Dual-sport motorcycles are designed to do two things at once. They must be comfortable and approachable enough to be a daily driver on weekdays while being capable enough to handle serious off-roading on weekends. That split-personality character adds a layer of demand from these bikes: reliability.
If a motorcycle is going to see packed city streets every day, it will need to be dependable enough not to leave you stranded on the side of the road. At the same time, it should handle all the abuse off-road trails throw at it, including drops, jumps, and rough terrain. Fortunately, there are some dual sports that offer versatility without compromising reliability.
10
Honda XR150L
Starting MSRP: $3,399
The Honda XR150L is the cheapest dual sport you can buy in the US, but don’t let its small price fool you. This one is big on delivery. It features a humble 12-horsepower single-cylinder engine, a low seat height, and a lightweight build, which makes it a capable off-roader and commuter.
It’s a workhorse that has, over the years, proven itself as a workhorse in some of the worst road conditions in the world before making it to the States. It can handle anything the road throws at it, and it’s simple enough for nothing to go wrong. Even if something does go wrong, it should be very cheap to fix.
9
Yamaha WR125R
Starting MSRP: $3,999
The pint-sized dual sport segment is growing, and the Yamaha WR125R is the latest addition. It is the automaker’s first new dual sport in almost two decades, and it features the tried-and-tested 125cc single-cylinder from the YZF-R125 and MT 125. This engine has earned a reputation for its reliability, and it should translate to a stress-free ownership for the WR125R, too.
With 14.4 horsepower, it may not feel like much, but it’s only four ponies shy of the Kawasaki KLX230 sold in the US. It uses a semi-double cradle frame paired with KYB suspension, 21/18-inch wheel setup, and high ground clearance. This makes the WR125R one of the most approachable starter dual sports you can buy today.
8
Yamaha TW200
Starting MSRP: $4,999
The Yamaha TW200 is not for everyone; it swaps out tall, thin tires for chunky rubber, a tall seat height for a low one, and focuses on making off-roading easy for everyone. It’s essentially a farm tool that is also very good at commuting and off-roading for absolute beginners who want to explore without caring about the off-roading sport.
This old-school dual sport’s simplicity also translates to bulletproof reliability. It’s been around for a long time, and it’s powered by a simple single-cylinder engine that has little to go wrong. The only issue with this bike is its starting price; at $5k, it’s not the most bang for buck dual sport you can buy today.
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7
Kawasaki KLX230
Starting MSRP: $5,199
We say the TW200 isn’t bang for the buck because spending just a couple of hundred dollars more gets you a real dual sport: the Kawasaki KLX230. This KLX means business, featuring a high-end perimeter frame with a linkage rear shock and under 300 pounds of curb weight.
It’s powered by a simple single-cylinder engine that makes 17 horsepower; the sixth gear allows you to hold higher speeds, too. Kawasaki also offers the KLX230 in two other variants: the Sherpa S, which features a lower seat height of just 32.5 inches, and the DF, which is a more dirt-focused dual sport.
6
Kawasaki KLX300
Starting MSRP: $5,649
The Kawasaki KLX300 is vying with the KLX230’s yang; it swaps out the perimeter frame for a simpler double-cradle chassis. Don’t get us wrong, the KLX300 is a higher-performing dual sport of the two, and it’s designed for aggressive trail riding. It still features long travel suspension and sits 11 inches off the ground for some serious off-roading.
Another aspect where the KLX300 is different is its modern 292cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that makes more power and torque than the KLX230’s unit. With the sixth gear, it should also handle a bit of highway riding. Being a KLX, it has gained a reputation for being stress-free to own, even for serious off-roaders.
5
Honda CRF300L
Starting MSRP: $5,749
The Honda CRF300L is another beginner-level dual sport that’s designed to handle everything from city streets to off-road trails, giving you the freedom to explore as well as commute. It features a liquid-cooled engine that focuses on low- to mid-range torque, and being an evolution from the CRF250L, it has maintained a reputation for low maintenance and reliability.
The standard CRF300L features long-travel suspension and 21/18-inch wheels to tackle serious off-roading. Honda also offers this workhorse in a more approachable package, with the CRF300LS, which features a low seat height. And if you plan to travel more than commute, you can even go for the CRF300L Rally, which is designed for long-distance adventures.
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4
Honda XR650L
Starting MSRP: $6,999
Spend $7k, and you can get yourself an old-school Japanese 650cc dual sport that’s about as reliable as any modern motorcycle can get today. It starts with the Honda XR650L, which focuses on technical off-roading. Among the three 650cc dual sports from Japan, the XR650 is the most serious, offering the highest ground clearance, decent power, and plenty of suspension travel.
The XR650L is also virtually unchanged since the 90s, and has earned a reputation for its bulletproof reliability. It lacks any of the modern features that make bikes complicated, while the thumper engine works as long as you feed it good-quality oil as per the owner’s manual. It’s no wonder that many owners call this bike indestructible.
3
Kawasaki KLR650
Starting MSRP: $6,999
The Kawasaki KLR650 sits on the other end of the 650cc dual sport spectrum, bridging the gap between dual sports and adventure bikes. With a fairing that should offer decent wind protection, the KLR650 is ideal for those looking for an old-school thumper for long-distance adventures.
Where the KLR650 actually shines is in its reliable character. It’s an old bike refined over the years with fuel injection and ABS, and owners often refer to it as the most reliable bike you can buy today. Forums are full of people praising the KLR650 for surviving everything from serious drops to even taking a small dip in water.
2
Suzuki DR650S
Starting MSRP: $7,299
The XR650L is all about serious off-roading, whereas the KLR650 is about comfortable travel; the Suzuki DR650S sits somewhere in the middle as the balanced option. It can do both technical off-roading and travel while still being more approachable than the XR and lighter than the KLR.
This bike has been in production for over three decades, and Suzuki hasn’t updated this bike much; it doesn’t need to. Why fix what isn’t broken? It just works. Suzuki is known for over-engineering its bikes when it comes to reliability, and no other bike shows that better than the DR650S.
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1
Suzuki DR-Z4S
Starting MSRP: $8,999
The Suzuki DR-Z4S is an important dual sport motorcycle for the Japanese manufacturer, and it’s recently gotten its first extensive update in over 23 years. This update brings the legendary dual sport model into modern times, complete with a new single-cylinder engine with fuel injection and ride-by-wire throttle, housed in a brand-new steel perimeter frame.
The bike also sits on fully adjustable KYB suspension with over 11 inches of wheel travel on either end, and it weighs under 350 pounds. And bring a Suzuki DR, you can bet it will survive years of off-road abuse without a hiccup. But it’s not perfect; it’s tall, expensive, and lacks a sixth gear. If you can live with that, there’s hardly a better dual sport out there.
Source: Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha