With so many riders all over the world discovering the joys – and challenges – of off-road riding, the dual-sport segment that once seemed to be on life support is currently experiencing something of a mini revival. For the first time in what felt like decades, we got a series of new, affordable dual-sport bikes, all catering to different-level riders and their respective needs. While these modern bikes certainly offer more options, some of the old bikes that have been there forever still have a lot to offer, too.
The great thing about all these sub-$10k dual-sport bikes is that they can go anywhere, and can also appeal to any level rider. You also don’t expressly need to buy one of the latest bikes. Dual-sports are incredibly durable machines, and an older used bike is not a bad option at all. Several riders discover that they have no interest in riding off-road and are willing to let these bikes go, but for others, it might be the bike they’ll keep forever.
Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research and proceed with caution.
Most Dual-Sport Bikes Are Worth Keeping
An affordable used dual-sport is a great place for any new rider to start, most especially riders that have an interest in off-road riding. These bikes offer new riders a way to hone their on-road and off-road riding skills without the fear of dropping a new bike and damaging it. Older dual-sports will already have their fair share of battle scars. The Kawasaki KLX300 has been around for a few years, and getting a used model will potentially save a couple of thousand dollars. The same can be said for the Honda CRF300L, but the Honda is more accessible. It offers a marginally lower seat height, and a shock that compresses a little more than it probably should once you mount the bike. The bike in question went out of production before these two bikes even came out—or at least, went from 250cc to 300cc—yet is still better than both of them.
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The Yamaha WR250R Is The Motorcycle Owners Never Want To Replace
Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000
Yamaha discontinued both the R6 and the VMax back in 2020, so the fact that the WR250R was also discontinued almost went unnoticed. At the time, the dual-sport segment was essentially on life support, made up mostly of aging Japanese bikes. Ironically, the WR was actually one of the newer bikes competing in the space back then, yet Yamaha rather ruthlessly cut its life short. The main problem with the WR was the fact that it was always a little pricey compared to the competition. But, depreciation has worked its magic, and for those who understand what it is, it is something of a bargain. Trade value is now sitting at a low $3,395, while the retail value is now pegged at a very reasonable $5k. This might seem a little steep for your average Japanese dual-sport, but the WR250R is not your average Japanese dual-sport.
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The WR250R Has An Unkillable Single
Power: 30 Horsepower
Even though the bike was first launched over a decade ago, it has a thoroughly modern little DOHC fuel-injected single-cylinder engine. It is in a relatively mild state of tune, so for those who want to get more out of it, that is possible, but it’s also a pointless endeavor. That would compromise reliability. Something you kind of want from a dual-purpose machine that can be used for travel. While its wide-ratio (WR) transmission helps give it a top speed of over 80 MPH, staying at highway speed is rather obviously not its forte. It will also only serve to drain its rather small two-gallon tank. This is a bike designed for back roads and tight single-track.
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The WR250R Is The Unicorn We All Forgot About
Much is made of the “unicorn” motorcycle in the adventure and off-road community. A bike that can actually do it all without costing a fortune. It has become such a popular topic CFMoto even sells the Ibex 450 as the “unicorn nobody saw coming.” While that bike certainly has a lot to offer riders from a moto travel perspective, the real “unicorn” has been right under our noses the whole time. For much of its production life, the WR250R was seen as relatively expensive for what it was, but to the right buyer, it was always worth paying more for. Today, the fact that we can have it for so much less makes it even more attractive.
Depending on how much discomfort you are willing to put up with on the road, this is a bike that really can be used for travel. But, where it really shines is off-road. Unlike most of the bikes competing in this space, it has fully adjustable suspension. It also offers over 10 inches of suspension travel, and weighs less than 300 pounds. It is essentially a dirt bike with lights. However, the service intervals are still measured in miles, not hours.
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This impressive dual-sport offers off-road enthusiasts the ultimate tool for travel, for a price
It’s A Bit Of A Tall Boy
With almost 12 inches of ground clearance, this is always going to be a tall bike. It has a seat height of 36.6 inches, and is not at all approachable for new riders who are under six feet tall. This is arguably the bike’s biggest strength and biggest weakness at the same time. The other limitation is its two-gallon tank, which has an aftermarket solution, but is still an inconvenience and an added expense that you need to factor into the cost of the bike if you plan to use it for travel.
Dimensions And Weight
|
Seat Height |
36.6 inches |
|
Ground Clearance |
11.6 inches |
|
Fuel Capacity |
2 gallons |
|
Weight |
295 lbs |
No bike is perfect, but if you are somebody who likes riding off-road, this is a bike that you won’t ever want to let go of. Having a bike with a plate also gives you access to roads that you otherwise would not be allowed to ride on with a dedicated off-road bike. Just one word of caution. If the bike you find has an aftermarket pipe, either ask for the stock pipe to get included in the sale, or make absolutely sure it has a spark arrester installed.
Sources: Yamaha, Kelley Blue Book