your top 3 are reliable and parts for days.
I have a 2002 XR650 are that is street legal very nice reliable by goodby fast very fast love it though get you one of them dork and Roddy it's A rod
Loved my DR650! But waiting for a 2022 T-DUB
Great vid! I would add the older klx300r for sure!!
I have owned well over 100 bikes in my 40+ years of riding. I do a lot of buying/riding/selling. I enjoy all different style bikes, but Dualsport bikes are my favorite. For me, anything less than a 400cc/40hp shouldn’t be classified as a dualsport. Just my opinion!!
Just because it can be street legal, And can go on a gravel road IMO doesn’t make it a dualsport. Sport implies being fairly capable/ competitive. So dualsport should imply the bike is highly capable/competitive at both dirt and street.
Any 250 isn’t going to be good at crunching miles on the road, and they seemingly always give up 80% of their dirt pedigree to gain 20% better road manners. So we really end up with either a street legal dirtbike, or a street bike with knobbies.
As of now I currently have 2 “dualsport’s” a 2016 Klr650, 2019 CRF450l. Neither is what I would classify as a dualsport. However the klr would be a closer fit to that title, as I would gladly take my KLR in extreme off road terrain, way before I would set out on a road trip with the CRF450l.
I still like pulling wheelies at will, and catching some air off-road. For me, bikes that fit into this category have to be highly modded, as no bike comes from the factory a true dual-sport “imo”. Even with no expense spared as in Euro bikes, there still has to be mods to make it equally as good on and off road. On the high end Like the Ktm 690/790 . Descent off-road from the factory, but needs wind protection and a seat to be comfortable on the road. Or the Klr650 on the low end. Decent on the road but you need stuff to make it equally as good off-road. IE, springs, front and rear, fork brace, crash guards, Aftermarket tires.
Maybe I’m just odd that way. I want my dualsport to be 80% as comfortable and fun on the road as any street bike could be, likewise, I want my dualsport to be 80% as capable off-road as any dirtbike could be. And those are hard shoes to fill.
I think tons of bikes get labeled dual sports. But very few fall into that category. You have street legal dirt bikes, commuters, dualsports, adventure bikes, and adventure tourers. Everything is a compromise it seems.
I have been window shopping for quite awhile now and I tend to agree with most everything you said. I think that it would be extremely rare to find a dual sport bike that satisfies everything someone would want for both on and off road use without it having some modifications done.
I own and love my tw
Found a unicorn. 2004 drz400s with only 2k miles. Around 2k in modifications, not enough room to list everything. 2nd owner. Rich guy rode it e few times and parked it under a cover in the garage. 4 boxes full of new parts never used. Only payed 3,800. Couldn't imagine riding anything else
for me klx and drz seem to be best bang for the buck for off-road focus.. dr650 for 50/50 but more weight as well. just window shopping for now
I don't disagree.
DR650 is a great bike...once you spend some $$ on mods. I have a 2019 model. One can throw A LOT of $$ into it on necessary mods. Not so on the DRZ400. I just feel, in my opinion, the DRZ400 is superior in many aspects for trail riding.
Or a first gen Vstrom 650 they can be had for $3 grand. And can comfortably ride highway and the trails with the proper tires
I don't disagree, but I'd put the 'Strom in the Adventure bike category, personally.
You just gave me an idea for another video ;)
@@DorkintheRoad I’m in The valley if want company for that video lol!
🤣 V strom isn't a dual sport. Js.
@@motoman7445 it is how ever better than the klr 650 and the other 650’s Dork mentioned if you can only have one bike.
Other than sharing the same displacement, the DL650 V-Strom is not comparable to the klr, dr, or xrl. It lands solidly in the Adventure bike category. Not knocking it by any means as I myself own a V-Strom and love it, but it is not a dual sport.
Great Vid good info!
You asked about other bikes, if people are like me and they don’t like the uncomfortable dirtbike versions on all of the smaller ones now and if they like old-school styling, the old Honda XL series, any of them are awesome. The 74 277 XL 350s are awesome, all day wheelie power still very simple but the 70 bikes were a lot lower and had a nice big comfortable seat on it but they’re still incredibly capable and 74 and five the XL 350 was the hot dual sport bike to have. They’re definitely old school but the other thing is they’re like a TW 200 and stupid easy to ride ridiculously comfortable and you can still get them but you’re gonna have to work on it probably and it’s gotta be something you love, having more vintage type of bike. Another advantages most places let you Register them as a classic which means you buy your plate once it’s cheap and it last forever so you’re not dealing with registration with him places in California can be a huge pain.
From there you step up to say at 78 to early 80s XL 250. Kickstart bikes, it’s the one that always starts on the first or second kick is easy it’s cut a simple pumper carb and these things are bulletproof, if you keep your oil full and semi-clean and adjust your valves every 2000 miles these things go 100,000 miles they start incredibly easy all the time they’re very easy to ride they’re pretty capable for what they were and it’s a zero headache bike it’s kind of always there. The only problem with these and the 80s XL series which are some of my favorite are they’re getting rare and people love them and they’re getting pricey.
84 and up XL series bikes are amazing. You had a choice between an 70, and 80, 100, 125, 185, 200, 250, 350, 400, 500, and a 600. The 600 which I drove for a while was almost identical to an XR 650 L with a little lower seat height and suspension and even though it’s a 600 without the current emissions controls and all of that it was pretty much as fast. My favorite was the XL 350. I’m a bigger guy I’m 256 pounds and 250 is awesome but not quite enough on the hills in the sand and the 350 had just enough power to get you there it had a six speed transmission it had a disc brake in front End it wasn’t as heavy as the bigger versions. If I can get an 84 XL 350 and put an electric starter on there it would be a dream bike, as the same nice big comfy seat like the XR 650 L even a little softer, The suspension was a little bee fear than the 250, it’s not a hard-core off Roader but they’re still very capable, the XR 350 R was an amazing dirt version, the XL was similar but he had a six speed transmission with a little wider more street friendly gear range. You could drive it at 75 miles an hour on the freeway no problem, I think they went to the mid 80s, but cruising around 65 on the freeway is very doable on those with a comfortable seat you could ride them for four hours a day end it was no problem. Imagine a CRF 300 that could go 100,000 miles was very easy to service and had a nice comfortable seat and was built a lot tougher. Don’t get me wrong I get that the CRF is better technology newer is going to perform a little better but it loses that easy factor, these old XL thumpers are kind of like the XT and the TW 200 in the DR in the XR 650 L, They’re just incredibly easy to own they get Creek cast mileage they run forever the maintenance intervals are incredibly easy to deal with and they’re very easy to work on yourself and these things just go forever so you’re trading a little performance but what you’re getting is an incredibly easy bike to own, minus the electric start which I’ll give you. Yamaha XT 350 was an awesome bike as well same thing add power that would blow away an XT 250 and that wide torque thumper thing with throttle only wheelies all day long and may not be as fast on a dirt track but otherwise weird still give you more turkey power for a bigger rider than the calyx 300 or CRF 300. Which brings in the honorable mention a DR 350 S or the SE which had an electric start. That gave you the same type of 350 with the electric start in the SE version but again it’s a mechanics bike and it’s really not that bad it has some quirky things that you need to fix, there was a pin that kind of fell out that you could easily tack well do the gear they should’ve just molded it into the gear itself or you could even just smack it with a hammer and mushroom a little so it sticks and won’t come out or even to put a tack in the middle of the pan because it sits between two gears so with a tack in the middle it can’t slide anywhere and there’s one stupid bolt inside that I need some red Loctite because they tend to fall out a little easy, it’s kind of like the Doohickey on the Kahler it’s just something you do in the rear swingarm had a couple corky issues but again it was just a simple reliable thumper with a nice comfortable seat and had that great mid range power and it had the six speed which they dropped when they did the DRC 400 and made it a very uncomfortable five speed version and the DRC is good but they are 350 add a little more range in the gears and it gave you a second gear option for slow stuff tour the DRC you gotta go fast to get into second gear so you’re stuck in first gear writing technical slow stuff And it’s not horrible but the nice thing about the DR 350 wish you had a six speed you you could do a big bore kit makes it 442 a DRC 400 carburetor on there and it’s a comfortable bike it’s gonna blow away the DRC 400 but again you’re gonna have to do that yourself because Suzuki and every other Japanese manufacturer has dropped the ball they got rid of those midsize bikes and they don’t have them anymore the calyx and the CRF 300s are cool but it’s not enough it’s a good replacement for a small writer who is happy with the 250 but gives them a tiny bit more power but if you’re at 250 pounds 6 foot plus guy you’re going to get over it real quick and the 450 is cool but you’re talking $11,000 for a bike you have to completely rebuild the motor on every 20,000 miles and has some computer issues that aren’t great costume more than $3000 to fix on an $11,000 motorcycle. The other thing is if you get a 78 XL 250 or an 83 XL 350 are you and the new XR 650 L those bikes are going to be here in 30 years, people aren’t gonna want to pay $4000 to fix a computer than a mouse gnawed on because it sat in the garage for a few years, on these old bikes he just put some butt connectors on and fix the wires and you’re good to go for another 40 years. So the durability factor the use of ownership cost of ownership the ease of working on the bikes, that makes these older options still viable in my opinion and with all those mid range options like the XL 350 DR 350 and XT 350 kind of pushing that DRZ 400 performance with a very easy very comfortable bike with a much easier riding position end for lotta people that’s an option if you’re willing to own an older bike like that. For me none of these options are really all that good anymore they’re all uncomfortable they’re all dirt bikes went down for the road with very uncomfortable seats and Electronic stuff is cute but it’s just more stuff to break and if you’re gonna be riding these off road you’re gonna be giving them a pounding that stuff doesn’t hold up that long, you’re not going to see a lot of CRF 300 and 450L around in 20 or 30 years, another vantage of these old bikes is if you can get one it’s kind of dirty neglected pull the carpet part clean it up, you can drive the thing for a few years and make all your money back and then some because everybody wants them now which makes them a little harder to fine but they’re still out there but I need old bikes with her it’s the 75 or late 70s or the 80s Honda XL‘s, you can sell these things really really quick and if it’s clean and in decent shape people are gonna be bugging you every time they see you wanting to buy it from you, So in a way it’s almost free because you can buy it put 5000 miles on the thing and turn around and sell it for what you paid for it as long as you’re not trashing it. They were just built different. An 8485 XL 350 or 600 or 250 or 500, everybody wants these you can literally put 100,000 miles on these things I’ve seen an XL with 140,000 miles on it the only thing I’ve ever done was changed out the timing chain and minor easy stuff. They’re not perfect but if you’re willing to deal with these older bikes they’re just built better and you can still find parts for the Hondas especially and they just made the last forever. Park a CRF 450 or 300 in your garage and a mouse moved in for a year or so, good luck on trying to fix that thing for less than three or four grand on an XR 650 L, He pressure wash it and if the mouse chewed through wires he cut a couple and throw some butt connectors on there and you’re good to go maybe clean the carb if they left fuel in it, good luck on these computers when a mouse chews on the wires and pees on it if you price them you’re talking like three grand to replace them it’s ridiculous. Fuel injection is cool but clean and carburetor is not any harder than pulling apart you feel injection system and throwing on new injectors and injectors clog up just as easily so it’s really not that much of an advantage unless you’re just scared of carburetors.
Oooooo ... The klr got some love . You did that just for me didn't you 😂
You know I did.
Definitely endorse the Dr650 or Xr650. The DR is a great bike but really needs the mods.
I suggest for 90kph/55mph road traveling over modest distances to get to gravel/trail riding - any of the carby Japanese 250s will do a good job for most people with limited cash and good value for money.
I bought a 14 year old DR200 for $1600. Sold it 2 yrs later for $1800. It had 7600 miles and I put more than half of them on. Bike is kind of crap in every performance way but it was perfect for a small guy to learn on.
Another option is the Kawasaki version of the DR-Z400 rebadged as the KLX400. Hard to find, but can be had for a good price. Parts are interchangeable with the DR-Z.
Don’t forget the xt225, predecessor to the xt250.
A trail riding legend!
All those bikes are pretty old designs, with a couple exceptions like the Wr but even that is heavy. Really all these are much more street oriented than what I consider a dual sport.
Love my 2003 KLX400SR which is pretty much a DRZ400S. Great bikes!!!
The pre 2007 BMW f650gs / Dakar are missing from this list! Solid bikes! Absolute bomb reliability, more character and performance than the klr!
Yes the BMW gs 650 it's a very good bike ... but the list of the choice of this guys it's easy To find and under 5000 $ 😉😂😂😂
I am curious if the BMW is more expensive when it comes to buying parts as compared to the Japanese bikes. I’ve heard that their street bikes are that way thus I’m guessing that it’s the same thing with their dual sport bikes.
@@yanpelletier2679 well, I see a bunch for sale every year and I live in a medium town in Canada... I'd say fairly common, and mostly around 4000$cad with luggage and everything!
@@richardwestmoreland4796 OEM is expensive, but there is some fairly affordable aftermarket. Still a bit more expensive than a Japanese, but really reliable so it does not make that big of a difference.
thnx for the info! here in the next few months i would like to get a 650
DR350 you can get them for 1500-2000
30hp, low maintenance, air cooled (less stuff can break). I'd say it's very similar to the DRZ. Only less power.
Good job man, but my favorit in this range is the 650 Dominator !.
My TW200 Looks funny setting between my CR500 and my Beta 300 super smooth.
Greetings,
As always another fantastic detailed video 🇺🇸🍾🎉🇺🇸.
Would you provide me with the seat concepts discount code.
Thank so much for assisting me.
Keep producing more videos.
I like my '04 DRZ 400s a lot, in fact would probably buy another.
Just got a brand new 2023 Dr-z400s (Black) $7700.00 OTD. Love it
Great info what about a Yamaha xt350 I think they're good bikes
DUAL SPROT? I SAW SMALL DIRT BIKES MY FRIEND. THUMBS UP!
Thanks for the video. I found a 2017 KLR650 adventure for $5,250 it has 13,646 miles on it and it looks really good is that to much money for the miles?
What dirt bike should I get my little nephew he Is interested in riding with me I have a drz and he wants to join I was thinking dr125 crf110 Rmz85 kx100 ttr125 or mabey even a quad can you guys tell me what would be best for a younger rider
kx100
I have picked up a 1986 Yamaha xt 350 and a 600 they are awesome bikes that are still going strong to this day but the parts for these bikes is getting so hard to find now
drz is so good it needed to be in the thumbnail twice
That's a DR650 😉
@@DorkintheRoad ahh yep! 😄
Love my tw200
Doesn't matter what color your bike is or what badge comes on it, as long as it's got two wheels and you ride it 🤙 tdubs FTW though
Well said!
You need to show the KTM 350excf some love. It is a great bike totally rips off road and handles pavement just fine. My DR is fun but only ok in the single track. The KTM has 180 hours it has only wanted fresh oil and a few tires. Ride it like grandma and you can stretch the oil, ring its neck and ride the clutch and your into an oil change every 15 hours .
$$$$
@@ckkrons2338 upfront I agree but one broken ankle later and I am a huge fan of buy once cry once and skip the physical therapy for the next 22 weeks.
2018 my wife and I thought it would be fun to have street legal dirt bikes ( we live 10 miles from amazing single track) I got the KTM 350 she got a small starter bike on this list, she put on 1000 miles on and off road when we hit some wooped out gravel road and broke her ankle after the bike out ran its suspension. The KTM didn't even notice the woops because of the amazing suspension. Since it has cost me $13,000 the price of a RZR trail. Because she doesn't want to hang out with the surgeon again.
@@tysleight no question the EXCs are excellent but 2x the cost of DRs and DRZs. Suspension mods on the Zukis won't make them as good, but not $5k and you'll still have less maintenance.
@@ckkrons2338 not sure who your getting your bikes from but your either getting ripped off on a KTM or buying stolen a Suzuki.🙂
Awesome Another great video
Found a used tw 55 miles on it. Took a year
I'll get flamed, but the RPS Hawk 250. Yup the same bike that Motocheeze buys from drop shippers.
Hear me out: I bought used a 2007 Lifan 200GY for $600 from an owner that has put of over 68K on his. My bike has a new, used 230cc replacement Lifan, with a little over 4K now. His older balance shaft engine is now powering an ATV. These engines are basically the same engine that is made for use all over the world, especially less than developed countries. OHV, 230 cc Honda clone that makes a little over 16 h.p. . yeah it's carbed, but it gets about 80 MPG and has a very tractable, wide torque spread. They're light, (319#) have a 2.8 gallon fuel tank, 150 watt alternator that can handle 55 watt H4 bulbs and uses many wear parts made for Japanese DS bikes. Inverted forks, 3 link Honda type rear suspension with zerks on all pivots, kick and E-start. The bike can even be run without it's battery as the regulator/ AC lighting control module will rectify and run all the DC electrics despite a minor amount of flicker.
Awesome I’m a beginner and looking for a dual sport thank you for this
Have you tried your girlfriend?
@@stephenloflin4772 lol wut
@@stephenloflin4772 haha aw got it. Nice one
Intro alone got my subscription!
I sold my DR650 in 2019. Bought in 2007. I was looking at other bikes and saw that same bike new and it was just that...the EXACT same bike. It looks like Suzuki hasn't made a single change in a decade. That's not necessarily a bad thing but jus sayin'. Also, if you're looking for performance, you'll want to mod out the exhaust, re-jet the carb, and maybe replace the air cleaner. Served me well street and dirt for 12 years.
I had a '99 DR650; pretty much the same bike as today, so they haven't changed in what, 24 years....?
Along with the KLR 650 you also can't kill an XR400 or XR650. I've had both but in the R model, XR400R plated, and XR650R plated. I tried as hard as possible to kill the XR400R by desert racing it and just could not. The XR650R was set up for Baja and still plated. Two bikes that I miss to this day and always on the hunt for.
Found my 06 KLR at 16k mi for 2300 In portland. I think another 650 is the YH 650 enduro is another good choice if one can find it
Thanks for the suggestion. Not sure I've heard of that one before.
Klx400 same as a drz400
Klx650 yes they are rare but the best dual sport bikes one could ask for
I VERY love those "old true" Japanese motorcycle-style from 90s, like Honda XL250 Degree - which I was owned 3 years, but had to leave because of the war in Ukraine(( ...I dream to by something like that!
I'm new to your channel. I was telling my son who has his game channel. How I would like a motorcycle channel that started with excitebike. An then there you are. And in the back drop there's a look alike Nintendo border for you channel. How cool.😎. I am looking into Adventure bikes.
Personally I would never buy a used DS since they cost almost the same as new ones where I live but I guess it might makes sense in some places.
I don't buy used Toyotas for the same reason. It's crazy what they go for around here. I've bought two new trucks for barely more than the ones a few years old were going for.
@@DorkintheRoad Funny you say that - that's why I bought my Tacoma new in 2015. Four years later they offered me what I paid for it to buy it back but I decided to keep it.
I reckon a proper adventure on motorbike across the globe would be Honda c90 or a kawasaki kh125