dual sport capabilities?

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#1 Unread post by **Jamers!** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 7:01 pm

Hey all, im looking at getting a dual sport as my next bike. MY biggest question really is how capable they are. IM looking at all models sorry i cant narrow it down yet. Which are the most rounded, best value, most street/dirt worthy? The yamaha xt225 appeals to me but do does the DRZ series, are the bigger engines worth it or should i stick to the 250-400 range? Thanks all

JWF

Sat Jun 24, 2006 7:15 pm

I'm a fan of the XR650L myself. Others like the KLR650 as well. As far as i can tell, if you want a road bike with offroad capabilities, get the KLR650. If you want a dirtbike with road-going capabilities, get the XR650L. The XT225 felt REALLY small, no bigger than my XR200R (maybe smaller) where the KLR250 is close in size to the KLR650.

#3 Unread post by **Jamers!** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 7:25 pm

GeoffEX650R wrote:I'm a fan of the XR650L myself. Others like the KLR650 as well. As far as i can tell, if you want a road bike with offroad capabilities, get the KLR650. If you want a dirtbike with road-going capabilities, get the XR650L. The XT225 felt REALLY small, no bigger than my XR200R (maybe smaller) where the KLR250 is close in size to the KLR650.

how do the smaller engines hold up to highway speeds, they do as fine as the 250 street engines do or what?

JWF

MotoF150 · #4 Unread post by **MotoF150** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:07 pm

The BEST dual sport is the Suzuki DRZ400S, it will go 90 mph as a road bike, plus perform off road as good as any motocrosser. The Kawasaki and Suzuki 650 is better suited as a street bike, and the Honda 650 is better suited as a off road bike, its geared low. The Suzuki DRZ400S has the best balance of both types of riding, a great street and dirt bike performance. The Kawasaki 650 has a big oversized gas tank if you fill it up it makes the bike too top heavy and hard to handle, the Honda 650 is geared low and it will scream at speeds above 55 mph, the Suzuki 650 is a great street bike, but it stinks off road. Go with the Suzuki DRZ400S its the best its easy to ride and handle, the power for a 400cc will surprize you, light weight, if you dump it you can pick it up yourself, suppose ur out riding all alone and you dump ur bike, who will help you pick up ur bike? The DRZ400 is light enough that a woman can pick it up.

BuzZz · #5 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:33 am

MotoF150 wrote:The BEST dual sport is the Suzuki DRZ400S, it will go 90 mph as a road bike, plus perform off road as good as any motocrosser.....

This is proof that Moto rides like a girl.

The DRZ is a good choice, and is a decent trailbike. But it is no way, shape or form a Motocrosser. Damper rod forks and non-adjustable suspension were run off the track 20 years ago.

That said, the Suzuki is a good pick. I would also look at the KTMs. Wonderful motors and modern suspension capable of honest off-raod work. Still gonna get it's azz handed to it by an MXer in the dirt, but not so badly as the other bikes listed. And you do pay for that quality stuff....

MotoF150 · #6 Unread post by **MotoF150** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:56 am

Mr Buzz he's looking for a street legal dual sport bike, KTM only makes a 950 that costs $12K, maybe you should read the question he asks before you insert ur foot in ur mouth

Sun Jun 25, 2006 12:21 pm

actually KTM makes a 620's and 640s that are street legal, they just aint available in the USA.

KTM 640LC4

Gadjet · #8 Unread post by **Gadjet** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 12:22 pm

MotoF150 wrote:Mr Buzz he's looking for a street legal dual sport bike, KTM only makes a 950 that costs $12K, maybe you should read the question he asks before you insert ur foot in ur mouth

Guess you've never seen KTM's 525 or 640 then

MotoF150 · #9 Unread post by **MotoF150** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:01 pm

no I have never seen a street legal KTM, the only street legal KTM thats legal in the U.S. is the 950 that costs $12K, and I don't think anybody wants to spend that much for a street legal dirt bike.

Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:15 pm

MotoF150 wrote:no I have never seen a street legal KTM, the only street legal KTM thats legal in the U.S. is the 950 that costs $12K, and I don't think anybody wants to spend that much for a street legal dirt bike.

weird, my old boss has a ktm 525 on the road!

And another thing, living in CA the deserts aren't that far from you. Nothing beats baja blasting like a big bore dirt bike (XR650R

) and the XR650L is just an older R with a light kit. Long suspension travel, tons of power to really get your "O Ring" into gear, and best of all, ride it from the dunes to the road. Moto IS right about the big "O Ring" gas tank on the KLR, but for the wrong reason. It's wider than the XR, so it'll be a bit trickier fitting between narrow spaces on a trail.

Word of advice, dual sport tires don't do road OR off-road riding as well as a dedicated road or off road tire. If you DO want the KLR and DO plan on going offroad, you might want to look into getting something more aggressive for tires than come OEM. At least this is what i gather from comparing the pics of the XR vs the KLR. I believe i read a post of Gadjet's (back in the WhyteGryphon days) of him commenting about how squirrely the "O Ring" end got when he took it off-road once, i THINK into either deep sand or some mud. But, i could be totally mistaken and making "poo poo" up.