I'm looking into buying a dual sport bike. Or basically a dirtbike that is street legal. I'm basically looking for a good beginner bike. Now I have ridden motorcycles before. I also raced BMX for years and mountain bike. So I understand the basics.
But now I'm wanting something I can take down trails and commute to work.
So what are some of your opinions of certain enduro bikes.
There are 2 I have been looking at and I'm considering buying.
1 is a Suzuki 350 dual sport. It is a 4stroke. Going for $2,000 from a dealership
2 is a KTM 400. It is a 1995 model. A 4stroke also $2,800 from a dealership.
I'm also open to other dual sports. But I need some information on them.
How fast do the models I mentioned go? I'd be happy with 60-70mph. I don't plan on taking the interstate with it but would like to reach those speeds every now and then.
Also how well do these bikes handle on the road. I'm not looking to compete in the Isle of Man.
Sorry if my questions are weird and abstract but I need as much information as possible.
Dual Sport Bikes
I am a new rider, but I can offer you some input as I recently had the same decision to make.
I ended up going with a 1992 Kawasaki KLR 250. Got it for $800 with 10,000 miles, in good condition. There is a pic in my last post a bit down the page. However, most used dual sports in my area are around the $2,000 mark.
My bike seems to top out around 65 mph. However, at this speed the engine is really screaming and the RPM's are high. With this in mind, you will probably be better off with a bigger engine.
I hear really good things about the 350cc Suzukis. That would be my recommendation. Paying another $800 for a 1995 KTM wouldn't make much sense. Plus, a 400 is pretty huge IMO as far as these bikes go. 350 should be all you need if you don't ride major highways or interstates daily.
As far as handling, I heard a lot of people tell me they suck on the streets, mainly due to the knobby tires, but I haven't found that to be the case. My bike handles great and I am very glad I went with a dual sport. It's lighter, more agile, and just a lot of fun to bang around on. Plus I can hit the trails whenever I please.
You could always throw on street tires if you wanted or a less aggressive tread design.
I ended up going with a 1992 Kawasaki KLR 250. Got it for $800 with 10,000 miles, in good condition. There is a pic in my last post a bit down the page. However, most used dual sports in my area are around the $2,000 mark.
My bike seems to top out around 65 mph. However, at this speed the engine is really screaming and the RPM's are high. With this in mind, you will probably be better off with a bigger engine.
I hear really good things about the 350cc Suzukis. That would be my recommendation. Paying another $800 for a 1995 KTM wouldn't make much sense. Plus, a 400 is pretty huge IMO as far as these bikes go. 350 should be all you need if you don't ride major highways or interstates daily.
As far as handling, I heard a lot of people tell me they suck on the streets, mainly due to the knobby tires, but I haven't found that to be the case. My bike handles great and I am very glad I went with a dual sport. It's lighter, more agile, and just a lot of fun to bang around on. Plus I can hit the trails whenever I please.
You could always throw on street tires if you wanted or a less aggressive tread design.
Last edited by stargate on Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Atlantasmitty
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Thanks for the help. I spoke with one of my friends and he said a 350 probably wouldn't be enough if it is a single overhead cam. But with the newer models coming out with dual overhead cam a 350 would be.
I'm not sure how much validity there is to this.
I'm not sure how much validity there is to this.
My Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/smittie61984
on the duel sports
It's been a while since I rode a duel sport (12 years go be exact) and my last one was a 1986 Honda XL 250R. It would run 90 miles per hour flat out. And it got 80+ miles per gallon if I kept it at legal speed for a long country trip. I rode a lot of fire road trails with it and enjoyed that bike tremendously. I did take a few spills on it and most were going up really steep hills. Oddly to me the mfg.'s offset the bike with 21" front wheels and 17" rears, so any hill is that much steeper going up! But this bike would pull me at 200 pounds up anything it could hold traction on and was a blast to own. Wish I still had it.
My dual sport Kawasaki is 14 years old and has a dual overhead cam.Atlantasmitty wrote:Thanks for the help. I spoke with one of my friends and he said a 350 probably wouldn't be enough if it is a single overhead cam. But with the newer models coming out with dual overhead cam a 350 would be.
I'm not sure how much validity there is to this.
My Honda had duel cams too (4 valves)(and twin carbs) ...it had 27 HP as well. I can only imagine they've improved on that somewhat; but like I said previously, mine was an '86 model and that's kinda ancient now.
The carbs acted like a spread bore or a Quadrajet on a car. It used the one at low throttle and when you cranked on it, the 2nd one opened up for a tremendous boost of adrenalin like power. Good design I believe.
The carbs acted like a spread bore or a Quadrajet on a car. It used the one at low throttle and when you cranked on it, the 2nd one opened up for a tremendous boost of adrenalin like power. Good design I believe.