Dual Sport

[FJR1300Jeff]

Its been a while since I rode offroad, but I used to love dirt biking. Mainly CR250's.

I'm looking for a mainly off road bike but I don't want to deal with trailering the bike to and from the trails. I need a dual sport that I start in the garage ride to the trails and back home.

I may need to ride twenty or so miles of highway.....Any suggestions??

Its been a while since I looked at the new dual sports any good ones out there? I'm looking to keep the cost low, so maybe an older model would be good also.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[FJRocket]

Jeff, I just went through the same process. Started looking at a KLR650. Terrific road bike, so I've heard, but not so hot in the dirt. If it dumps, you're looking at a BIG job. Too big for me.

Next I contemplated a DRZ400. Was looking for an E that was streeted. Performance of a dirt bike, with aftermarket lights. Looked at two very hard and ended up getting pimped in both deals. Probably just as well. These bikes aren't described as the most nimble steads out there, but they are cushy and a good bike to "retrain" on. Sounds like you might be beyond that, but it just depends on what you want. The S model is set up more for the street and I think are green tagged for California.

I finally ended up with.... a YAMAHA. I found a rather pristine 2005 WR250F that had already been street legal and plated from the get go. I'm a short guy (was going to say small, but I weigh 200) so a littler bike seemed the thing for me, especially when you factor in that I have not ridden offroad for 20 years. I purchased a spare pair of wheels set up for the dirt with the bike. So I have the complete setup of DOT tires for the street and Excel rims and Millville knobbies for the dirt. Even have mounted sprockets and rotors, the dirt setup having a more "dirt ratio". SWEET!

I think the WR250F is plenty for me. However, if I get used to it, I may move up to a WR450F. Essentially the same bike with monster, pull your arms out of the socket power.

All of these bikes used are in relatively the same price range depending on year and setup. I think you can get a bunch of bike for between 3 and four grand.

Go to the usual dirt/thumper forums (I found my bike and spend most time on ThumperTalk.com) and gather info. Now is the time to buy in this area. Everyone is shutting down for the winter. Kind of a buyers market, if you find what you want.

There's a dual sported 2003 KTM 450EXC for sale in my town. It's been road pretty hard, but it has all the doodads, and a plate. Owned bythe KTM dealership owner, it's sitting on his showroom floor, next to a real ratty but plated 2001 DRZ400E. Fairly easy to get just about anything streeted here in Indiana. The DRZ could probably be had for under 2 grand (maybe WAY under), and the KTM is about 3800 asking.

The guy I bought my bike from has a brand new Honda 450F of some sort. Not a true dual purpose bike, but he again got it streeted. It's a really sweet machine, but I understand that the bike may be kind of older technology. I can't imagine that any of them are all THAT different. But that Honda had a REALLY sweet note. New 2005 model. Very nice.

Heck, you can farkle them just as much as an FJR to suit your needs. I just picked up my bike yesterday, and I already reset the sag and lowered the forks. That's just for starters!

It just depends on what you want...

 

[markjenn]

I just picked up a 2006 DRZ400S. Love it. Very friendly, comfortable, Okay performance (that can be upp'ed considerably with a few mnor mods), not too heavy, etc. I don't think there is a better casual trailbike. I sold a KTM 300 which was a heck of an enduro bike, but I never was good enough to tap even a fraction of it's potential. The DRZ is a lot more my style and I although I don't ride that much to the dirt, it is very nice to have a street-legal bike to explore with. And there is a ton of aftermarket support for the DRZ.

Now you can go a lot more serious with plated dirt-only bike, but you're doing enough street work that I'd be hesitant. Sure, you give up a little dirt-capability with the DRZ vs. say, a CRF250X, but many of these true-dirt bikes don't like to do big street miles, what with their lack of cush hubs and very short engine maintenance and rebuild intervals. And how hard are you really going to push when you're 20 miles from home rather than 2 miles from your truck? Dual-sporting works best as a casual trail-riding, exploration activity, rather than hair on fire, jump to the moon sort of thing. If you want to ride the dirt at serious speed, you need to trailer.

I may pick up a 17-inch front wheel package for my DRZ and do a little SM work too. Very versatile bike.

- Mark

 

[LiquidSilver]

I've had to do some highway miles on my WR450 after getting lost at Enduros. Just remember, even though it's a monster in the woods, it still gets pretty out of breath on the highway.

 

[donaldb]

BMW F650GS light and easy to ride and tons of power. My neighbor has one, that bike is a blast to ride and you can pick up a used one at a reasonable price. B)

 

[FJR1300Jeff]

Thanks for the replies.....

The Suzuki DRZ 400E looks perfect for me. Anyone know how to get the invoice price on bikes...I can't seem to pull it up like I can for buying a car.

Thanks

 

[mbottoms]

I vote for the Yamie WR450.

I agree it doesn't have the power for the super slab, 20 or so miles would be no problem.

I have been riding an older MX version, 98 YZF400, for 4 years in the TSCEC Enduro Circuit and I Love my Yamie!!!!

Mark

 

[FJRocket]

I don't own one, and have never ridden one, but everything I read about the WR450F is that it does in deed kick ***. It's more bike than I need. For now

Does D&H in Alabama sell Suzuki? Call them and ask them for "the FJR price" on the DR (or even the WR450F, which may be just as good for the money, and a hell of a lot more motorcycle, IF you can plate it). Then you'll know what you could buy a new one for.

I'm a newbie. Well, I haven't ridden dirt for 20 years, so I'm starting small. I think the 250 that I have is about the same caliber as the DRZ400E. Maybe not, but power to weight may be about the same. That DRZ is probably a decent choice, and it's better to street the E model than trick the S model.

Did you say you were in Florida? Is it true that you can't "street" a dirt bike there? The problem would be if your title says OFF ROAD ONLY, you may be up the crick.

Here in Indiana, you have to have a headlight and a taillight/brakelight. Nothing else. I got my plates today. They didn't even blink. Gave me plates and took my money. HAH! SWEET! I'm ready for the dirt! (mud today. I think we got something like 10 inches of rain...)

 

[crewof1]

Does D&H in Alabama sell Suzuki?

I am 90% certain that D&H only sells Yamaha and Kawasaki - I do know (per Jerold) that they will offer discount prices for any bike they sell, and that they sell a lot of KLR650's.

 

[designeraccd]

How about the just unvieled Aprilia 450/550 VTWINS? Availible as off road or Super Moto versions...typical Eyetalalyunn SEXY! My Suzook SM would probably go to get one except, fortunately for my wallet, no Aprilla dealer for a hundred miles or more. Still, from the pics, a really intrigueing lil bike, probably with a BIG pricetag to complement its extremely compact V twin!. DFO <_<

 

[GA CYCLE RIDER]

D&H is the place if you want a klr650. Recently purchased a new 06 from them. 4699.00 No addl fees of any kind. Well worth the 3 hour drive from Atlanta. Only problem is availability. They sell very qiuckly so putting a deposit up, gets you in line. The Klr is a good all around bike. It doesnt do anything great but will go just about anywhere. Its cheap as a wore out mop and has huge aftermarket parts and accesories support. Plus not to mention that they are just about bullit proof. Even the marines use a very slightly modified version of the bike in combat. The military bike has a upgraded shock, a different gas tank and some heavier duty rims. otherwise its pretty much the same. just think, one day you might see a marine coming over some hill in the middle east with that rag head Osama strapped across the back seat of his kawy. That would be cool.

 

[markjenn]

The KLR is a great bike, but it's definitely not a "mainly off-road dirt bike" as was requested by the original poster. The F650 is even less suitable for dirt-riding.

Actually Kawasaki has a new KLX250S that does appear to be a legitimate street-legal dirt bike, and since it's made by Kawasaki, presumably it would be available at a good price from D&H. And it's list price is only $4700.

- Mark

 

[lomaxcm]

I have a KLR650 and say that you should really ride one before deciding. For that matter ride everything and then make up your mind. The KLR is great on the road and I have not had any problems off road with it. I would call it a true 50/50 bike. Yes it is larger and heavier than the real dirt bikes. I also have a street legal KTM 300EXC and would consider it a 5/95 bike. It is not fun on the road at all but dances through the trees. I would assume that other MX based bikes like YZ,WR,KX, etc. would be about in this classification. I have never ridden one but hear that the DRZ400 is a good 20/80 bike.

You can get used bike values here.

https://www.nadaguides.com/MCHome.aspx?LI=1...wPr=0&wPg=2003&

Good luck and report back to us.

Marc

 

[weekend rider]

Honda 450f the only way to go

weekend rider

 

[AZJW]

I may pick up a 17-inch front wheel package for my DRZ and do a little SM work too.  Very versatile bike.
- Mark

Do it MarkJenn! I've got an 02' DRZ400S that I convert from dual sport to SM on a regular basis. What a blast on a track with the 17" wheels and Dunlop 208s. After years of trying on a CBR600F4i to get a knee down, mission finally accomplished on my DRZ, at stock suspension settings no less! In the final analysis, even though the DRZ is MUCH taller than the CBR, I've always been more comfortable on dirt bikes and the DRZ is a lot lighter to throw around. Check with https://store.eastcoastwheels.com/completewheels1.html for a good selection and pricing. I went with an adapter for the stock front caliper and added a 320mm rotor for sport bike type stopping power. Really hauls the thing down from near triple digit track speeds in a hurry. Have fun with it!

 

[markjenn]

Do you have a cookbook for what I'd need to make this happen? I wonder if it might be cheaper just to buy the SM parts,

- Mark